SAN ANTONIO PROFILE
WELCOME TO THE
CULTURE OF BUSINESS.
While this city is known for a culture rooted in history,
art and ethnic diversity, business here enjoys a culture
all its own. Homegrown firms and expanding companies
alike are drawn by affordable land, abundant power,
a great lifestyle, a cost of living nearly 12% below
the national average, and an education system that
continues to evolve and improve. Their growth is actively
cultivated by local business retention and expansion
efforts, and supported by financial incentives and a local
government focused on economic growth. The result?
We’ve grown to be the 7th largest city in the U.S., with
a skilled workforce of more than a million and with
160,000 students in 15 area colleges and universities.
Small wonder that the Milken Institute ranks us among
the top ten best performing cities in the country.
The SAEDF is available to provide you with a
confidential, no-cost relocation analysis and assistance.
Discover a culture that can help your business grow.
WHERE IS SAN ANTONIO?
San Antonio sits at the center of Bexar County, Texas – only 140 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and approximately 701 feet above
sea level. Its unique geographic position connects the east and west coasts, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Interstate highways connect San Antonio to the major Texas population centers and to primary border crossing points into Mexico
including Laredo, Del Rio, Eagle Pass and the ports at Corpus Christi and Houston. Because of the combination of ideal location and
quality infrastructure, more than 50 percent of the total goods flowing between the U.S. and Mexico travel through San Antonio
before reaching their final destination.
CLIMATE ( F/ C)
O
DISTANCE TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES
O
Avg. Monthly Temp.
ANNUAL ................................................ 69.5O/20.8O
CITY
REGION
MILES
KM
JAN .................................................................. 51.8O/11O
Austin
Northeast
80
128
FEB...............................................................55.6 /13.1
Corpus Christi
Southeast
145
233
MAR ........................................................... 62.2O/16.8O
Dallas
Northeast
280
450
East
200
322
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Southwest
150
241
Monterrey, Mexico
Southwest
295
474
O
O
APR ...........................................................69.3O /20.7O
MAY ...............................................................76.9O /25O
JUN .............................................................. 82.4O /28O
JULY............................................................. 84.6O /29O
AUG...........................................................85.3O /29.6O
Houston
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
SEPT ......................................................... 79.7O /26.5O
OCT ..............................................................71.2O /21.7O
NOV ................................................................. 61.1O /16O
DEC ............................................................. 52.9O /11.6O
Source: National Weather Service
TOP
10
Best Performing Cities
- Milken Institute, January 2015
WHO LIVES HERE?
San Antonians love both the international flair and the down
home comfort that combine to make this city so unique.
San Antonio has long attracted a diverse, multifaceted and
multicultural population.
POPULATION AND PROJECTIONS
AREA
2010
CENSUS
2014
PROJ. GROWTH
2010 - 2018
San Antonio
1,327,605
1,416,291
6.34%
Bexar County
1,714,777
1,861,562
7.40%
2,142,508
2,336,330
7.64%
Metro Area
Source: Claritas
RACE COMPOSITION
BEXAR COUNTY
SAN ANTONIO MSA
PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE
White
12.52%
19.65%
59.48%
54.87%
Black/African American
7.82%
6.95%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0.87%
0.84%
Asian
2.64%
2.31%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
0.14%
0.13%
Two or More Races
3.69%
3.49%
12.84%
11.77%
Hispanic/Latino
BEXAR COUNTY
SAN ANTONIO MSA
Other Race
Source: Claritas, 2014
LANGUAGE / BILINGUAL
BEXAR COUNTY
SAN ANTONIO MSA
PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE
Spanish and English
36.36%
35.05%
English Only
58.00%
61.62%
3.63%
3.33%
Other and English
Source: Claritas, 2014
BEXAR COUNTY
1
#
SAN ANTONIO MSA
Hottest Cities for Millennials
- Forbes, July 2014
TOP
5
Top 5 Fastest Growing Cities
- CNN MONEY, March 2014
WHO WORKS HERE?
The answer is simple: many intelligent people. In fact, over one million in San Antonio’s current skilled workforce. Median age – 34.9.
Now add another 160,000 students attending 15 area colleges and universities. They represent even higher degrees of skill. The kind
your firm can use – especially after those skills are honed to your exact specifications via workforce programs at some of the same
colleges. Current programs include specialized training for aerospace, business, information technology, cybersecurity, and more.
ANNUAL WORKFORCE FIGURES
San Antonio MSA Annual Averages
YEAR
TOTAL CIVILIAN
LABOR FORCE
PERCENT
GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT
NO. OF WORKERS
UNEMPLOYED
UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
2014
1,058,657
0.92%
1,018,841
39,816
3.8%
2013
1,049,019
2.22%
986,252
62,767
6.0%
2012
1,026,242
0.64%
959,876
66,366
6.5%
2011
1,019,841
3.1%
943,728
76,113
7.5%
2010
988,724
2.4%
916,219
72,505
7.3%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
EMPLOYMENT PERCENTAGES BY INDUSTRY
NAICS
INDUSTRY
2014
JOBS
% OF
JOBS
AVG.
EARNINGS
2,219
0.25%
$33,327
6,640
0.73%
$93,695
981
0.11%
$92,011
11
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
21
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
22
Utilities
23
Construction
42,909
4.75%
$57,200
31
Manufacturing
45,054
4.98%
$61,756
42
Wholesale Trade
30,464
3.37%
$68,026
44
Retail Trade
103,918
11.49%
$34,164
48
Transportation and Warehousing
21,096
2.33%
$57,838
51
Information
21,364
2.36%
$81,372
52
Finance and Insurance
59,062
6.53%
$80,461
53
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
14,821
1.64%
$48,619
54
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
44,813
4.96%
$74,521
55
Management of Companies and Enterprises
9,739
1.08%
$131,433
56
Administrative and Support and Waste Management
and Remediation Services
58,557
6.48%
$35,941
61
Educational Services (Private)
15,453
1.71%
$45,626
62
Health Care and Social Assistance
119,669
13.23%
$48,359
71
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
15,182
1.68%
$30,387
72
Accommodation and Food Services
105,610
11.68%
$20,380
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
26,842
2.97%
$32,189
90
Government
159,571
17.65%
$66,569
99
Unclassified Industry
269
0.03%
$37,413
Source: Texas Workforce Commission
INTERNET TECHNOLOGY/INTERNET SECURITY IN SAN ANTONIO
• 16,848 employees
• 1,096 establishments
• Economic impact of approximately $15 billion
• #2 concentration of defense-related data centers in the US
2
#
Taking Jobs
from Wall Street
- Forbes, June 2014
6
#
Best Cities for
Job Growth
- Forbes, July 2014
KEEPING JOB GROWTH HIGH –
AND COST OF LIVING LOW.
San Antonio has exhibited positive employment growth and remarkable stability in recent years, even as other areas of the
state and country have suffered negative job growth outcomes. Total employment in San Antonio has risen steadily from below
550,000 in early 2005 to more than 1 million in 2014. Unemployment has remained remarkably steady, never rising above 7.4 percent
during this nine-year timeframe. As of December 2014, the unemployment rate for San Antonio is 3.8 percent, compared to 5.6
percent nationwide.
San Antonio boasts a lower-than-average composite cost of living among major metropolitan areas nationwide. The cost of living in
San Antonio is especially low in the areas of housing, grocery items and utilities. This provides clear potential to benefit the city in
the attraction of both its workforce and its student population.
COST OF LIVING INDEX
San Francisco, CA
167.5
San Diego, CA
135.4
Chicago, IL
116.7
Denver, CO
107.5
Kansas City, MO
100.0
Houston, TX
99.0
Jacksonville, FL
98.3
Dallas, TX
95.8
Charlotte, NC
95.0
Austin, TX
94.6
Salt Lake City, UT
94.4
St. Louis, MO
93.7
Raleigh, NC
93.3
Albuquerque, NM
92.4
San Antonio, TX
92.4
Columbus, OH
90.2
Higher Index indicates higher cost of living, based on average index of 100 among
all U.S. metro areas.
Oklahoma City, OK
90.1
Source: C2ER (ACCRA) Cost of Living Index, Annual 2014
MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
Metropolitan Area
2015 (In Thousands)
Dallas, TX.................................................................................................. $189.6
San Francisco, CA............................................................................... $742.9
Jacksonville, FL...................................................................................... $187.7
San Diego, CA........................................................................................ $493.1
San Antonio, TX...................................................................................$185.5
Denver, CO............................................................................................... $314.8
Albuquerque, NM.................................................................................. $177.2
Austin, TX................................................................................................ $243.8
Atlanta, GA............................................................................................... $157.7
Phoenix, AZ............................................................................................$200.3
Kansas City, MO.................................................................................... $156.4
Houston, TX............................................................................................ $199.3
Oklahoma City, OK.............................................................................. $152.9
Chicago, IL.................................................................................................$195.1
Columbus, OH......................................................................................... $151.0
Charlotte, NC.......................................................................................... $192.8
Source: National Association of REALTORS
HIGHER EDUCATION
IS GROWING AND
THRIVING HERE.
With nearly 160,000 students at 15 different colleges and
universities within a 50 mile radius of the city, San Antonio
offers its college-bound residents many options. Since 2004,
combined enrollment at these institutions has grown by over
52%. Continuing on its path of expansion, The University of the
Incarnate Word has grown by nearly 80%; Texas State University,
with over 36,000 students today, has experienced a near 28%
increase; and the University of Texas at San Antonio has grown
by 17%, as it makes its way to becoming a Tier One school.
Meanwhile, enrollment in local community colleges has similarly
skyrocketed, with Northwest Vista College nearly doubling
its enrollment.
Through a community-wide effort known as SA2020, local
industry and education leaders intend to orchestrate one of
the greatest turnarounds in education in the United States by
providing the community with access to quality education and
career opportunities. With an already robust education system,
the initiative positions San Antonio’s current and future workforce
ahead of other major markets. And the results are already paying
off. While enrollment in colleges and universities continues to
climb, the Alamo City is outperforming the country in increasing
the number of graduates with post-secondary degrees. According
to Brookings data, San Antonio is tied at the #1 spot for most
brain gain in U.S. metros with population over 1 million.
College/University
2014 Fall Enrollment*
Texas State University................................................................................ 35,546
University of Texas at San Antonio......................................................28,625
San Antonio College................................................................................... 20,676
Northwest Vista College.............................................................................16,738
St. Philip’s College........................................................................................... 11,723
Palo Alto College.............................................................................................9,560
University of the Incarnate Word............................................................8,438
Northeast Lakeview College...................................................................... 5,639
Texas A&M University – San Antonio..................................................... 4,512
St. Mary’s University.......................................................................................3,868
University of Texas Health Science Center......................................... 3,079
Our Lady of the Lake University..............................................................2,660
Trinity University..............................................................................................2,499
Wayland Baptist............................................................................................... 1,826
Texas Lutheran University........................................................................... 1,400
* US Dept. of Education: IPEDS
1
#
Best Cities for Young Graduates
- Forbes, March 2014
HOW GREEN IS SAN ANTONIO?
We are a national leader in renewable energy
and are already well on our way to achieving
a goal of renewable power equal to 20% of
total generation capacity (1,500 MW) by 2020.
In fact, CPS Energy already:
• Has become the nation’s largest municipallyowned purchaser of wind power.
• Has 128 MW of solar power in commercial
operation, with an agreement in place for the
further development of 300 MW.
• Reduces power plant emissions by more than
10,000 tons per year, the equivalent of removing
almost one million vehicles from our roads.
THE UTILITY SITUATION.
Every large metropolitan area faces significant current demand – and growing future
needs – for power, water, and telecommunication services. San Antonio is no exception.
Luckily for both private and corporate citizens, however, this area is fortunate to have
reliable, abundant and affordable sources for all of these. What’s more, plans are already
in place to grow responsibly and dramatically in capacity as demand increases.
ELECTRIC POWER & NATURAL GAS
CPS Energy is the nation’s largest municipally-owned utility providing both electric power and natural gas. CPS Energy is the
exclusive distribution supplier within its certified service territory: a 1,515-square-mile area including Bexar County and portions of
Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Medina, Wilson and Kendall Counties with over 765,000 customers. CPS Energy is a forwardthinking organization and uses clean energy harvested from wind, solar and landfill gas to power San Antonio with 21st century
energy options. CPS Energy is capitalizing on its aggressive clean energy initiatives and energy efficiency programs to meet its
goal of achieving 20% of total generation capacity from renewable resources by 2020.
WATER
San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is the largest municipally-owned water, wastewater, chilled water, and recycled water utility in
Bexar County. SAWS serves approximately 1.6 million customers. Historically, San Antonio has obtained nearly all its water from the
Edwards Aquifer, which is famed for some of the cleanest water in the country. Additionally, in 2014, SAWS received unanimous
support from the City of San Antonio for the Vista Ridge Pipeline, a game-changing new water supply from North Texas through a
142-mile pipeline, which will increase the city's water supply by an estimated 20%.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TAXES.
Taxes are a reality everywhere you go. But some of the major factors that have led to San Antonio’s ongoing economic boom include
surprisingly light tax burdens (both for businesses and for individuals), as well as special incentives available for firms locating here.
How could this help your firm? The SAEDF staff is available to help guide you through the process of securing information on taxes
and incentives for a variety of location scenarios.
SALES TAX RATES
Texas.......................................................................................................................................................... 6.250%
San Antonio........................................................................................................................................... 1.250%*
San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)........................................................... 0.500%
San Antonio Advanced Transportation District (ATD)..................................................... 0.250%
Bexar County........................................................................................................................................ 0.000%**
*Texas state law limits the collection of local sales and
use tax to no more than 2 percent. San Antonio, a
municipality within Bexar County, has a rate of 1.250%
included in the San Antonio Area Total Tax Rate.
**Bexar County does not impose a sales and use tax.
Source: Texas Comptroller
San Antonio Area Total Tax Rate................................................................................................ 8.250%
NO STATE PERSONAL INCOME TAX
Texas does not levy individual income taxes or corporate income taxes.
FRANCHISE TAX
Texas levies an annual franchise tax on companies with liability protection. The underlying tax base is on a business' margin rather
than net income or net worth resulting in a primary tax rate of 1%. Trade businesses engaged primarily in wholesale or retail activities
would pay 0.5%. Businesses making less than $1 million in revenue are exempt.
INCENTIVES & COST SAVINGS
These depend in part on the type of business locating in the area and the expected number of jobs to be created. However,
economic benefits and incentives are available from both state and local governments, and may include such specific programs as:
Texas
San Antonio
• Texas Enterprise Fund
• Economic Development Incentive Fund
• Skills Development Fund
• Tax Abatements and Exemptions for Targeted Industries
• Fee Waivers for Inner City Reinvestment Infill Policy
• Utility Incentives
WHAT’S TRANSPORTATION
LIKE IN AND AROUND THE CITY?
For several centuries, San Antonio’s central location and accessible geography have made it a vital crossroads for both commerce
and culture. As the city made the transition into the modern age, business transportation and shipping needs increased
tremendously, and the facilities and services – from highways to rail to air – have more than kept up with demand.
AIR
San Antonio’s extensive aviation facilities include:
• San Antonio International Airport, the primary commercial aviation hub for south central Texas, which
averages 260 daily domestic and international departures and arrivals, including 30 non-stop domestic
and international destinations.
• Global Entry Airport.
• Stinson Airport, America’s second oldest general aviation airport.
RAIL
San Antonio’s vibrant rail system is served by:
• Multiple freight and passenger railroad companies.
• Numerous private/commercial spurs throughout the region.
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific track access.
PORT SAN ANTONIO
Port San Antonio is a master-planned, 1,900-acre aerospace industrial complex and international logistics platform, centrally located
in San Antonio. Features include:
• Foreign Trade Zone status.
• An 11,500-ft. runway.
• Unrivaled multi-rail and multi-highway access.
• Home to more than 80 public and private
organizations.
ROAD
The city offers a comprehensive, accessible and
free-flowing system of roads and transit services:
• Three major interregional highways,
numerous U.S. and state highways, two major
urban loops.
• Excellent transit service: current bus and
paratransit, with bus rapid transit launched in
2012. VIA Metropolitan Transit operates one of
the best transit systems in the country with a
fleet that consists of more than 450 buses.
• A wide array of motor freight carriers.
1
#
The New "Capital of Influence" in the US
- Forbes, July 2014
INDUSTRY HERE IS MORE DIVERSE THAN EVER.
San Antonio’s growth ranks high among large Texas cities and has emerged as one of the best environments for business.
The city has continued to diversify its industries over the past several decades, with healthcare, biomedical and finance prevailing.
The manufacturing industry has a rich history in San Antonio, dating back nearly 300 years. San Antonio is home to many Fortune
500 companies, including Valero, USAA, Tesoro, Clear Channel and NuStar. In 2003, Toyota Motor Corp. chose San Antonio as the
location of its new manufacturing plant, which generated over 2,000 jobs and produces 200,000 trucks annually.
SA2020 is a community-wide effort that promotes areas of prioritized industry growth, and works to improve San Antonio’s quality
of life through areas such as transportation, education, and arts and culture. SA2020’s focus on economic competitiveness seeks to
maintain steady job growth in traditional employment sectors, as well as promote growth in industries such as aerospace/aviation,
bioscience/healthcare, new energy/green industries and information technology/information security. The collective nature of this
effort aims to unite the community as it moves forward to 2020. For more information on these industries and others in San Antonio,
visit sanantonioedf.com/industry-clusters.
AEROSPACE / AVIATION
The local aerospace industry includes a range of businesses that manufacture aircraft equipment and parts, service and repair
aircraft, produce and distribute transportation equipment and supplies, provide both scheduled and unscheduled air transportation,
and operate flight schools.
Industry Highlights:
• The local aerospace industry has grown 440% over 20 years, 260% over the past 15 years, and almost 75% over the
past 10 years.
• Over 13,000 San Antonio employees work in the combined aerospace-related maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO),
manufacturing, military, and air transportation services industry.
• Jobs in the aerospace industry are among the best paying in the area. According to a SWOT analysis by Deloitte, the average
wage for aerospace employees is $59,801.
• The Alamo Area Aerospace Academy partners with industry, and is a national model for the creation of a pipeline between
local high school students and aerospace employers.
BIOSCIENCE / HEALTHCARE
With San Antonio’s diverse mix of educational institutions, nationally-recognized healthcare systems, cutting-edge biotech
companies and successful national corporations, the bioscience and healthcare industry is a dominant force in the city’s economy.
The industry includes both direct and indirect healthcare services. Direct healthcare services include care provided in hospitals,
physicians’ offices, nursing homes and various other outpatient and ambulatory care settings. Indirect industries complement and
support the provision of medical and healthcare. These industry sectors include health insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies,
medical equipment manufacturers, civilian and military medical education, biomedical research organizations, residential care and
social service providers, and a variety of other related endeavors. Nearly one in every six San Antonio employees works in the
Healthcare and Biosciences sector.
Industry Highlights:
• In 2013, according to a Trinity University study, the economic impact of the Bioscience and Healthcare industry
was $23.9 billion measured conservatively, and approximately $30.6 billion by a more comprehensive estimate.
• The industry paid $7.6 billion in wages and salaries to 164,537 employees in 2013.
• The Bioscience and Healthcare industry has added over 41,567 net new jobs over the past decade, fueling
San Antonio’s growth.
1
#
US Metros with the
Most "Brain Gain"
- Brookings Institute, Jan. 2015
NEW ENERGY ECONOMY / GREEN INDUSTRIES
San Antonio is committed to being a leader in investment and training in the green economy. San Antonio’s location is conducive to
year-round solar energy and wind power, making it an ideal place to pioneer and lead the alternative energy industry. In addition to
CPS Energy’s efforts to grow the renewable energy sector, San Antonio is also a national leader in green research technology, and
home to long-established research entities such as the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute at the University of Texas at
San Antonio.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY /
INFORMATION SECURITY
San Antonio’s IT / IS sector has come to be recognized as
a national leader. The state of Texas is #2 in the nation for
science and technology. And according to Computerworld
Magazine, San Antonio is #2 in the nation for information
assurance, behind only Washington, D.C. The city’s association
with the military and with scientific research has helped create
a unique combination of cyber resources useful to many
business operations. In 2009, the 24th Air Force activated their
new Cyber Command Headquarters at Lackland AFB.
The city offers the kind of network connectivity needed to
support all security levels of Global Cyber Operations, such
as the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System
and the National Security Agency Nets, DISA GIG Network
(Defense Information Systems Network) and GIG-BE (Global
Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion), which helps link major
government intel community sites. San Antonio also has 80plus companies specializing in defense technology.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IN SAN ANTONIO.
The information technology (IT) industry itself is
both large and diverse, including cybersecurity,
software development, cloud services, managed
hosting, and the production of a wide variety of IT
related products. A small sampling of IT companies
that call San Antonio home includes:
• Appddiction Studio
• Avnet
• CyrusOne
• Delta Risk
• Denim Group
• Digital Defense
• FEDITC
• GlobalSCAPE
• Innové
• KGS
• L-3 Communications
Holdings
• Maxim Integrated
Products
• MDI Security Systems
• Microsoft
• Mobius Partners
• NCI
• NewTek
• Rackspace
• SecureInfo
• SecureLogix
• Sigma Solutions
• Taurean Group
We invite you to learn more about San Antonio online at
www.sanantonioedf.com.
Enjoy a quick and informative video introduction –
6 super-short film segments found under the “video” tab.
Or call 210.226.1394 for more information.
602 E. Commerce St. | San Antonio, TX 78205
www.sanantonioedf.com | P 210.226.1394 | F 210.223.3386