Anchor Audio is now calling Carlsbad home after a successful move from Torrance to its new digs in Carlsbad, bringing new jobs and another innovative technology company to the Carlsbad Research Center.
Anchor Audio decided to move from the Los Angeles area to get away from the congestion and high cost of housing. Anchor Audio President Janet Jacobs said Northern San Diego County was appealing because it's a mecca for wireless communication. Her visit to Carlsbad sealed the deal because it has a fantastic location, lower housing prices relative to Los Angeles and excellent schools.
Anchor Audio was started 35 years ago in a high school shop and has become the leading manufacturer of portable sound systems, including public address sound systems, wired and wireless intercoms, and lectern systems. Education, commercial, hospitality, government and military customers will now receive their Anchor products from a factory right here in Carlsbad.
Anchor's relocation to Carlsbad hit an unexpected snag when company executives realized that their first relocation choice wasn't going to work, and Anchor Audio had to vacate its old building in five weeks.
Jacobs said that when the firm realized the first site wasn't going to work, Robert Gunness and Robert Fletcher, brokers at CB Richard Ellis, showed officials new buildings, and within days they selected the Darwin Court location.
As soon as Anchor Audio shifted to a new site, the city shifted gears as well. Our Community & Economic Development Department staff walked company officials through the process and watched over every permit to ensure there were no surprises.
The city is aware that times are hard and extra service can make a difference in attracting a new business. Anchor Audio had already decided to move to Carlsbad, so that part was easy. Our top priority became making sure the transition went as smoothly as we could make it.
The City of Carlsbad typically doesn't offer financial incentives, such as tax breaks, but we have so many other things working in our favor, great geography, established business clusters, an excellent transportation system, an educated work force and the help the city can provide through the process.
Anchor Audio has already made quite an impression as company representatives get to know their new neighbors.”We're on every ship at sea,” Jacobs said of Anchor Audio's products. “When you're on a pitching deck of an aircraft carrier, you have to have rugged gear.”
The company's products aren't aimed at audiophiles, but at average people, so they can turn a switch and a get a warm, rich speaking sound. “We're doing a lot of wireless development. Intercoms. Belt pack and headsets. Very sophisticated equipment,” Jacobs said. She said that the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering and Qualcomm have helped develop a rich technical talent pool, which was perfect for Anchor Audio.
Thirty-five of the company's 50-member work force made the move here, and the company recruited 17 people locally. The company began production in Carlsbad on September 16.
The city's help has not ended with the relocation. When Jacobs told us about an interesting product Anchor Audio's developing, we thought we could lend a hand. The product is called Rescue Man. Jacobs described it as a combination of a very loud sound system and a very bright light, which fire and police departments can use during emergencies.
So we put her company in touch with the City of Carlsbad Fire Department, which will help test and develop the device.
Anchor Audio decided to move from the Los Angeles area to get away from the congestion and high cost of housing. Anchor Audio President Janet Jacobs said Northern San Diego County was appealing because it's a mecca for wireless communication. Her visit to Carlsbad sealed the deal because it has a fantastic location, lower housing prices relative to Los Angeles and excellent schools.
Anchor Audio was started 35 years ago in a high school shop and has become the leading manufacturer of portable sound systems, including public address sound systems, wired and wireless intercoms, and lectern systems. Education, commercial, hospitality, government and military customers will now receive their Anchor products from a factory right here in Carlsbad.
Anchor's relocation to Carlsbad hit an unexpected snag when company executives realized that their first relocation choice wasn't going to work, and Anchor Audio had to vacate its old building in five weeks.
Jacobs said that when the firm realized the first site wasn't going to work, Robert Gunness and Robert Fletcher, brokers at CB Richard Ellis, showed officials new buildings, and within days they selected the Darwin Court location.
As soon as Anchor Audio shifted to a new site, the city shifted gears as well. Our Community & Economic Development Department staff walked company officials through the process and watched over every permit to ensure there were no surprises.
The city is aware that times are hard and extra service can make a difference in attracting a new business. Anchor Audio had already decided to move to Carlsbad, so that part was easy. Our top priority became making sure the transition went as smoothly as we could make it.
The City of Carlsbad typically doesn't offer financial incentives, such as tax breaks, but we have so many other things working in our favor, great geography, established business clusters, an excellent transportation system, an educated work force and the help the city can provide through the process.
Anchor Audio has already made quite an impression as company representatives get to know their new neighbors.”We're on every ship at sea,” Jacobs said of Anchor Audio's products. “When you're on a pitching deck of an aircraft carrier, you have to have rugged gear.”
The company's products aren't aimed at audiophiles, but at average people, so they can turn a switch and a get a warm, rich speaking sound. “We're doing a lot of wireless development. Intercoms. Belt pack and headsets. Very sophisticated equipment,” Jacobs said. She said that the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering and Qualcomm have helped develop a rich technical talent pool, which was perfect for Anchor Audio.
Thirty-five of the company's 50-member work force made the move here, and the company recruited 17 people locally. The company began production in Carlsbad on September 16.
The city's help has not ended with the relocation. When Jacobs told us about an interesting product Anchor Audio's developing, we thought we could lend a hand. The product is called Rescue Man. Jacobs described it as a combination of a very loud sound system and a very bright light, which fire and police departments can use during emergencies.
So we put her company in touch with the City of Carlsbad Fire Department, which will help test and develop the device.