Of
paramount importance is our commitment to providing
every employee and surrounding communities with a safe
and healthy environment in which to work and live.
But being a good neighbor is much more. The Laboratory
and its 7,800 employees participate in a wide range
of civic endeavors. With an annual payroll of more
than $777 million, the Laboratory is the largest
employer in the City of Livermore and the fourth largest
in Alameda County. We are also one of the largest employers
of City of Tracy residents. The majority of our staff
live in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Joaquin counties.
Laboratory
employees are generous contributors to community welfare
through volunteerism and charitable giving. Our HOME
(Helping Others More Effectively) Campaign raises money
for local nonprofit agencies and umbrella groups, such
as the Tri-Valley Community Foundation, with more than
$1 million given each year since 1995.
As
an institution, the Laboratory is involved in an array
of educational and diversity outreach programs, business
partnerships, and economic development initiatives.
Our agreements with universities and colleges support
high-technology workforce training, and we have a wealth
of K-12 science education programs. We also strive
to increase the representation of minorities and women
in science and engineering through educational and
employment opportunities.
About one-third of our annual budget
is spent on procurements. More than $258 million is
spent in California annually, of which some $191
million is spent in the San Francisco Bay area. About
$250 million in procurements goes to small businesses,
small disadvantaged businesses, and women-owned businesses.
Some 34 percent of our industrial partnerships
are with small businesses and start-up companies. About
20 percent of our active patent and copyright
licenses are with California companies.
In fiscal year 2007, the Laboratory
spent more than $610 million on the procurement of
goods and services. Of this amount, $334 million was
spent in California. Additionally, the Laboratory has
active commercial licenses with 96 California companies.
To find out more about the Laboratory’s community
ties, see our Community
Connections Web page.