Welcome to the East Bay Digest—your monthly overview of the latest economic development updates from cities across the East Bay. This July edition highlights key news and announcements from each of our region’s seven dynamic subregions for the first half of 2026. Thank you to our Economic Development Directors’ Council members for contributing information and highlights. Learn more about the East Bay and its communities.
Central Alameda County
Hayward
- The City’s Economic Development Division earned a Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council for its “Hashtag Hayward” program, which supports small-business growth through storefront upgrades and enhanced social media engagement. More info.
- In April, Hayward launched Hayward Amplified, a new $75K grant initiative enabling local businesses to host promotional events—live music, art installations, watch parties—to revitalize commercial corridors. Learn more.
- Additionally, in June, the City Council advanced a progressive business license tax ballot measure projected to generate an additional $12M annually to strengthen fiscal stability. Read here.
San Leandro
- City of San Leandro and B3 Investors Earn Statewide Recognition for Bayfair Transformation. Read more.
Central Contra Costa County
Clayton
- Clayton City Council approved the FY 2026–27 budget featuring structural realignment: general fund reserves projected to remain above policy minimums (~$5.9 M), with $133K in salary savings and $87K in service cuts in FY 2026. The city is also considering a 1% local sales tax measure for long-term financial stability. Learn more.
Martinez
- Recognized with the APA California Chapter Northern Section 2026 Planning Agency Award of Excellence for notable work in housing policy, waterfront revitalization, and long-range planning. More info.
- The 2026 State of the City address (March 5) highlighted strategic priorities in infrastructure, economic growth, and community resilience. Read more.
Pleasant Hill
- Pleasant Hill’s Civic Action Commission announced the launch of the Sunset by the Lake concert series and kicked off community outreach for the 2040 General Plan amendment, inviting email sign-ups for public engagement. More info.
East Contra Costa County
Antioch
- Antioch launched a two-session Public Visioning Workshop series (June 30 & July 7) to help shape its updated General Plan, guiding long-term growth, including physical, economic, social, and environmental development. More info. Additionally, the city introduced Rivertown Free Wi‑Fi in April, improving connectivity for residents and local businesses. Read more.
Brentwood
- On April 10, Brentwood opened applications for its 2026–27 Economic Development Grant Program, offering funds to support small businesses, marketing, tourism, community events, and overall economic growth. Learn more.
Oakley
- Oakley’s City Council approved the massive 164-acre Bridgehead Industrial Project in March—3.1M sq ft of light-industrial/warehousing space—after removing planned data centers, marking significant economic and infrastructure expansion. Read more.
Pittsburg
- Pittsburg-based K2 pure solutions breaks ground to build the state of California’s first commercial production facility of green hydrogen. This announcement represents a huge milestone for the state’s energy transition and zero-carbon goals, and for the Pittsburg community as a new chapter in its long industrial story begins. In partnership with PACC services, they have already began creating the future market for hydrogen as a viable, sustainable fuel source, making deals with Hyster-Yale and ZeroUp Energy already. More info.
- Rore Manufacturing, aka Roof and Realm, has been on the cutting edge of innovation in the manufactured housing market. They were founded in 2019 in Concord, CA and they produce steel-framed, high quality ADUs, single-family homes, and commercial office spaces. They have decided to expand into a nearly 100K SQFT industrial facility here in Pittsburg. Here they will provide an end-to-end service where they completely build the homes inside their facility while dual-tracking with permitting and entitlement requirements, saving time and money. Then, they will deliver a complete product to the customer’s location and install it at their site. Learn more.
- Cielo Supermarket, a family-owned, local chain of supermarkets is set to open their new, 25,000 SQFT, full-service grocery store here in Pittsburg in the later half of 2026. They will be going into a grocery store space that has been vacant for over 6 years, representing a major turning point for the big-box retail market and for the surrounding community. The Gomez family has been local grocery store entrepreneurs in the East Bay for over 30 years, opening their second Cielo Supermarket location. Read more.
- The Dream Courts is a brand-new, over 42,000 SQFT multi-court sports complex which will feature five basketball/multi-purpose courts and will be managed by The Ultimate Fieldhouse. This facility will elevate the region’s youth and adult athletics experience with world-class amenities and sporting technology. More info.
- In February of this year, the Harvey Auto Group purchased the local Chevrolet and Honda dealerships to establish them as part of their network of East Bay auto dealerships, with the new names ‘Delta Chevrolet’ and ‘Delta Honda’. The Harvey Auto Group has been a family of professional auto dealers and community leaders for over 70 years, and their further investment in Pittsburg represents a bright future for automotive sales in the East Bay region. Learn more.
North Alameda County
Alameda
- Alameda’s City Council considered pivoting from leasing to selling property at Alameda Point to accelerate infrastructure funding—only five hangar sales (~$31M) generated limited improvement compared to $840M in total infrastructure costs—signaling a more proactive economic development shift. Read more.
Albany
- Albany City Council advanced two major mixed-use housing projects: a 207-unit development at 540 San Pablo Ave (including ~6,000 sq ft retail with 21 affordable units) and final build-out of a 62-unit affordable rental project led by SAHA. More info.
Berkeley
- The City’s Office of Economic Development released updated Economic and Commercial District Dashboards (March 10), reporting a decline in job growth but a 1.25% decrease in storefront vacancy (to 6.25%) and recognizing over 365 startups in innovation sectors. Learn more.
Emeryville
- Emeryville City Council approved a tax reform measure and greenlit a $31.7M affordable housing loan in May, while also supporting a business license tax overhaul, and the Economic Development Advisory Committee met mid-July to guide growth strategies and support for small businesses. Read more.
Oakland
- Oakland’s 2026 Annual Economic Indicators report and March Economic Summit highlighted recovery to ~227,000 jobs, driven by healthcare investments: new $240M Samuel Merritt campus, UCSF’s $1.6B hospital modernization, and a $400M Stanford/Sutter cancer center—underscoring a shift from manufacturing to care and research sectors. More info.
South Alameda County
Fremont
- A $70.1M acquisition of a 26-acre industrial site at Boyce Rd by CDECRE LLC boosts Fremont’s advanced manufacturing strategy, thanks to proximity to power infrastructure and alignment with the city’s industrial-growth vision. Learn more.
- The Palisade Fremont Innovation Center, a 70,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility, broke ground in late 2025 and is expected to bring +100 high-tech jobs by mid‑2026. More info.
Newark
- A new T&T Supermarket is opening at the former Macy’s space in NewPark Mall, enhancing retail diversity and serving the Bay Area’s Asian community. Newark City Council reviewed and advanced its 2026–28 biennial budget and 2026–31 Capital Improvement Plan, reinforcing fiscal sustainability and targeted infrastructure investment. Learn more.
Union City
- Union City Council received updates on an Economic Development Strategic Plan, highlighting targeted growth in industrial, retail, life sciences, and semiconductor sectors; expansion of Union Landing shopping center; and new tenants like Panera and Jollibee. Read more.
Tri-Valley
Danville
- Danville’s Planning Commission gained state certification for its 2023–31 Housing Element, requiring more than 2,200 new units—including a 200-unit development at Village Shopping Center, an assisted living facility, wireless telecom sites, and a new fire station—demonstrating strong momentum for housing and community infrastructure growth. More info.
Dublin
- Dublin’s Economic Development Committee updated its Small Business Assistance Program in April, adding relocation aid, enhanced resources, and refined funding aligned with the fiscal budget—boosting support for local business growth. Read more.
Livermore
- Livermore has advanced its 2045 General Plan update, with the Economic Development Element laying out ambitious goals for innovation, emerging sectors, land-use strategies, and tourism through heritage and public art. Additionally, multiple major mixed-use development projects—including downtown apartments, senior housing, winery hotels, and outlet mall expansions—are actively under review or nearing construction. Learn more.
Pleasanton
- In December 2025 (reported early Jan), Pleasanton strengthened its 2024–28 Economic Development Strategic Plan with a new Community & Economic Development Department, streamlined permitting and zoning processes, and enhanced business recruitment and retention strategies through new partnerships and marketing tools. More info.
San Ramon
- In April, San Ramon’s City Council approved the ambitious “Orchards” redevelopment—a massive mixed-use transformation of Chevron’s former headquarters at Bishop Ranch into a new downtown: 2,600 homes, 125,000 sq ft of retail, parks, trails, and affordable housing over 144 acres. Read more.
West Contra Costa County
El Cerrito
- A July 7 City Council presentation highlighted progress along San Pablo Avenue: ~90% of local retail and 60% of office space is on this corridor. The city has simplified regulations, eliminating restaurant use permits and streamlining outdoor dining to boost economic activity and support housing efforts. Learn more.
Hercules
- The City advanced several major projects this year, including the 162-unit “Emblem Hercules” mixed-income apartments and an 82-unit affordable housing complex under SB 35, both approved May–June. Council also adopted its first-year $107 M Capital Improvement Plan to support transit and waterfront development. More info.
Pinole
- On June 23 the City Council adopted a structurally balanced FY 2026–27 budget with a modest surplus (~$26), implementing cost-saving actions like department cuts, wage freezes, and fire service restructuring. Naomi Kelly was confirmed as the new City Manager in mid-June. Read more.
Richmond
- The City of Richmond successfully hosted the sold out 2026 Taste of Richmond event in March, bringing together residents, visitors, restaurants, and local businesses to celebrate Richmond’s diverse culinary community. The event highlighted local entrepreneurs, increased visibility for small businesses, and encouraged patronage of Richmond establishments. Through community engagement and business promotion, Taste of Richmond reinforced Richmond’s reputation as a vibrant destination for food, culture, and local commerce while supporting economic activity throughout the city. Learn more.
- In 2026, the City of Richmond launched the Small Business Façade Improvement Program to assist local businesses with exterior improvements, signage, lighting, accessibility enhancements, and other visible upgrades. The program supports commercial corridor revitalization, encourages private investment, and helps businesses create more attractive and welcoming storefronts. Through targeted financial assistance, Richmond continues to invest in the success of small businesses while enhancing the appearance and vitality of neighborhood business districts. More info.
- The City of Richmond continues to advance economic revitalization efforts along the Macdonald Avenue corridor through the Macdonald Avenue Corridor Task Force. In 2026, the city initiated consultant selection activities to support the development of a comprehensive strategy focused on business attraction, retention, placemaking, and corridor activation. The effort brings together businesses, community stakeholders, and public agencies to identify opportunities that strengthen Downtown Richmond, support local entrepreneurs, and encourage long-term economic investment. Read more.
San Pablo
- In February, San Pablo launched a new marketing and branding initiative— “Growing Forward, Grounded in Community”—developed with Tripepi Smith. It aims to strengthen neighborhood corridor identities, support placemaking, investment attraction, housing, and business outreach. Learn more.
Unincorporated Alameda and Contra Costa
Unincorporated Alameda County
- The County’s Economic & Civic Development team finalized its Unincorporated Economic Development Strategic Plan, began renovations at the Lorenzo Theater, revitalized the Martinelli Center in East County, and rolled out an Eden Area signage plan. They also published an updated Business Welcome Guide, launched a sidewalk vending ordinance, and continued to offer free small-business workshops through the SBDC. More info.
Unincorporated Contra Costa County
- Jupiter Volta Inc., an R&D manufacturing company, has signed a lease in unincorporated Richmond, Contra Costa County, CA, for a space formerly used for industrial manufacturing in the Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ). The company designs and develops high-tech R&D systems that unlock the future of energy.