MAY 26' MAY 26'
UPDATE UPDATE
CHRIS RICO
President & CEO
Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of the EDC,
We had the pleasure of hosting 350 of you last Wednesday for our important conversation on Power at Bally Keal Estates. Thank you for showing up for Solano and for these conversations about our future, and how we build more prosperity together. It’s going to take a collective effort for all seven of our cities and our county to be prosperous, with ample resources and balanced budgets. Power is the most important variable driving economic development, housing, business attraction, and even business retention. I have a big audacious vision that someday Solano can be the home of cheap(er), reliable, renewable power. We have all of the geographical assets to make that come true. I’m grateful that BayREN, PG&E, MCE, Middle River Power, and Next Era energy were gracious enough to sponsor this conversation in addition to Medic Ambulance, Valley Strong, and of course our long-time presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente. My only regret is that we didn’t have enough time to really explore this to its fullest extent with the caliber of panelists we had on stage. Rest assured, this is the first of many conversations we’ll be facilitating on this topic. Thank you as always for supporting us and the work we do. I’m going to keep this brief to save room for photos from the event. Wishing you continued good health and prosperity,
Chris Rico
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
LOWER BILLS WITHOUT LOWERING QUALITY
Save More and Improve Your Business with BayREN Support
From restaurants to retail shops, From restaurants to retail shops, Solano County small businesses are Solano County small businesses are saving an average of $2,800 each saving an average of $2,800 each year through energy-efficient year through energy-efficient improvements. BayREN Business improvements. BayREN Business provides free assessments, rebates, provides free assessments, rebates, and hands-on project support — and hands-on project support — often with no upfront often with no upfront investment required. investment required.
WEDNESDAY – MAY 13 2025 ENERGY CODE CHANGES - MULTIFAMILY
WEDNESDAY – MAY 27 2025 ENERGY CODE CHANGES - NONRESIDENTIAL
WEDNESDAY – JUNE 10 HEAT PUMP HVAC FOR BUILDING DEPARTMENTS
WEDNESDAY – JUNE 17 INTRODUCTION TO RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION
SIMPLIFY THE ADU SIMPLIFY THE ADU DEVELOPMENT PROCESS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Discover how to Discover how to unlock the potential unlock the potential of your outdoor space. of your outdoor space. with our comprehensive guides. with our comprehensive guides.
Solano Compet Solano Competes for $3B es for $3B Maritime Investment Opportunity Maritime Investment Opportunity
Solano County leaders are working to attract a $3 billion maritime manufacturing project, positioning the region as a hub for innovation and job creation. The effort highlights strong regional collaboration and could significantly boost employment, industry growth, and long-term economic resilience for Solano businesses and residents if secured.
$4.1M Inve $4.1M Investment Expands stment Expands
Homeless Housing Support Homeless Housing Support in Solano County in Solano County
Solano County received $4.1 million to support Solano County received $4.1 million to support emergency shelters, transitional housing, and emergency shelters, transitional housing, and homelessness prevention programs. This homelessness prevention programs. This investment strengthens community stability, investment strengthens community stability, helps individuals transition into housing, and helps individuals transition into housing, and supports a healthier local economy—reducing supports a healthier local economy—reducing strain on services while creating a more stable strain on services while creating a more stable environment for businesses, residents, and environment for businesses, residents, and workforce growth. workforce growth.
Suisun City ‘Primed’ for Grow Suisun City ‘Primed’ for Growth, th, Leaders Say at State of Business Event
Leaders Say at State of Business Event
Suisun City leaders and business experts highlighted strong potential for economic growth, driven by housing, workforce pipelines, and advanced manufacturing opportunities. For Solano County, this momentum signals new jobs, investment, and reduced commuter reliance creating a more balanced, resilient local economy for businesses and residents alike.
State of Business Forum
State of Business Forum
Highlights Jobs and Growth Highlights Jobs and Growth
Priorities in Suisun City Priorities in Suisun City
Suisun City leaders emphasized job Suisun City leaders emphasized job creation, faster development, and small creation, faster development, and small business support as keys to future business support as keys to future growth. For Solano County, these growth. For Solano County, these priorities are critical to reducing long priorities are critical to reducing long commutes, attracting investment, and commutes, attracting investment, and strengthening the local economy— strengthening the local economy—
ensuring businesses thrive while residents ensuring businesses thrive while residents gain access to quality jobs closer to home. gain access to quality jobs closer to home.
Sola Solano County Invests Additional no County Invests Additional
$2.56M to Upgrade McCormack Hall $2.56M to Upgrade McCormack Hall
Emergency Shelter Emergency Shelter
Solano County is investing $2.56 million to complete upgrades to McCormack Hall, strengthening its role as a large-scale emergency shelter. This ensures better disaster preparedness, supports community resilience, and provides businesses and residents with greater security knowing critical infrastructure is safe, functional, and ready when emergencies impact the region.
Excellence Award Excellence Award
Solano County’s regional public health lab Solano County’s regional public health lab received national recognition for safety, received national recognition for safety, sustainability, and staff wellness. This sustainability, and staff wellness. This achievement highlights the county’s strong achievement highlights the county’s strong public health infrastructure—critical for public health infrastructure—critical for protecting residents, supporting workforce protecting residents, supporting workforce health, and creating a stable environment that health, and creating a stable environment that attracts businesses and promotes long-term attracts businesses and promotes long-term economic growth in Solano County. economic growth in Solano County.
Solano Career Fair Draws Solano Career Fair Draws Crowds Amid Workforce Shifts
rowds Amid Workforce Shifts
A strong turnout at Solano’s career fair highlights growing demand for jobs and retraining following major employer closures. The event connected residents with new opportunities, resources, and training playing a vital role in workforce recovery, supporting local businesses, and helping stabilize Solano County’s evolving economy.
Mar Maritime Revitalization Efforts itime Revitalization Efforts
Could Reignite Vallejo’s Could Reignite Vallejo’s Economy at Mare Island Economy at Mare Island
Vallejo’s maritime revitalization plan, paired with Vallejo’s maritime revitalization plan, paired with potential federal support like the SHIPS Act, potential federal support like the SHIPS Act, could bring jobs, investment, and industrial could bring jobs, investment, and industrial growth back to Mare Island. For Solano County growth back to Mare Island. For Solano County residents and businesses, this signals opportunity residents and businesses, this signals opportunity —helping replace lost jobs, strengthen the local —helping replace lost jobs, strengthen the local economy, and position the region as a economy, and position the region as a competitive hub for maritime innovation. competitive hub for maritime innovation.
Solano County Youth Summit Solano County Youth Summit Build Builds Future Workforce Through s Future Workforce Through Social Entrepreneurship Social Entrepreneurship
More than 200 Solano County students gained real-world problemsolving and business skills at the Youth Summit, strengthening the region’s future workforce. For local businesses and residents, this means a growing pipeline of innovative, community-minded talent equipped to tackle economic challenges, support entrepreneurship, and drive long-term growth across Solano County.
Yocha Deh Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation e Wintun Nation
Invests $450K in Vallejo Invests $450K in Vallejo
Students Through Solano Students Through Solano College Scholarships College Scholarships
A $450,000 investment in Solano College A $450,000 investment in Solano College scholarships will expand access to education scholarships will expand access to education for Vallejo students, especially working adults for Vallejo students, especially working adults and single parents. For Solano County and single parents. For Solano County residents and businesses, this strengthens the residents and businesses, this strengthens the local workforce pipeline, supports upward local workforce pipeline, supports upward mobility, and builds a more skilled talent base mobility, and builds a more skilled talent base to drive long-term economic growth and to drive long-term economic growth and community stability. community stability.
Vacaville Completes Sustainable Vacaville Completes Sustainable
Energy Projec Energy Project, Advancing Cost t, Advancing Cost
Savings and Resilience Savings and Resilience
Vacaville’s completed sustainable energy project reduces long-term costs, improves energy reliability, and supports local workforce development. For Solano County businesses and residents, this means lower operational expenses, increased infrastructure resilience, and a stronger push toward sustainability—helping the region stay competitive while investing in economic stability and environmental responsibility.
Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce Appointed to Key Solano Appointed to Key Solano
County
LAFCO Board County LAFCO Board
Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce’s appointment Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce’s appointment to LAFCO places her in a key role shaping to LAFCO places her in a key role shaping land use, development, and annexation land use, development, and annexation decisions across Solano County. For decisions across Solano County. For residents and businesses, this impacts residents and businesses, this impacts future growth, housing, and major projects future growth, housing, and major projects
—making local representation critical in —making local representation critical in guiding balanced economic development guiding balanced economic development and regional planning decisions. and regional planning decisions.
Vallejo Appoints Interim City Vallejo Appoints Interim City Manager to Tackle Budget and Manager to Tackle Budget and
Stability Challenges Stability Challenges
Vallejo’s appointment of experienced interim City Manager Harry Black comes at a critical time, with a projected $29 million deficit. For Solano County residents and businesses, strong leadership is key to stabilizing finances, maintaining services, and restoring confidence—factors essential for economic growth, investment, and long-term community stability.
CITY OF VACAVILLE CITY OF VACAVILLE CITY OF VACAVILLE
VACAVILLE INSIGHTS
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LED light bulbs LED light bulbs
High-efficiency bathroom and High-efficiency bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators and kitchen faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerhead(s) high-efficiency showerhead(s) (same pressure, less water) (same pressure, less water)
A toilet leak detection test A toilet leak detection test
Your choice of: a smart power
Your choice of: a smart power strip ($70 value), two smart strip ($70 value), two smart energy plugs, OR a single energy plugs, OR a single burner induction cooktop burner induction cooktop
ConnectwithRisingSuntoreceive ConnectwithRisingSuntoreceive aKit,filloutasurveyonlineorcall: aKit,filloutasurveyonlineorcall:
MAY EVENTS MAY EVENTS
SOLANO COUNTY SOLANO COUNTY
DIXON DIXON
R RIO VISTA IO VISTA
Click on city logos for more information Click on city logos for more information V V
FAIRFIELD FAIRFIELD
S SUISUN CITY UISUN CITY
VACAVILLE VACAVILLE
