Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative

The Northern Waterfront Economic Development InitiativeTM is a regional cluster-based economic development strategy with a goal of creating 18,000 new jobs by 2035. The Initiative leverages existing competitive advantages and assets by focusing on five targeted clusters (advanced transportation, advanced manufacturing, biomedical/biotech, ag tech & food processing, and clean tech). The initiative has an opportunity to change health, education, and economic outcomes in Contra Costa County for all residents of the Northern Waterfront communities, as described in the framework for community development. The hallmark of this initiative is the collaboration among the County and seven partner cities to enhance the economic vitality of the region.  

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News and Events

The Contra Costa County Economic Development Forum was held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 in Pleasant Hill. After a greeting from Pleasant Hill Mayor Tim Flaherty, the meeting featured presentations on current initiatives in economic development in Contra Costa County, including from Laura Rowe-Cole, California Association for Local Economic Development; Stephen Baiter, East Bay Economic Development Alliance; Vikrant Sood, Metropolitan Transportation Commission; Alyson Greenlee, Contra Costa County Department of Conservation & Development; Lindy Johnson, Contra Costa Transportation Authority; Tamia Brown, Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County; and Mark Orcutt, East Bay Leadership Council. This event provided one-stop coordination and collaboration among the economic development staff from the 19 cities plus the legislative staff of the Board of Supervisors on all the different initiatives taking place in Contra Costa County on economic development, in addition to state legislative staff.
Watch the Entire Program or watch one of the presentations below

Grants for East Bay Industrial Areas - including the Northern Waterfront Economic Developing Initiative
June 28, 2023

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded pilot grants to the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA) and Contra Costa County to advance their Priority Production Areas (PPA), which are regional growth areas that have been prioritized for economic development investments and a key part of MTC Plan Bay Area’s broader effort to achieve a better jobs-housing balance across the Bay Area. 
Read the Press Release

Northern Waterfront Economic Development Tour

November 2, 2022

This event brought together economic development staff from the state, federal, and regional agencies on a daylong tour with stops and participation from the county supervisors and elected officials from each city, to make sure the area’s unique characteristics are understood, and to reboot the Northern Waterfront Initiative after the pandemic. 

 Slideshow of Northern Waterfront Economic Development TourA speaker presenting to a group of people standing outside at the water’s edge

View all Photos in Google Drive 

Bringing the Jobs to the People Forum

May 10th, 2019

The forum brought together elected officials, including county supervisors and mayors of seven cities, regional thought leaders, and business and nonprofit representatives to recognize an important milestone in the Northern Waterfront Initiative that will “bring jobs to the people” and grow the economic vitality of our County and region.

Contra Costa County Economic Development Summit

October 20, 2017

Video: East Contra Costa County Economic Development Summit

Revitalizing Contra Costa County's Northern Waterfront Symposium
January 10, 2014

"Revitalizing Contra Costa County's Northern Waterfront" Symposium Video,

**We have gotten calls from people who have found the same acronym as the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative on their bank statements. Contra Costa County is a government agency not accessing any bank accounts so it is not related to this economic development program. **