East Bay EDA is pleased to share our Resilient East Bay newsletter for Bay Area manufacturers. Explore the latest manufacturing news from the East Bay, including upcoming events and resources available throughout the region. Please contact us at mfg@eastbayeda.org if you have a resource you would like to share.
News & Announcements
Manufacturers Are Using Skills Assessments to Hire
When a manufacturer decides to ramp up production, they have to hire quickly. Some businesses are using skills assessments and hands-on hiring tests to expand the available talent pool by evaluating candidates on what they can do—not just what appears on a resume. This can look like mechanical aptitude tests, instruction-following exercises, and short job simulations that mirror real production work. Read more about why more manufacturers are using skills assessments. Read on the blog.
The Green Empowerment Zone Puts Clean Energy Companies in the Lead
The Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ) leads California’s effort to grow clean energy manufacturing in Contra Costa County and some parts of Solano County. It builds on one of the most skilled energy workforces in the country and focuses investments where they create the most impact. Companies here gain access to tax incentives, grants, loan programs, and trained workers in the latest clean energy technologies. With nearby ports, national laboratories, and innovation hubs, businesses can grow production and connect to an established energy network. Learn more about Contra Costa County’s Green Empowerment Zone.
Ramping Up Manufacturing in America
New research from McKinsey Global Institute estimates that it would take $2 trillion, or about 6% of U.S. GDP, to build the industrial capacity needed to replace imports of key strategic goods. McKinsey calculated a “ramp-up” index for each, meaning how much new industrial capacity the U.S. would need to fully replace overseas importing. Read the report.
Resources
Looking for local skilled talent or upskilling your employees?
The 28 Bay Area Community Colleges offer a range of manufacturing programs, from CAD, engineering technology, machining, and process technology. Take a look at the Bay Area Community College manufacturing programs and contact Dr. Mark Martin, the Regional Director of Advanced Manufacturing, to address your workforce needs.
$20 M+ Incentives Available for Replacing Old Heavy-Duty Trucks
Apply for Bay Air District funding to replace your 2010 – 2020 engine model year Heavy Duty trucks with new Zero Emission trucks through the Voucher Incentive Program (VIP). The program will open in Summer 2026. More than $20 million in grant funding is available. Learn more and attend a webinar.
BlackRock Future Builders
BlackRock Future Builders is a $100 million competitive grant opportunity that operates in parallel to other BlackRock Future Builders partnerships and is intended to surface additional, regionally grounded solutions across the skilled trades ecosystem. Organizations may propose direct worker training programs or capacity-building efforts that enable systems to function more effectively and at a greater scale. The BlackRock Foundation intends to commit $25 million over two funding cycles to support two-year grants ranging from $500,000 to $1 million through this RFP process. This first round RFP will be administered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that transforms U.S. education and workforce systems. Learn more here.
Explore SBA Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s new onshoring portal is a free resource that helps connect businesses with verified U.S. manufacturers, producers, and suppliers. Also, learn how to waive upfront guaranty fees on 7(a) and 504 loans for manufacturers – available only through September 2026. Learn more about SBA loans to start or grow your business.
DOE Boost Application Due June 26
DOE Boost is an 18-week startup studio, led by Sandia National Laboratories and powered by FedTech. It matches entrepreneurs with technologies developed in U.S. Department of Energy laboratories to address energy challenges affecting American communities. Applications due June 26.
Upcoming Events
6/10 – DOE Boost Application Webinar (virtual)
6/11 – AMBayArea Summer Mixer (Sunnyvale)
6/24 – Bay Area Manufacturing Roundtable (virtual): RSVP to mfg@eastbayeda.org
6/22 to 6/26 – Deep Tech Week SF 2026 (San Francisco)