Santa Clara County Local News: Business, Economy & Jobs


All Local Business, Economy & Jobs News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: California’s farm workers help feed the whole country.
How California Feeds the Country

California stands as America’s agricultural powerhouse, growing half of its fruits and vegetables. Here’s how California farming has shaped the state, from the early missions to today’s “factories in the field.”

Image caption: Long-duration energy storage, such as this thermal energy storage facility, allows renewable energy sources to operate at full capacity without overloading the power grid.
How California Leads the Race For Long Duration Energy Storage

Long-duration energy storage is essential if renewables are to become the basis for a future, carbon-neutral power grid. Here's how California is leading the race to store energy from solar, wind, and other clean sources for use whenever it's needed.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Zoning laws tell you what you can and can't build on the property you own. How does government get away with that?
How Zoning Laws Shape California and Society

Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …

Image caption: Though life expectancy has declined in recent years, Californians still live longer than most Americans.
Want to Live a Long, Healthy Life? Move to California

Life expectancy in California exceeds all but three other states, but how long you live depends on which county you live in. They're not all equal. Why? The answer may lie in political policies.

Image caption: Owning homes is the primary way the middle class builds wealth, and an option no longer available to most Californians.
Is California’s Housing Crisis Making Inequality Worse?

California has some of the worst economic inequality in the United States. Is the housing crisis a cause?

Image caption: Moss Landing in Monterey Bay is the world’s largest battery storage facility for solar and other renewable energy.
Solar Power and California’s Clean Energy Goals

Solar power, and a network of giant battery storage facilities, are playing an essential role in moving California toward its goal of exclusive reliance on renewable energy sources.

Image caption: Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners

As California insurance companies have revoked the fire policies of thousands of homeowners, the state has taken steps to get them covered again.

Image caption: The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think

The links between homelessness and crime are complex, and the idea that unhoused individuals present a danger to their community seems to be exaggerated.

Image caption: Water is a human right under California law, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Agriculture and Water Shortages in the State’s Breadbasket, Explained

Residential wells are drying up in the state’s main agricultural region at the same time that agricultural businesses consume almost 90 percent of the water there.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

04/17/2025
Image for display with article titled VTA Finalizes Contracts With Three Unions, Excludes Frontline Workers

Three of VTA’s four unions ratified new contracts for the next four years, leaving the transit agency’s frontline workers hanging.

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04/17/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Downtown Farmers’ Market Returns

The San Jose Downtown Farmers’ Market is returning after a three-year hiatus, with vendors planning to sell fresh corn, tomatoes, citrus fruit and more delights on Wednesdays near the Hammer Theatre.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

04/17/2025
Robotaxis may be a fixture on San Jose streets as Waymo applies for permits to operate in the city with the support of Mayor Matt Mahan and local Congressperson Sam Liccardo.

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04/16/2025
Image for display with article titled Data Center, Hundreds of Homes Coming to Downtown San Jose

Two major housing developments in San Jose are the first to be approved as part of Mayor Matt Mahan’s latest initiative to expedite projects that provide “extraordinary benefits” to the city.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

04/16/2025
The Gilroy Teachers Association and the Gilroy Unified School District School District reached a tentative contract agreement on April 15.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/16/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit Wednesday, saying the tariffs hurt “states, consumers and businesses.”

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04/15/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Downtown Association CEO Departs

The dynamic leader of a nonprofit focused on revitalizing downtown San Jose has stepped down.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/15/2025
The Senate Judiciary Committee spiked a bill to let wildfire victims sue oil companies over climate change. Labor unions, not Big Oil, led the opposition.

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04/11/2025
Image for display with article titled Ruling to End VTA Strike Upheld by Appeals Court

An appellate court judge has denied an appeal from a union representing bus drivers and light rail operators with VTA — doubling down on the decision to end a historic worker strike.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/10/2025
After a three day hearing this week, State Farm is one step closer to approval for a rate hike on its California customers.

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04/09/2025
Image for display with article titled Silicon Valley Fast-Food Owners Could Pay for Workers’ Rights Training

It's been a good week for fast-food workers in Silicon Valley.
Employees at local McDonald's, Taco Bell and other fast-food franchises roared with applause Tuesday when the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved creating a training program for fast-food workers on their state-mandated labor rights.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/09/2025
California Democrats are backing a legislative proposal that would allow gig workers to form unions. Expect big pushback from companies like Uber, Lyft and Doordash.

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04/07/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Congressman Talks Tariffs With Small Businesses

President Donald Trump's tariffs have begun to hit the economy, and one congressional lawmaker heard fear, frustration and anger from local businesses during his trip to San Jose. 

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/07/2025
The stock market selloff that followed President Trump’s latest tariff announcement underscored the “unprecedented” risk that California pension funds see in a potential trade war.

California Local Pin Marker From Mountain View Voice...

04/05/2025
It's now easier and faster to launch a small business or build a home in Mountain View.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/04/2025
It’s hard to find the disciplinary history of for-profit colleges regulated by California. CalMatters is making it easier.

California Local Pin Marker From Mountain View Voice...

04/03/2025
Though back at work following a court order, the workers union is making little progress toward a new deal with the Valley Transportation Authority.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

04/02/2025
In an April 1 appellate court filing, the union representing Valley Transportation Authority workers appealed the superior court ruling ordering them to end their strike.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/02/2025
Rural counties are some of the most reliant on federal funding and federal workers. But some still welcome Trump’s upcoming cuts to forestry and other departments

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

04/01/2025
Image for display with article titled Cupertino Prioritizes Growing Its Business Community

Cupertino’s decision to draw in new businesses and support longtime merchants has the commerce community cheering.