EVENT:  The University of California, Irvine is hosting a webinar to present the results of the latest quarterly report from the School of Social Ecology’s Metropolitan Futures Initiative, this one on business relocations in Southern California. MFI director John Hipp and postdoctoral researcher Kevin Kane will provide further insights and answer questions.

WHEN/WHERE:  1:30-2:15 PDT Tuesday, Aug. 15

INFORMATION:  Free and open to the public. To register, go to https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=ay7ckec3ut83&campaign=75t63lhdwvpd

HIGHLIGHTS:  Large business moves may draw splashy headlines and immediately bring jobs and revenue to a city, but a new analysis of relocation data shows that such moves in the Southern California region are much less common — and much less beneficial — than previously thought. Only one-third of company relocations cross city borders, only 6 percent cross county borders, and nearly 25 percent are to sites less than half a mile away.

BACKGROUND:  The Metropolitan Futures Initiative aims to gain an improved understanding of Southern California communities and their potential for collaborative planning to ensure a bright future for the region. By employing an interdisciplinary team approach and applying big-data research techniques, the MFI is able to produce quarterly reports that offer cutting-edge findings on various issues of interest to the public and policymakers.