Urban Catalyst Fund

08/10/2026

California has 2,469 census tracts eligible for the next Opportunity Zone map. Only 560 made the state’s current draft recommendation list.

Santa Clara County received 17 draft recommendations, with 15 concentrated in San Jose.

These numbers show how selective the redraw has become and how prominently San Jose currently figures in California’s proposed map.

CoStar explores the growing competition as states decide which communities will be included in the next generation of Opportunity Zones.

Thousands of communities vie for fewer designations

08/04/2026

San Jose just ranked among the 10 happiest cities in America for the sixth year in a row.

WalletHub's 2026 report scored 182 of the largest U.S. cities on 29 metrics covering well-being, income and employment, and community. San Jose was one of six California cities in the top 25.

It is another sign that Silicon Valley offers more than innovation and jobs. The region also delivers a strong quality of life.

The city’s unbeaten streak on the happiest list dates to 2020.

07/28/2026

One million people visited Downtown San Jose during six weeks of World Cup celebrations.

San Pedro Square hosted 104 watch parties, and according to KTVU Fox 2, hotel revenue per available room increased 42.3% compared with the same period last year.

This past weekend, the 20th anniversary CrossFit Games brought thousands more fans downtown, with competition centered at SAP Center.

Two major events. One clear takeaway. Downtown San Jose is ready for the spotlight.

After all the World Cup celebrations have been wrapped, the flags put away and the confetti cleaned up, the city of San Jose still has reason to celebrate: over the six weeks of games, one million people visited the city’s downtown.

07/28/2026

San Jose entered the second half of 2026 the way it began: with not enough housing.

- Vacancy near historic lows (CoStar, June 2026)
- Rent growth trailing only San Francisco among major U.S. markets (CoStar, June 2026)
- 9 renters competing for every available apartment (RentCafe, April 2026)
- Construction still well below pre-pandemic pace

New supply takes years to deliver. If current conditions persist, CoStar forecasts 6–7% rent growth and vacancy tightening toward 3% over the next year.

The takeaway is simple: demand continues to outpace what the market can deliver.

San Jose's multifamily market posted 3.4% vacancy and 5.6% rent growth through June 2026, second only to San Francisco. Here's what to watch in the second half.

07/10/2026

San Jose’s housing challenge will not be solved by one sector alone.

Yesterday, our CEO, Erik Hayden, joined Bisnow’s San Jose State of the Market panel, “Creating Communities for San Jose Residents,” alongside Dixie Lira-Baus, Jessie O'Malley Solis, Banu San, and moderator Anthony Mirenda, PER.

The takeaway: housing is not just a real estate issue. It touches workforce growth, transit, downtown activity, and the long-term strength of San Jose.

Thank you to Bisnow for hosting the discussion.

06/25/2026

Our CEO Erik Hayden spoke with the San José Spotlight about what we’re seeing in the Silicon Valley office market.

Leasing activity is improving, but downtown recovery will take time.

An uptick in leasing activity in Silicon Valley’s commercial real estate market has offered a glimmer of hope that a stronger post-pandemic economic recovery may be taking hold. But market watchers caution that high office vacancies are likely to remain for years to come.

06/16/2026

The latest math behind Silicon Valley's rising rents: AI is the newest wave of tech demand, and the region still isn't building enough to keep up. We're working to help close that gap, one project at a time.

In Silicon Valley, expect more AI jobs, too few apartments and much higher rents.

06/09/2026

Downtown San Jose is getting ready for a global spotlight.

As the Silicon Valley Business Journal reports, the FIFA World Cup is expected to generate between $480 million and $630 million in Bay Area economic impact, with San Jose playing a central role through the Soccer Celebration at San Pedro Square from June 11 through July 19.

For Downtown San Jose businesses, this six-week surge is more than a major event. It is another signal of the momentum building in the urban core, where sports, entertainment, hospitality, housing, and public-private investment are coming together to create a more vibrant downtown.

More than 10,000 people have already RSVP'd to attend San Pedro Square's screening of the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

06/01/2026

California added 128,600 jobs in Q1 2026, accounting for 92% of all net new U.S. job creation during that period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rest of the country combined added just 11,700.

25 states lost jobs over the same stretch.

Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of AI-driven job growth, and downtown San Jose sits at the center of it.

Yes, the much-maligned California business climate equaled 92% of the nation’s job creation in the past year.