Advisory Board: Economic Development Committee
Subject: Staff Report Regarding County Economic Development Work Program
Presenter: Alyson Greenlee Escarzaga, Economic Development Manager
Contact: 925-655-2783
Information:
Staff report is below.
Referral History and Update:
Since the last meeting of the Committee on February 2, 2026, various elements of the economic development work program have proceeded. This report includes updates on multiple efforts. County staff:
• Attended the Contra Costa County Sustainability Exchange virtually on March 12 to hear Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, speak on Air District (Bay REPAIR) grants. Will convene the next Countywide quarterly economic development meeting with countywide economic development professionals and with the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County on April 8th where Jody London will speak on Air District (Bay REPAIR) grants and Alyson Escarzaga and Salvador Morales will speak on Green Empowerment Zone staff next steps.
• Participated in a meeting with East Bay EDA on Air District (Bay REPAIR) grant and a possible collaboration with East Bay EDA to focus on advanced manufacturing, building off the Priority Production Areas grants on March 16. Will participate in another meeting with East Bay EDA and with Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County on April 3.
• Attended the Sustainability Committee meeting on March 9
• Participated in the full day interviews panel for the interviewing of candidates for the City of Antioch Economic Development Program Manager on March 5
• Attended the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) regional meeting in Martinez at the Contra Costa County Administration Building on March 30 to continue to track efforts of Sustainability as it pertains to just transition economic revitalization plan.
• Continue to provide support the staffing for the Green Empowerment Zone and most recently provided staffing to the Governing Board meetings on February 13 and March 30.
• Attended the Bayfront Chamber’s Annual State of the Cities in Hercules on March 12
• Provided feedback to City of Walnut Creek Economic Development on their draft Economic Development
• Attended Ribbon Cutting for Roof and Realm Steel Frame home manufacturer Grand Opening in Pittsburg opening in the former Bombardier plant. This is a major success story since they moved from Concord and went into the Pittsburg plant that had been producing Bombardier BART cars and now will be part of the production of Roof & Realm homes (also used to house production of old military operations).
• Attended the Downtown Crockett Open House, Visitor Center & Chamber Mixer on February 23 to learn about the promotion of the Delta Passport Program and the partnership with the Chamber and the Delta. This is a major success story since the Chamber attracted 11 businesses to Crockett last year. County Staff convened a meeting with the Chamber on the County’s Zoning Code Update on March 30.
• Presented to the East Bay EDA Land Use & Infrastructure Committee on February 18
• Presented on Permitting and Economic Development and convened the quarterly Economic Development Countywide meeting on Feb 11
• Convened the Countywide Economic Development meeting on Feb 11 of the 19 cities and Workforce Development Board to align on priorities and updates. Also in attendance was Supv. Andersen’s staff.
• Attended the District 5 Grant Writing Seminar on March 11
• Were notified on February 6 by the US Economic Development Administration (US EDA) that the application for a $1.2 million from the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program for the Pre-Development Strategy for a Battery Tech Hub on Northern Waterfront would not be considered further for funding.
• Attended the 3rd Annual State of the California African American Economy Summit in Sacramento on January 28.
• Attended San Pablo Business Mixer on January 26.
• Attended East Bay EDA’s AC Transit Zero Emissions Bus University Tour on February 27.
• Presented info. on economic development activities at Community Advisory Panel (CAP) mtg. at Henkel in Bay Point on March 24.
• Presented info. on economic development activities at Community Advisory Panel (CAP) mtg. at Chemtrade in Richmond on March 25.
• Presented info. on economic development activities at Community Advisory Panel (CAP) mtg. for Marathon Fuels at the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County on March 25.
• Have directly assisted over 30 businesses since the last Committee meeting. Topics ranged from permitting, project inquiries, partner resource assistance, home occupation business, and how to start a recycling business. Of note we had a conversation with a potential housing developer to establish an agri-tourism community within the unincorporated county.
• With Current Planning taking the lead, met with AirGas to discuss a CO2 project in Martinez on March 10.
• Attended the annual Walnut Creek Chamber Economic Development Brokers Group on March 18.
• Sent out several emails out on Bludot to the County unincorp (“Registration Open: DVTI’s Manufacturing & Technology Conference,” “East Bay Small Business Center 2026 East Bay Small Business Procurement Summit,” and “Taking Your Business to the Next Level” (See flyer attached).
• Working with the Sustainability Committee on the Just Transition Economic Revitalization Plan. The County is the lead on a 2-year planning process that begins in the first half of 2026 for a Just Transition Economic Revitalization Plan. This will kick off extensive community engagement, economic analysis, and other specialized studies towards the economic revitalization and planning for the County’s Northern Waterfront. Contra Costa’s economy has undergone several transformations over the years, and although the Northern Waterfront has attracted new business investment, transitioning from an economy based on heavy industry to a sustainable economy based on advanced manufacturing, innovation, and new technologies remains a work in progress. While traditional manufacturing employment has been declining, new opportunities are emerging. The Just Transition Economic Revitalization Plan will be a worker-centered and community-centered plan for a transition from a historically petroleum-based economy to other forms of production and employment that are clean and sustainable. The development of the plan will make use of such incentives as Opportunity Zones, the Displaced Oil & Gas Workers Fund, and the Green Empowerment Zone, to help develop new opportunities in employment, revenue, and navigate major shifts in associated impacts. Participated on interview panel for Just Transition RFQ by interviewing 7 organizations on January 30.
• Will host the East Bay EDA Economic Development Directors’ Council’s next meeting on April 9 at the Department of Conservation & Development (DCD). The event will feature a panel focused on planning and economic development and opening remarks by DCD Director John Kopchik.
• Will attend the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) conference in Palm Springs from April 15-17. This is the largest gathering for networking with local economic development and knowledge sharing.
• Will attend the California Jobs First regional Investment Summit in Sacramento on April 9-10.
• Are monitoring the GO-Biz Opportunity Zones that will be announced in April in order to prepare an application for Board of Supervisors review.
• Attended the 2026 East Bay Small Business Procurement Summit on April 1, 2026.
• Learned that the Byron Airport’s Elroy Air-which hosted the 2025 TeamCalifornia Site Selectors’ Bus Tour has been selected for the White House program <https://elroyair.com/company/news/press-releases/elroyair-selected-for-DOT-eIPP-program/>).
• Attended Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) mtg. on February 3.
• Hosted East County Economic Development meet-up mtg. on February 18
• Attended Congressman De’Saulnier’s Virtual Business Roundtable on February 19
• Participated in Contra Costa High Road Battery RoundTable Launch meeting on February 20
• Attended CALED Manufacturing Support discussion meeting on February 25
• Attended Los Medanos College MLK Celebration Luncheon on February 26
• Attended Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) mtg. on March 3
• Attended and was a keynote speaker at DVTI “Where Manufacturing Meets Technology Conference at Diablo Valley College on March 13
• Conducted Brownfields Coalition Group monthly mtg. on March 19
• Attended East Bay EDA Innovations Awards on March 26 in Oakland where Henkel was awarded the 2026 East Bay Innovation Award for Advanced Manufacturing in Bay Point. Supervisors Andersen and Burgis and District 5 Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston were all in attendance. For the first time ever, twenty (20) companies from Contra Costa County were awarded.
The Balance for Economic Development as of February 28, 2026 was (-$153,062.09).
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
RECEIVE Report From and/or Provide Direction to Staff Regarding County Economic Development Work Program.