With more than 102,000 residents, 32 parks and its own PG&E substation, Vacaville — whose motto is “Connecting the Capital to the Bay” — sounds like a cozy, conveniently situated community. But that’s only half the story. With three industrial parks, it’s also one of the nation’s fastest growing cities and an increasingly influential bio-tech hub.

“We’ve had an established biomanufacturing center here for more than 30 years,” says Mayor John Carli. City Manager Aaron Busch seconds that notion: “We work to create an environment where businesses and residents can thrive, embracing the adage that your success is our success.” 

Powerful biotech businesses within the city limits include Lonza, Novici Biotech, Polaris Pharmaceutical, Synder Filtration and RxD Nova Pharmaceuticals, plus support firms such as BioPlas, ThermoFischer Scientific and Mettler-Toledo Rainin

In addition, the well-named ICON Aircraft builds its iconic sport aircraft here, while All Weather Architectural Aluminum is currently expanding operations in Vacaville.

“I think Vacaville has been a well-kept secret for too long.” — Mayor John Carli

But wait, there’s more! Mariani Foods and Wunder-Bar are also found here. More recently, the city has welcomed Mango Materials and LifeSpace Labs, a co-working space, into its realm. 

A council-manager form of government, Vacaville’s representation is divided into six geographic city council districts, with the mayor elected at large.

“With our long history of supporting biomanufacturing, we’re catalyzing the growth of the bioeconomy,” says Busch. “On a pragmatic scale, this involves the city’s dedication to its Biotech Fast Track program, which streamlines and expedites the review and development process.”

“We can provide biotech companies with needed entitlements in under 100 days,” Carli says proudly.

While Vacaville’s grown and continues to blossom as an industrial dynamo, its desirability as a community in which to raise a family, have meaningful careers and comfortably retire is not only an essential part of its lure, but also in its DNA. 

The third-largest city in Solano County, Vacaville was named for Juan Manuel Vaca. Señor Vaca and Juan Felipe Peña were the original landowners of Rancho Los Putos (also called Rancho Lihuaytos), a 44,384-acre Mexican land grant. Its sphere of influence included the region from Vacaville to Davis. The name “Los Putos” comes from close-by Putah Creek.

“I think Vacaville has been a well-kept secret for too long,” says Carli. “We’re ideally located, our homes are affordable and our indoor/outdoor lifestyle makes it a great place to live, learn and work. 

About that learning part: Vacaville, which boasts an educated work force, is near the University of California, Davis and Sacramento State and home to Solano Community College and its industry-recognized biomanufacturing program.

Vacaville is about a 24-minute drive from Davis and, a little further east, a 35-minute drive from Sacramento. Yet its proximity to the diverse splendors of Northern California — San Francisco (55 miles away), Napa Valley wine country (32 miles) and Tahoe’s South Shore (about a two-and-a-half-hour drive) — make it an ideal central point for auto and train travel. In addition, Sacramento International Airport is just 42 minutes away, while county-owned Nut Tree Airport, which is mostly for general aviation as well as air taxi service, is two miles from Vacaville’s downtown district.

Then there’s the Vacaville lifestyle. “Thanks to plenty of open space, proximity to lakes, rivers and mountains, residents of Vacaville can enjoy year-round outdoor recreational activities like fishing, boating, hiking and biking,” says Busch. “We’re a growing community in the midst of a renaissance — one in which the city invested over $11 million in the last couple years in its own downtown to address underground infrastructure for business expansion, improved lighting and tree lights, among other improvements.”

“We also have several affordable and luxury housing projects in various stages of being built, from planning to active construction,” says Carli.

Put simply: in Vacaville, tomorrow has already begun. Are you in?