After over 30 years of dedicated service, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson will retire from public service, leaving an indelible mark on the East Bay. A champion of community and business alike, he leaves behind a long legacy of service not only to the residents he represented in District 5 (Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and parts of Oakland), but to the county and region.
One of Supervisor Carson’s signature initiatives has been to support strategic regional economic development. Early on in his tenure as Supervisor, he became the Chair of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), the premier economic development organization that serves as the regional voice and networking resource for strengthening the economy, building the workforce, and enhancing the quality of life in the East Bay.
During Supervisor Carson’s tenure as Chair of East Bay EDA, the organization tackled several significant regional initiatives and projects to help support the East Bay’s economic vitality, including addressing the impacts of military base closures, expanding the capacity of the Port of Oakland, working to mitigate the impacts of the closure of the NUMMI automotive plant on local suppliers and the workforce, and more. However, Supervisor Carson’s interests were hardly confined to the East Bay, as he championed numerous federal and state initiatives to grow foreign direct investment and foster relationships with international leaders seeking to expand business and trade opportunities with the region.
In recent years, Supervisor Carson’s stewardship of East Bay EDA included expanding the organization’s geographic reach and scope by expanding its work to include Contra Costa County, assisting small businesses in Alameda County, deepening the organization’s analytical and research capabilities, and creating a space to elevate and spotlight the incredible array of diverse and innovative companies doing groundbreaking work across the East Bay region. In so doing, he helped to strengthen the East Bay’s reputation as a world-class location to grow business, attract capital, and create quality jobs.
As he begins this next chapter, please join East Bay EDA in wishing Supervisor Carson and his family the very best for his commitment, leadership, and passion to making the East Bay one of the best regions in the world to live, work, and do business. We are grateful for his commitment and lasting impact in our region.