The East Bay is home to one of the world's most dynamic economies and fastest growing regions in the U.S. It is the most populous and geographically diverse region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Drawn to the innovative business climate and connectivity to critical supply chain support, Fortune 500 companies and major corporations/organizations are headquartered in the East Bay, along with thousands of smaller employers that drive the region's dynamic economy.  

The East Bay's central location in the Bay Area and Northern California mega-region helps businesses grow

• Extensive physical infrastructure providing connectivity for workers and goods within the region as well as to global markets. The East Bay offers the best access to the Bay Area's Interstate freeway network, heavy rail commuter system and the ports of Oakland and Richmond. 
• The Oakland International Airport (OAK) offers many air transportation options for national and international business activity. Passenger traffic surpassed 13.6 million in 2018, a year-over-year increase of 4%. Served by 14 different airlines, new routes brought OAK's roster to 67 nonstop destinations, including 14 international cities. 
• OAK is the largest airport in the Bay Area for air cargo, serving as a primary hub for FedEx and UPS. The airport's volume of air cargo ranks among the top 3 in the nation.
• The Port of Oakland is the 8th busiest container port in the U.S, handling 99% of all containerized goods moving through Northern California. In 2018, total imports at the Port of Oakland reached nearly $30 billion, a 4.5% year-over-year increase. Total exports reached $19.8 billion in 2018, driven by exports in fruits and nuts, meat and industrial machinery. 
• In 2018, the Port of Oakland will lead ports nationwide in building a digital shipping platform to speed up global trade flow and accelerate freight transportation.
• The movement of residents, workers and visitors in the East Bay includes numerous public transit systems. The East Bay is home to 30 of the 48 BART Stations. The Bay Area's ferry system, serving 2.6 million riders annually, connects the East Bay to San Francisco, Peninsula and North Bay.

Innovation drives our economy

• World-class research and development institutions, including UC Berkeley and three National Laboratories, attract billions in public R&D funding each year. The East Bay's innovation ecosystem is dynamic and encourages a strong talent pipeline, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
• Growing innovation industries in sectors including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, clean energy and software. The diversity of these economic activities keeps the region thriving and growing.
• Significant venture capital investments. Every year, since 2000, the East Bay has attracted more venture capital funds than six of the top 10 states. In 2018, over $5.1 billion was invested in East Bay companies. 
• Dynamic and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Startups have access to numerous incubators and accelerators that help companies get established, grow and succeed. 

High quality of life

• A wide variety of communities providing diverse housing options. Compared to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the East Bay offers more affordable and diverse housing options.
• East Bay communities offer excellent options for families. In 2019, SmartAsset named several East Bay cities, including San Ramon, Pleasanton, Hayward, Union City, Fremont and Livermore as the best places to raise a family on the West Coast.
• The East Bay is a popular destination for arts and culture, entertainment, and food and dining. In 2019, National Geographic selected Oakland in the culture category, acclaimed for its diversity, food scene and nightlife.
• The East Bay's multicultural diversity is celebrated throughout the year with festivals that celebrates art, food, history and traditions. 
• Outdoor recreational opportunities are in abundance and can be enjoyed year-round in reliably sunny weather. The East Bay Regional Park District spans over 120,000 acres of parkland and 1,250 miles of trails.

East Bay Lab Ecosystem