Solano Economic Update: July 26 by solanoedc

JULY 26' JULY 26'

UPDATE UPDATE

CHRIS RICO

President & CEO

Dear

Members, Partners, and Friends of the EDC,

Many of you have had the good fortune to spend some time with Steve Kirnig, our Business Retention and Expansion Specialist. Steve is an Engineer by training who had a thirty-year career working in sales for Bosch in their robotics division. You can tell how valuable he was to this German powerhouse because they chose him to manage the Tesla account. We were fortunate enough to coax Steve out of retirement to work with us to support the manufacturing ecosystem in Solano County.

Since joining the EDC last year, Steve has been diligently working his way across the county to meet with local manufacturers. I have accompanied him on several of these visits, and it’s great to see him in action. When he connects with a plant manager, his manufacturing experience shines through, and he immediately asks all the right questions and makes the correct observations.

Last week, thanks to Steve’s diligent work and stellar relationship building, and in partnership with California Manufacturing and Technology Association (CMTA), we were able to realize our goal of standing up a manufacturing roundtable in Solano County.

A dozen manufacturers, along with key strategic partners, joined our inaugural gathering at All Weather Architectural Aluminum in Vacaville. Special thanks to the awesome Sarah Harper for hosting, and to Thistle for providing delicious, nutritious meals to our guests. The Manufacturers in attendance rolled up their sleeves to help us understand what their needs and pain points are. The group was engaged and enthusiastic about starting something durable that can help them grow along with the ecosystem. Workforce was their top concern, but also power and infrastructureHO, regulations, and being connected to a local supply change. Proud of Steve and the Team for getting us off to a great start

Have a safe and connected 4th!

Wishing you continued health and prosperity,

Chris Rico President/CEO

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Supervisors Review Economic Supervisors Review Economic Outlook, Revenue Measures and Outlook, Revenue Measures and Community Investments Community Investments

The Solano County Board of Supervisors will The Solano County Board of Supervisors will review the county’s economic outlook, review the county’s economic outlook, consider community investment funding, and consider community investment funding, and

discuss potential revenue measures to support discuss potential revenue measures to support future services. This is important for Solano future services. This is important for Solano County businesses and residents because County businesses and residents because these decisions could influence economic these decisions could influence economic growth, public services, infrastructure funding, growth, public services, infrastructure funding, tourism, housing, and long-term fiscal stability. tourism, housing, and long-term fiscal stability.

Unions, Business Leaders Unions, Business Leaders Rally for Jobs, Housing and Rally for Jobs, Housing and Shipbuilding in Shipbuilding in Solano County Sol

ano C

Labor unions, business leaders and housing advocates gathered in Fairfield to urge local and state officials to accelerate job creation, affordable housing and shipbuilding projects. The event highlighted support for the Suisun Expansion Specific Plan and other economic development efforts aimed at replacing major manufacturing jobs recently lost in Solano County.

Solano Solano Economic Index Economic Index Projects Healthcare-Led Projects Healthcare-Led

Job Growth Through 2030 Job Growth Through 2030

Solano County’s latest Economic and Solano County’s latest Economic and Community Index projects more than 1,200 new Community Index projects more than 1,200 new jobs annually over the next four years, led by jobs annually over the next four years, led by healthcare and life sciences. This is important healthcare and life sciences. This is important for Solano County businesses and residents for Solano County businesses and residents because it identifies future growth industries, because it identifies future growth industries, workforce trends, infrastructure priorities, workforce trends, infrastructure priorities, housing outlook, and investment opportunities housing outlook, and investment opportunities that will shape the local economy. that will shape the local economy.

Cabaldon’s $11.25 Billion Cabaldon’s $11.25 Billion

Affordable Hous Affordable Housing Bond Heads to ing Bond Heads to November Ballot November Ballot

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Sen. Christopher Cabaldon’s Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, placing an $11.25 billion bond measure before voters in November. If approved, it would fund affordable housing construction, preserve existing units, and expand homeownership opportunities for California veterans and military families.

Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo Earn Triple Crown Awards for Earn Triple Crown Awards for Financial Excellence Financial Excellence

Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo have been Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo have been recognized as 2023-24 Triple Crown recognized as 2023-24 Triple Crown winners by the Government Finance winners by the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting, budgeting and financial reporting, budgeting and transparency. The honor highlights the transparency. The honor highlights the cities’ commitment to responsible fiscal cities’ commitment to responsible fiscal management, accountability and clear management, accountability and clear public financial reporting. public financial reporting.

Vallejo Public Works Dir Vallejo Public Works Director ector

Unveils Long-Term Road Unveils Long-Term Road

Restoration Strategy Restoration Strategy

Vallejo’s new Public Works Director is prioritizing both road preservation and major street rehabilitation to improve the city’s aging infrastructure. This matters to Solano County residents and businesses because safer, smoother roads enhance mobility, support local commerce, attract investment, reduce long-term repair costs, and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.

Solano County Econom Solano County Economic

Outlook

Remains

Remains Cautiously Positive Cautiously Positive

Through 2030 Through 2030

An economist told Solano County supervisors

An economist told Solano County supervisors the county’s economy is expected to see the county’s economy is expected to see modest growth through 2030, led by modest growth through 2030, led by healthcare and life sciences despite challenges healthcare and life sciences despite challenges in manufacturing and agriculture. This matters in manufacturing and agriculture. This matters because it highlights where future jobs and because it highlights where future jobs and investment opportunities may emerge while investment opportunities may emerge while emphasizing the need for infrastructure and emphasizing the need for infrastructure and long-term economic planning. long-term economic planning.

New Co-Working Space Opens New Co-Working Space Opens in in Downtown Fairfield to Support Downtown Fairfield to Support

Local Businesses Local Businesses

Eventive Co-Working Space has opened in downtown Fairfield, offering flexible workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, and podcast studios for entrepreneurs and small businesses. This is important for Solano County because it expands resources for startups, encourages business collaboration, supports downtown revitalization, and strengthens the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Vallejo M Vallejo Mayor Begins ayor Begins

LAFCO Role as Key Solano LAFCO Role as Key Solano Growth Decisions Move Growth Decisions Move

Forward Forward

Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce begins her term Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce begins her term on Solano LAFCO as the commission reviews on Solano LAFCO as the commission reviews budgets, municipal services, and major budgets, municipal services, and major planning initiatives, including Suisun City’s planning initiatives, including Suisun City’s expansion review. This matters to Solano expansion review. This matters to Solano County residents and businesses because County residents and businesses because

LAFCO decisions shape future growth, LAFCO decisions shape future growth, infrastructure, public services, land use, and infrastructure, public services, land use, and regional economic development. regional economic development.

Five Solano Nonprofits Awarded Five Solano Nonprofits Awarded $365,000 to Strengthen $365,000 to Strengthen Community Services Community Services

The Solano County Board of Supervisors awarded $365,000 in Community Investment Fund grants to five local nonprofits supporting food security, mental health, housing, and family services. This is important for Solano County residents because these investments strengthen community resources, improve access to essential services, and support vulnerable populations across the county.

Solano

County Sup Solano County Supervisors ervisors Establish Emergency Establish Emergency Medical Services Advisory Medical Services Advisory

Committee Committee

The Solano County Board of Supervisors The Solano County Board of Supervisors

approved creating a Local Emergency Medical approved creating a Local Emergency Medical Services advisory committee to provide Services advisory committee to provide stakeholder input on improving the county’s stakeholder input on improving the county’s

EMS system. Supervisors also recognized 707 EMS system. Supervisors also recognized 707 Week and proclaimed July 19–25 as Week and proclaimed July 19–25 as

Probation Services Week, highlighting Probation Services Week, highlighting community engagement, public safety and community engagement, public safety and local economic support initiatives. local economic support initiatives.

Habitat for Humanity Breaks Gr Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground ound on Harmony Village Affordable on Harmony Village Affordable Housing Project in

in Vacaville

Vacaville Housing Projec

Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity has broken ground on Harmony Village, a 10-home affordable housing development in Vacaville. The project will provide low-income families with homeownership opportunities through affordable financing and volunteer-built homes, with construction beginning this year and the first homes expected to be completed by late 2027.

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