Our Work

Business Competitiveness

Ensuring innovation can scale and our region remains globally competitive.

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Overview

SVLG’s Business Competitiveness Center of Expertise (COE) serves as SVLG’s engine for both policy and advocacy on tax competitiveness, data center and innovation infrastructure, and overall business climate.

Through research, economic analysis, advocacy, and direct engagement with industry and policymakers, the COE translates real-world business challenges into actionable policy – supporting a competitive tax environment, preparing the region’s infrastructure for next-generation innovation, and advancing predictable regulatory frameworks.

Policy, Initiatives & Partnerships

Key initiatives in 2026 include:

Catalyzing innovation, investment, and broad-based economic growth. The SVLG Tax Policy Task Force brings together leaders from across the innovation economy to advance a pragmatic, forward-looking tax agenda that strengthens California’s competitiveness while supporting long-term, inclusive economic growth. Through policy development, advocacy, and strategic engagement, the Task Force is helping shape a tax environment where innovation can scale and communities can thrive.

Driving advocacy for the physical backbone of the AI revolution. By convening leaders across energy, cooling, construction, and digital infrastructure, the Coalition tackles permitting bottlenecks, grid reliability, and sustainable development — securing the long-term competitiveness of California’s data center ecosystem. (In partnership with SVLG’s Tech & Innovation COE)

SVLG periodically convenes ad-hoc working groups to address timely issues affecting Silicon Valley’s business climate and economic competitiveness. Formed around specific challenges or emerging priorities – from tax and infrastructure to regulatory and regional issues – these groups bring together member companies and subject matter experts to help inform SVLG’s advocacy and engagement strategies.

Priorities

On the advocacy front, SVLG’s Business Competitiveness COE focuses on advancing policies that strengthen the core conditions for growth – including tax competitiveness, modern infrastructure, and regulatory clarity to support investment and scale.

Key Legislative and Regulatory Priorities

Ensuring California’s tax structure attracts and retains companies, talent, and capital in an increasingly mobile global economy.

SVLG’s energy and climate policy work is focused on advancing solutions that strengthen California’s economic competitiveness while accelerating progress toward the state’s ambitious climate goals.

SVLG has long advocated for pragmatic solutions to build more housing, with a particular focus on high‑density, mixed‑use development near major transit corridors. Today, SVLG remains focused on working with partners at the local and state level to increase our housing supply through streamlined permitting, and CEQA modernization.

SVLG’s supports advancing practical, forward-looking solutions that improve mobility, reduce congestion, and support long-term economic competitiveness in the region.