A successful inventor and businessman, Edwin J. Hunter was perhaps best known as the founder of Hunter Industries, which he helped take from inception in 1981 to its position today as one of the world's leading manufacturers of irrigation equipment for turf and landscape.  Although closely associated with the company that bears his name, Hunter had a long and distinguished career that extended back many years prior to the founding of Hunter Industries. In all, his career in manufacturing and the development of landscape irrigation products spanned nearly half a century and he held more than 150 U.S. patents for turf and landscape irrigation products, with many of those still applicable today.  Hunter was born on June 12, 1917 in Santa Cruz, California. When he was three, his family relocated to Riverside, where he attended school and first entered the world of business, working for his father at Riverside Foundry producing bronze and gray iron castings. In 1937, the family business, now named Hunter Engineering Co., began producing machinery and developing manufacturing processes for Venetian blind window coverings, with Ed handling the introduction of new production and assembly techniques. In the first of his many patents, Ed designed and patented roll-form machinery used to make flexible aluminum blinds. Prior to this, all window blinds had been made from wood. During World War II, Hunter Engineering immersed itself into the war effort by producing tooling for aircraft parts and machinery tools. In 1944, the firm merged with Douglas Machine Company, changed its name to HunterDouglas, and went on to become one of the world's largest suppliers of window coverings and home decor accessories.

In 1952, Ed turned his inventive abilities towards the irrigation industry. He had been experimenting with the use of a tensiometer-based moisture sensor to automatically control irrigation and decided to extend this hobby into a full-time career by launching Moist-O-Matic Co.  At that time, all sprinkler heads were constructed of brass. But, Hunter foresaw the durability, economy, versatility and precision of plastics at a time when the material was on the technological fringe of development. He pioneered the use of thermoplastics for the manufacture of irrigation equipment, developing multi-station controllers and valves, along with plastic pop-up sprinklers with gear-driven rotary mechanisms. The latter was yet another Hunter innovation, replacing the standard impact drive and providing a sprinkler that isolated its moving parts from water as much as possible. Many of these products were revolutionary then, but remain the industry standard today.  In 1962, a Minneapolis-based lawn equipment firm, The Toro Company, saw the growing market for affordable landscape irrigation products and offered to purchase Moist-O-Matic. Ed agreed to stay on as director of design and development and in his time at the company introduced such popular irrigation system components as plastic valves, valve-in-head golf course sprinklers, hydraulic and electric controllers and the stream rotor.

In 1981, after 20 years with Toro, the company encouraged Ed to retire. Saying he was "too young to retire, too old to switch careers," he joined with his three children and staked his financial security on the founding of a new irrigation company, Hunter Industries.  With a portfolio of new ideas and designs, Ed's first goal was to develop a superior rotary sprinkler for the residential and commercial market. The product, initially known as the Series 75, was released in 1982 and became an instant success. It was renamed the PGP® and soon became the best-selling rotary sprinkler in the history of the industry (a position it still maintains today). Its immediate success lead to the development of a complete line of gear-driven rotors for virtually all types of applications, as well as the production of other products - controllers, valves, sprays, accessories - that together comprise a complete irrigation system.

Hunter Industries now boasts a workforce of nearly 1,000 employees at its San Marcos, California headquarters and a second production facility in Cary, North Carolina. To date, more than 50 million Hunter rotors have been installed at landscapes around the world.

In 1984 KRC Rock had insight to the needs of San Marcos and Southern California.  Starting with a field and trailer off Bent in San Marcos, they revolutionized the landscape industry in Southern California with the introduction of a unique boulder delivery system.  KRC's ability to deliver boulders to a jobsite and place them with an uncommon amount of accuracy and precision opened new vistas for contractors and residences and created a new demand for their product.  In 2003 the corner of Borden and N. Twin Oaks was beautified when KRC relocated their business to the gorgeous two story building with natural landscaping.  KRC continually strives for product excellence by supplying a large selection of flagstone, boulder, river rock, quartzite, beach pebbles, pond kits, and ont of kind water fountains.  The KRC mark can be seen accross San MArcos from educating the public at free workshops, donating rocks for boulder run conventions, and beautfully designed Sunset Park to name a few.  For this reason San Marcos Economic Develpoment Committee is awarding KRC Rock, Inc. the Product Excellence Award.

Leadership North County is a 10-month program that orients participants to how the North County community functions.  Through monthly seminars, tours, exercises, participants increase their awareness of the issues affecting the region and learn about ways in which local leaders might collaborate to work more efficiently.  By exploring a variety of issues including government, energy, water, economic drivers, land use, and health care (just to name a few) participants cannot help but to walk away inspired to be more engaged in our local community.

Located in San Marcos since 1998, Tina's Deli quickly became known for their HUGE and delicious sandwiches.  In August 2006, Chris Nelson and Eric Edwards took over the business and have continued the tradition.  Tina's, a very popular eating establishment for the Sheriffs, Firemen, students, and local businesses who find the huge sandwiches, great service, and friendly atmosphere to be the best.  It is not uncommon to drive by at lunch time and see a number of cruisers or fire trucks parked in the parking lot.  Chris and Eric expanded the catering business to include CSUSM and now all of the students know the Tina Deli sandwiches.  Tina's caters lunches to many of the schools in the area including but not limited to, San Marcos Middle School, Mission Hills High School, and Twin Oaks Elementary.

Over the past 13 years, Phil's BBQ has continued to provide San DIego County with the best BBQ around.  In a region better known for its fish tacos than BBQ, Phil's BBQ has become a landmark restaurant in San Diego by winning countless awards including San Diego Magazine's Best BBQ Reader Poll 10 years in a row!  In October of 2010, Phil's BBQ San Marcos opened with great anticipation to service their loyal customers in North County.  Even with a new location, the Phil's experience and menuremains the same: huge portions and many, many paper towels.  This location draws clients from all over North County and even the southern areas of Orange County and Riverside.  Because committment to the community has been an intricate part of the journey, Phil's BBQ has contributed over a quarter million dollars to local children's charities over the past twelve years.  For those reasons we are pleased to present Phil's BBQ with the 2010 EDE for Restaurant Excellence.

In November 2010 the San Marcos Sheriff and Fire Department participated in a historic operation when a home packed with the largest stash of homemade explosives and bomb-making material ever uncovered in the U.S. was discovered in Escondido.  Upon investigation, they determined that it was too risky to allow their bomb squad to attempt to remove the dangerous explosives manually, so they had to investigate other alternatives.  A risky and difficult decision had to be made on how to handle the cache, which was further complicated due to the immediate threat to the surrounding residential neighborhood, complexity of the chemicals stored in the house and the national news coverage the operation received. After a detailed and rigorous analysis of alternatives, the final conclusion to use fire to rid the house of explosives was deemed to be the best solution, but also both dangerous and controversial. However through the diligent research, consultation with experts and wind pattern analysis, our public service agencies were able to successfully vaporize the threat on December 9th, 2010 without any loss of life or unrelated property.  For these departments’ handling of this unprecedented event, which will no-doubt go down in the history books as a text book example of an emergency response; the SMEDC is pleased to present the San Marcos Sheriff Department and the San Marcos Fire Department with the 2011 EDE award for Public Service Excellence.  

The original San Marcos Elementary School built in 1948 was part of the Rich-Mar Union School District.  This school started the educational program for the San Marcos and Richland area elementary school children.  The community jewel was where many of today's community members started their education and the children followed in their footsteps in the San Marcos Unified School District.  There was a tremendous heritage that made up the original school that the District wanted to design into the superior educational program that is currently being offered at the school.  Joining the San Marcos educational team are the student teachers from California State University San Marcos.  This team and the local community resources have been brought in to provide and educational program that is structured to provide the best teaching program for all the children at the school.  The design of the school supports the student educational program delivery to small and large study groups , collaborative learning, pride in school and its heritage and supports uses by the Boys & Girls Club and the community at large.  The new San Marcos Elementary School was designed by HMC Architects of San Diego and was constructed by Lusardi Construction Company of San Marcos, under the direction of Kathy Tanner, Executive Director of Facilities for the District.  Through a land exchange with the City of San Marcos, the District was able to configure the school site on one contiguous parcel.  The City and the school will share a joint use soccer field.  The two story buldings comprise of approximatley 75,000 square feet located on 8.34 acres.  The school boasts a number of firsts for the district.  It is the first two-story school in the District and first school the utilizes a well for watering landscaping.   In addition, it is the first school in the distric with a bridge between two buildings.

The long-anticipated addition of the Residence Inn by Marriott to San Marcos business and leisure lodging offerings has been greeted with occupancy rates that have far exceeded the expectations of anyone, including the operators. The hotel’s excellent facilities have raised the bar for future hotel projects in San Marcos while simultaneously proving there is a strong market for quality accommodations in the city.  This lodging facility of clearly higher-end quality allows local businesses to accommodate visiting clients and other guests in an appropriate manner without apology and gives San Marcos the opportunity to show itself in the best possible light. The management team at Residence Inn by Marriott has also made its presence felt in the community by being actively involved in community events and participating in community affairs. Their contributions in the brief time they have been operating have already been warmly felt throughout San Marcos.

Southern Contracting was founded in 1963 by Richard McBride and George Bryant and located their business in San Marcos.  For over 41 years Southern Contracting has contributed to the Economic Development of San Marcos by installing much of what you don't see but what makes this city bright.  The installed the "backbone" or dry installation for San Elijo Hills and the southern extension of Twin Oaks Valley Road from Village Drive to Double Peak Drive.  They have taken what we don't want to see (overhead wires) and converted them to underground.  Also, Southern has contributed to the installation of street lights throughout San Marcos.  Now lead by Tim McBride and 175 employees strong, Southern Contracting has contributed to San Marcos to make this community what it is today and for this reason SMEDC is preseting to them the EDE Community  Excellence Award!

Since its beginning in 1999 as a single event, completely staffed by volunteers, held in the Summer and billed as the "Grand Summer Fesitval," the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce street fair has morphed into two separate Sunday events.  In April the street fair season begins in San Marcos with its Spring Festival.  This event, themed as a family block party pays tribute to its fortunate timing coinciding with the beginning of Major League Baseball's regular season and is titled "Swinging Into Spring."  Taking a cue from San Marcos' agricultural roots the theme for its Fall event is "Harvest Festival" as it seeks to remind residents and visitors alike that the Discovery Valley was settled as a farming community and maintains ties to its agrarian past.  These festivals as conceived and executed have succeeded in bringin tens of thousands of visitors to the city of San Marcos to sample what it has to offer.  Often, even though they may live only one or two cities away, the street fair gives them their first reason to visit San Marcos.  Many who visit the fairs aren't from outside the city but are new to it, and the displays put on by the City, the EDC, and Fire Department as well as numerous businesses and non-profits in the community are often their first introduction to what is avaibale to them in their new hometown. It is estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 people visited this year's Spring Festival.  The San Marcos Chamber of Commerce's committment to improved marketing and promotion of the event, as well as continuing to seek improvements to the event itself means even better days ahead for San Marcos and the Festivals.  We can't wait to see whta the future brings!