Guests Countries and Regions 2008
California
California is located along the west coast of the United States and is one of the most visited places on the world. The capital is presently in Sacramento, situated in the central part of the state. California is the largest U.S. state by population with a total population of 36,457,549. With an area of 163,696 sq mi (423,970 km²), it is also one of the largest state by land area.
The Mediterranean climate of the California coastline has attracted big populations. The land that is nowadays California State was inhabited by natives for maybe tens of thousands of years. The USA conquered California as a consequence of the Mexican-American war, a war caused by a minor border conflict that turned into a broader conflict. Regardless of what has occurred, the USA prevailed and the state now boasts the 5th greatest economy in the world.
California Dream
California’s fabled history has always been about new opportunities and chasing dreams and the people who make them happen. From the young men who arrived during the Gold Rush to those who looked for a new start during the Depression, and every starry-eyed aspiring actress who heads to Hollywood today, the state has nurtured the dreams of men and women throughout its exciting and varied history.
Silicon Valley
“In 1939, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard founded Hewlett-Packard in a Palo Alto garage. In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniack released the Apple I computer on April Fool’s Day.”
Since the early twentieth century, Silicon Valley has been home to a vibrant, growing electronics industry. The industry began through experimentation and innovation in the fields of radio, television, and military electronics. Stanford University, its affiliates, and graduates have played a major role in the evolution of this area. After World War II, universities were experiencing enormous demand due to returning students. To address the financial demands of Stanford's growth requirements, and to provide local employment opportunities for graduating students, Stanford's lands were used as an office park, named the Stanford Industrial Park. Leases were limited to high technology companies.
Although semiconductors are still a major component of the area's economy, Silicon Valley has been most famous in recent years for innovations in software and Internet services.
Silicon Valley has significantly influenced computer operating systems, software, and user interfaces.
Silicon Valley is generally considered to have been the center of the dot-com bubble which started from the mid-1990s and collapsed after the NASDAQ stock market began to decline dramatically in April of 2000. Even after the dot-com crash, Silicon Valley continues to maintain its status as one of the top research and development centers in the world.
Green California
In the last few years, the region has become the world's premier locale for "green tech," and, in the process, the nation's tech capital could once again be transforming itself, just as it did when the personal computer and the Internet gave birth to generations of start-up businesses. This green technology includes silicon cells and other solar wafers and cells. California is home to many aspects of renewable energies: solar, wind, and bio diesel and just a few of the technologies that are being researched, developed, and manufactured in the Golden State.
Today, more than ever, at the direction of Governor Schwarzenegger, California is leading by example on energy efficiency and conservation, sustainability, green building and green purchasing practices.
Invest in California
California offers unparalleled value to companies seeking the optimal business location. Our critical mass of business services, intellectual capital, financial acumen, transportation systems and market access enhance the corporate mission and make California the most efficient place to do business in the world. Why invest or create jobs in California? Because the long-term outlook for our economy and business climate is as sunny as the legendary climate.
Innovation and Intellectual Capital
California supports creativity with a superior educational system and job training that produces an unrivaled, highly skilled labor force. California possesses the nation’s highest concentration of engineers, scientists, mathematicians and skilled technicians. California is a major center for design of automobiles, furniture, apparel, software, electronics, telecommunications services, computers and semiconductors. Forbes.com announced that California lead all states in categories of “200 Best Small Companies” and “Fastest-growing Tech Companies”, of which four of the top five are in California.
Research, Capital and Access to Financial Resources
California leads the nation in research and development (R&D) and benefits from receiving almost half of the nation’s venture capital investment. In 2007, California companies received more than $3.2 billion or 46 percent of all venture capital (VC) dollars invested in the U.S. California is home to more that 2,700 companies and more than 100 universities and private non-profit research organizations that are engaged in biomedical R&D and manufacturing.
Eighth-Largest Market in the World
California has the largest, most robust and most resilient economy in the United States. California is the number one state for attracting foreign direct investment. The state has the larges consumer markets for high technology, biotechnology, food and agriculture, apparel, and entertainment, and is a bell-weather for the nation’s economy.
Pacific Gateway
California is globally connected with world class infrastructure. More than 15,000 miles of highways and freeways carry billions of tons of freight per year. Twelve cargo airports carry more than 3 million tons of freight per year. California leads the nation with 11 cargo airports and 11 cargo seaports. Twenty-nine freight railroads in California operate over nearly 6,000 miles to form an integral part of the global transportation network.
California Lifestyle
Californians lead an enviable that for the last five years ranks #1 in the Harris Poll asking respondents to name the #1 most desirable state in which to live. Residents here have the highest life expectancy in the country and receive the best health care.
Links:
http://www.visitcalifornia.com
http://www.justcalifornia.org
http://www.labor.ca.gov/calBIS/cbbusincentives.pdf
http://www.green.ca.gov/default.htm
