Outside US & Canada?
Its diversity, Spanish architecture, and relative affluence have earned the region the nickname of "the American Riviera." Warm weather and pristine beaches attract visitors all year round. In addition, many military installations built during Spanish expansion still serve as major attractions to this day. More recently, Santa Barbara's International Film Festival and the Summer Solstice Parade have helped add new life to this major urban center.
In addition to tourism and beach culture, other major employers include:
- Vandenburg Air Force Base (which dominates the economy of Lompoc and contributes roughly $5.8 billion to the local economy)
- Lompoc federal prison
- The University of California
- Lockheed Martin
- Rayethon Systems
- Von/Williams Brothers Stores
- Extensive agriculture
Because technology and defense constitute such a large portion of the local economy, they tend to attract specialists, engineers, and researchers with extensive backgrounds in these key areas. However, both skilled and blue-collar labors have helped this Portside economy grow in recent years.
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