On August 27, Bay Area manufacturers and leaders in economic and workforce development, education, and labor convened at San Leandro’s Zero Net Energy Center for the 2026 Bay Area Manufacturing Conference. More than 230 attendees joined this high-energy and forward-looking event showcasing the innovation, talent, and partnerships driving the region’s manufacturing future. This event was presented in partnership with the Association of Bay Area Manufacturers, the Bay Area High Road Manufacturing Initiative, Bay Area Community Colleges, East Bay Economic Development Alliance, EASTBAYWorks, and supported by the California & Bay Area Jobs First Initiative.
The diverse lineup of speakers from the public and private sectors, alongside leaders from manufacturing subsectors and support organizations, underscored the essential role manufacturers play in driving a dynamic, resilient, and inclusive Bay Area economy. Each session reinforced the importance of sustained partnership and deeper alignment between industry and public systems to maintain the region’s competitive edge and expand high‑quality jobs amid rapid advances in AI, geopolitical challenges, and climate-conscious regulations—interconnected trends that are reshaping the future of manufacturing. Participants were encouraged to stay engaged with the conference partners to deepen industry engagement, advance equitable workforce strategies, and advocate for the industry. Whether you’re working on economic and workforce development strategies, responsible AI deployment, or onshoring supply chains, one thing is clear: industry involvement and cross-sector collaboration are essential to sustaining a thriving manufacturing ecosystem for decades to come.
A special thank-you to the Alameda County Electrical JATC (Joint Apprenticeship Training Center) for hosting, San Leandro-based manufacturer Torani for providing special gifts to attendees, as well as exhibitors who shared valuable information and resources:
- Association of Manufacturers Bay Area
- Bay Area Community College Consortium
- EASTBAYWorks
- Working Partnerships USA
- State of California Treasurer’s Office
- East Bay Economic Development Alliance
- City of San Leandro
>> View the full list of speakers and conference program
Stay Connected to the Ecosystem
Connect with the Bay Area High Road Manufacturing Initiative
Maintaining and growing a thriving high-road manufacturing sector in the Bay Area will take all of us together. As BAHRMI moves from R&D into implementation, we’re actively looking to engage more Bay Area manufacturing stakeholders as allies and collaborators. If you’d like to connect or to join our email list for research and strategy updates, contact us here: https://bit.ly/bahrmi-updates
Learn More About Resilient East Bay
Resilient East Bay is a one-stop resource that helps manufacturing businesses connect with critical resources and information, while helping policymakers and support organizations gain deeper insight into the needs and opportunities to strengthen the region’s manufacturing ecosystem. Learn more at ResilientEastBay.org.
Upcoming Opportunities with EASTBAYWorks
Join EASTBAYWorks for an Employer-focused Workshop on September 28 to access working training funds for manufacturers. In this workshop, employers will learn about California Employment Training Panel (ETP) programs, which offer flexible, employer-driven training funds for current and new workers. In the last 40 years, ETP has invested over $2 billion to strengthen California’s workforce, supported approximately 100,000 businesses, and provided training for about 1.6 million workers. Register here for the virtual session on September 28 (4-5 pm).
Partner with the Bay Area Community Colleges Consortium
Manufacturers and education/workforce organizations can participate by opening their doors to students, job seekers, educators, and community members to see what modern manufacturing looks like and learn about the careers behind the products we use every day.
A typical facility tour takes just 1–1.5 hours and requires less than three hours of preparation. Tours showcase a company’s products, technology, production processes, and career opportunities while helping participants connect manufacturing to real-world skills and pathways to economic mobility. Fill out this form if you’re hosting an event or would like help setting one up.
