Advisory Board: Governing Board of the Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ)
Subject: Receive update on economic development research and stakeholder engagement to support a high-road clean energy manufacturing strategy for the GEZ
Presenter: Jessie Hammerling and Will Toaspern, UCB Labor Center
Contact: Jessie Hammerling, Co-Director, Green Economy Program, (612) 743 2530 and Will Toaspern, Lead Policy Researcher, (720) 226 6039
Information:
The PowerPoint presentation is attached.
Referral History and Update:
On September 12, 2023, the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County authorized an agreement with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 to be used to provide administrative and other support services for the Green Empowerment Zone consistent with the State legislation AB 179, the Budget Act of 2022. The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026. The Governing Board of
the Green Empowerment Zone had its first meeting on December 7, 2023.
On December 7, 2023, the Green Empowerment Zone Governing Board received an informational presentation from the UC Berkeley Labor Research Center on a proposal of research to inform planning for the Green Empowerment Zone. Pursuant to the Green Empowerment Zone legislation, AB844 (Grayson), the duties of the Green Empowerment Zone include to partner with the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and the state’s other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the energy industry in the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa. The UC Berkeley Labor Center refined its proposed concept to focus on developing a high road strategy for the clean energy sector. This refined concept represented an example of research to inform planning for the Green Empowerment Zone that the GEZ Board might wish to consider before strategic planning can be completed.
On February 16, 2024, the Board provided direction to staff to provide an invitation to develop a detailed proposal and to bring a full proposal back to the GEZ Board for consideration. Staff has met with the UC Labor Center five times, working in detail to flesh out the scope of work that resulted in a full draft proposal with the following three strategies:
1. Foundational research to shape clean energy manufacturing priorities and high road growth strategies.
2. Stakeholder engagement and technical assistance to identify opportunities to support high road clean energy manufacturing growth and identify barriers to growth.
3. Policy recommendations to support additional high road clean energy manufacturing growth in the GEZ.
At its April 19, 2024, meeting, the Governing Board of the GEZ received a presentation on the full and detailed proposal from the UC Berkeley Labor Center to consider recommending the Board of Supervisors enter a $2 million, 3-Year contract to retain UC Berkeley Labor Center to conduct foundational research, to support stakeholder engagement and technical assistance, and to make policy recommendations to support the Green Empowerment Zone. The GEZ Governing Board directed County staff to negotiate a contract with the University for this scope of service and seek approval from the Board of Supervisors to execute the contract.
The implementation of this contract requires the collaboration of various entities to be successful, including an economic development working group. It also requires biannual (or as-needed) reporting to the GEZ Governing Board.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Consider the following actions related to the Green Empowerment Zone:
• Receive update on economic development research and stakeholder engagement to support a high-road clean energy manufacturing strategy for the GEZ.