SAN ANTONIO PROFILE
WELCOME TO OPPORTUNITY
AS BIG AS TEXAS.
While this city is known for a culture rooted in history,
art and ethnic diversity, business here enjoys a
collaborative culture focused on creating opportunity.
Homegrown firms and expanding companies alike are
drawn by affordable land, abundant power, a great
lifestyle, a cost of living nearly 13 percentage points
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 best performing cities in the country.
The SAEDF is available to provide you with a
confidential, no-cost relocation analysis and assistance.
Discover a community that provides limitless
opportunity.
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
170
274
Monterrey, Mexico
Southwest
295
474
O
O
APR............................................................69.3O /20.7O
MAY................................................................76.9O /25O
JUN............................................................... 82.4O /28O
JULY.............................................................. 84.6O /29O
Houston
AUG...........................................................85.3O /29.6O
SEPT.......................................................... 79.7O /26.5O
OCT...............................................................71.2O /21.7O
NOV.................................................................. 61.1O /16O
DEC.............................................................. 52.9O /11.6O
Source: National Weather Service
1
#
Economic Growth Potential
- Business Facilities, August 2016
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
2015 est.
PROJ. GROWTH
2016 - 2021
San Antonio
1,327,605
1,469,845
10.70%
Bexar County
1,714,773
1,904,785
11.08%
2,142,508
2,394,156
11.75%
Metro Area
Source: Claritas, U.S. Census Bureau
RACE COMPOSITION
White
PERCENTAGE
29.55%
41.28%
45.94%
7.52%
6.60%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.84%
0.81%
2.43%
2.12%
0.14%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
0.13%
Two or More Races
3.48%
3.27%
Other Race
12.68%
11.59%
Black/African American
Asian
SAN ANTONIO MSA
SAN ANTONIO MSA
PERCENTAGE
31.63%
Hispanic/Latino
BEXAR COUNTY
BEXAR COUNTY
Source: Claritas,
2016
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
4
#
Best Job Markets for Women
- Headlight Data, June 2015
WHO WORKS HERE?
The answer is simple: many intelligent people. In fact, over one million in San Antonio’s current skilled workforce. Median age –
32.6 There are nearly 160,000 students attending 15 area colleges and universities, representing 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, advanced
manufacturing and more.
ANNUAL WORKFORCE FIGURES
San Antonio MSA Annual Averages
YEAR
2016
TOTAL CIVILIAN
LABOR FORCE
PERCENT
GROWTH
1,124,904 (May 16")
NO. OF WORKERS
UNEMPLOYED
EMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
2.30%
1,086,622
38,282
3.4%
2015
1,099,597
0.98%
1,057,538
42,059
3.8%
2014
1,088,875
1.23%
1,038,433
50,432
4.6%
2013
1,075,625
2.00%
1,013,808
61,817
5.7%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY
NAICS
INDUSTRY
2015
JOBS
% OF
JOBS
AVG.
EARNINGS
11
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
1,789
0.19%
$34,372
21
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
7,226
0.75%
$117,260
22
Utilities
6,508
0.67%
$68,068
23
Construction
51,480
5.33%
$60,372
31
Manufacturing
46,074
4.77%
$58,760
42
Wholesale Trade
33,137
3.43%
$68,328
44
Retail Trade
114,872
11.09%
$32,812
48
Transportation and Warehousing
29,605
3.07%
$57,512
51
Information
21,853
2.26%
$68,016
52
Finance and Insurance
63,600
6.59%
$69,992
53
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
16,499
1.71%
$49,712
54
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
46,567
4.83%
$80,340
55
Management of Companies and Enterprises
11,237
1.16%
$129,896
56
Administrative and Support and Waste Management
and Remediation Services
65,469
6.78%
$36,816
61
Educational Services (Private)
97,750
10.13%
$43,680
62
Health Care and Social Assistance
156,368
16.20%
$51,480
71
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
14,797
1.53%
$33,332
72
Accommodation and Food Services
110,439
11.44%
$19,760
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
27,723
2.87%
$33,020
90
Public Administration
41,754
4.33%
$66,092
99
Unclassified Industry
286
0.03%
$36,140
Source: Texas Workforce Commission
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/CYBERSECURITY IN SAN ANTONIO
• 34,000 employees
• 1,096 establishments
• Economic impact of approximately $10 billion
• $2.7 billion total amount paid in IT salaries and wages each year
1
#
Best Climate for
Skilled Professionals
-Thumbtack
10
#
Fastest Growing
U.S. Cities
- Headlight Data
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. Unemployment has remained remarkably steady, never rising above 7.4 percent
during the last ten years. As of May 2016, the unemployment rate for San Antonio is 3.4 percent (38,257 people), compared to the
national average of 4.7 percent.
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 categories of housing, grocery items and utilities. This provides clear potential to benefit the city
in the attraction of both its young professional workforce and its student population.
COST OF LIVING INDEX
San Francisco, CA
177.5
San Diego, CA
146.9
Chicago, IL
118.9
Denver, CO
109.3
Atlanta, GA
99.6
Austin, TX
98.6
Dallas, TX
97.9
Houston, TX
97.5
Jacksonville, FL
96.8
Phoenix, AZ
96.8
Salt Lake City, UT
94.6
Charlotte, NC
92.7
Kansas City, MO
91.3
San Antonio, TX
86.5
Higher Index indicates higher cost of living, based on average
index of 100 among all U.S. metro areas.
Source: C2ER (ACCRA) Cost of Living Index, Q2 2016
MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
Metropolitan Area
2016 Q1 (In Thousands)
Dallas, TX....................................................................................................$210.1
San Francisco, CA............................................................................... $770.3
Jacksonville, FL..................................................................................... $195.0
San Diego, CA....................................................................................... $554.3
San Antonio, TX.................................................................................. $195.5
Denver, CO..............................................................................................$369.0
Albuquerque, NM..................................................................................$179.2
Austin, TX................................................................................................ $269.7
Atlanta, GA...............................................................................................$167.8
Phoenix, AZ..............................................................................................$223.1
Kansas City, MO.................................................................................... $163.3
Houston, TX.......................................................................................... $208.0
Oklahoma City, OK............................................................................... $141.0
Chicago, IL..............................................................................................$208.6
Columbus, OH........................................................................................ $160.7
Charlotte, NC..........................................................................................$190.3
Source: National Association of REALTORS
HIGHER EDUCATION
IS GROWING AND
THRIVING HERE.
With over 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
24%. Continuing on its path of expansion, The University of the
Incarnate Word has grown by nearly 76%; Texas State University,
with over 35,000 students today, has experienced a near 33%
increase; and the University of Texas at San Antonio has grown
by 9%, 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 San Antonio Works, an industry led coalition assembled
to develop a comprehensive human capital strategy to fill the
city and county’s most pressing talent needs, San Antonio is
dedicated to preparing its workforce with the skills employers
need now and in the future. With an already robust education
system, the initiative positions San Antonio’s current and
future workforce ahead of other major markets. Colleges and
Universities in San Antonio consistently rank high in national
rankings. In fact, the University of Texas at San Antonio, on its way
to Tier-1 University status, ranked 4th in the US and 77th in the
world in the 150 Under 50 Rankings, or best young universities
under 50 years old.
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 University......................................................................... 1,826
Texas Lutheran University........................................................................... 1,400
* US Dept. of Education: IPEDS
5
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Best Big Cities for New Grads
- OnlineDegrees.com, August 2016
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 one of the nation’s largest off- takers of wind power with over 1,000 MW.
• Is the number one purchaser of solar power in
Texas with 500 MW.
• Has created a New Energy Economy that
currently has an annual economic impact to San
Antonio of over $1.5 Billion.
• Has reduced power plant emissions by more
than 3.6 million tons per year, the equivalent of
removing 670,000 vehicles from San Antonio’s
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, 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, vertically integrated, utility providing both electric power and natural gas to its
more than 780,000 electric and 338,000 gas customers within its 1,515-square-mile area which includes Bexar County and portions
of Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Medina, Wilson and Kendall Counties. CPS Energy is a forward-thinking organization that
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 its total
generation capacity (over 7,600 MW) from renewable resources by 2020.
WATER
The Edwards Aquifer is famed for some of the cleanest water in the country – and water from this source, as well as multiple area
lakes, rivers and aquifers is provided by San Antonio Water System, a major municipally-owned utility, serving approximately 1.6
million customers. 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 Burleson County, north of San Antonio, 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 compared to other metropolitan markets in Texas with a population over 1 million (both for business
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 314 daily domestic and international departures and arrivals, including 36 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 Class 1 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 70 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.
Visit sanantonioedf.com/maps to view
a map of San Antonio.
4
#
New Hot Spots where Americans are
Moving Now
- Realtor.com
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, iHeart Media Inc. 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.
Forefront SA, San Antonio’s strategic plan for economic development, is a community-wide effort that promotes areas of prioritized
industry growth and works to improve San Antonio’s economic development ecosystem through areas such as business recruitment,
business retention & expansion, entrepreneurial development and workforce development. The overarching industry focus of
Forefront SA seeks to promote growth in the target/horizon sectors of transportation equipment manufacturing, bioscience and
healthcare, IT/IS (including cybersecurity) and new energy, while fostering a collaborative environment that creates opportunity
for companies new to San Antonio, established companies, startups, and the fast-growing workforce. The plan involves many
community stakeholders in economic development and aims to elevate how San Antonio holistically approaches traditional
economic development while looking to our city’s future.
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 by over 400% in the last 25 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 service 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.
10
TOP
US Metros with the
Most Startup Activity
- Kauffman Foundation
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 and the Southwest Research Institute.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY /
INFORMATION SECURITY
The Information Technology (IT) industry plays a major role
in San Antonio. According to the 2014 IT Economic Impact
Study, San Antonio’s IT industry consisted of over 34,000 IT
professionals and generated an economic impact of nearly $10
billion. The industry itself is both large and diverse, with over
1,000 IT companies in and around San Antonio. There are three
major subsectors to San Antonio’s IT industry, including IT
companies, both large, established firms and small, innovative
startups producing IT products and services; IT workers at
non-IT companies; and U.S. Federal Government departments
and agencies.
San Antonio has one of the largest concentrations, across
multiple agencies, of IT, Information Assurance (IA) and
cybersecurity professionals in the nation. 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 fact, the 24th Air Force, the Air
Force Cyber Command, and the Air Education and Personnel
Command are headquartered in San Antonio. The city has
come to be recognized as a national leader in this vital field.
CYBERSECURITY IN
SAN ANTONIO.
San Antonio has the 2nd largest cyber ecosystem in
the United States and is recognized by the NSA as
one of the nation’s leading cities for cybersecurity
activity because of the significant military presence,
thriving private cybersecurity enterprises, and
nationally recognized technology and research
institutions. In fact, according to Cybersecurity
Ventures' companies to watch list, top cybersecurity
companies in the world are operating in San Antonio:
• root9B (#1)
• Digital Defense (#21)
• Inspired eLearning (#85)
• Globalscape (#147)
• Infocyte (#280)
• Denim Group (#302)
• Dragos Security (#437)
We invite you to learn more about San Antonio online at
www.sanantonioedf.com.
Enjoy a quick and informative video introduction –
short film segments found under the “videos” tab.
Or call 210.226.1394 for more information.
602 E. Commerce St. | San Antonio, TX 78205 | www.sanantonioedf.com
P 210.226.1394 | 866.949.0357 | F 210.802.4869