Vista Economic Development Strategy

On February 23, 2020, Vista City Council approved the Vista Economic Development Strategy.  The Vista Economic Development Strategy (VEDS) is based on a comprehensive research and stakeholder input and outreach processes, and reflects consensus views on the most promising opportunities and the most pressing challenges facing Vista’s economy.  This document provides a strategic framework to guide the City of Vista’s economic development policies and programs over the next 5 years.  While the VEDS places primary emphasis on actions and initiatives to be pursued by the City, it recognizes that a wide array of public- and private-sector entities have roles in influencing the economic vitality of Vista. In this regard, some of the recommended actions will be carried out through partnerships with other entities. Even for those action items in which the City’s role is essentially coordination, this function can take many forms and is often critical to solving problems that may not otherwise have a clear constituency or single responsible entity assigned to resolving them.

As part of the VEDS retention, expansion, and attraction strategy the City has identified 8 key industries: biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, information technology, aerospace vehicles and defense, distribution and electronic commerce, education and knowledge creation, food and beverage processing, and entertainment/arts-oriented businesses. 

 The complete document can be found here.

City of Vista Business Climate Data

The City of Vista, located along North San Diego County's 78 Corridor, is home to over 102,000 people spread across 30,150 households.

Since 2010, the City has grown by 8% - a rate higher than the San Diego region as a whole. It has earned a spot as the 7th fastest growing city in the region.

With a median age of 31.9, Vista's population is almost four years younger than the San Diego regional median age of 35.7.

Vista is San Diego's craft beer capital, with the most craft breweries per capita of any California city. With more than 21.3 million sq ft of commercial, retail, and industrial space, Vista is also home to high tech manufacturing and R&D.

View more data in the City of Vista Economic Development Community Profile:

Maps

Average Daily Traffic Volumes
view average count of vehicles North Bound and South Bound on major roads

Street Map 
map of City streets

City GIS Map
interactive map of the City

Current City Development Projects Interactive Map
projects in the planning process or under construction

Current Opportunity Zone Development Projects Interactive Map
projects only within the Vista Opportunity Zone

Zoning Map for Downtown Vista Opportunity Zone
see zoning for different areas of the Vista Opportunity Zone

Zoning and General Use Maps
view permitted uses throughout the City

Reports

Specific Plans
for different areas of focus within the City of Vista, including the Downtown Specific Plan

North County Industry Clusters
by San Diego North EDC

Vista Job Posting Data
by San Diego North EDC

Worker Commuting Patterns in North County
by San Diego North EDC

Small Business Survey Report
by Innovate78

Tech Industry Report
by Innovate78

San Diego's Precision Health Ecosystem
by Regional EDC

Regional Water Study
by Regional EDC

International Trade and Competitiveness Study
by Regional EDC

Contact Us 

Economic Development Department
City of Vista
200 Civic Center Drive
Vista, CA 92084

760.726.1340

Business Resource Hotline: 760.639.6165
Business License Questions: 760.639.6174

Larry Vaupel
Economic Development Director
email

Faye Gray
Economic Development Specialist
email