The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) Annual Conference took place in Santa Rosa from April 10-12; this year’s theme was about helping to “elevate” key issues impacting California businesses, the economy, and communities across the state. East Bay EDA Executive Director, Stephen Baiter, who serves as a CALED Board Member, along with East Bay EDA team members, joined representatives from more than a dozen East Bay cities attending the conference. At the Elevate Awards Luncheon, three East Bay cities were recognized for their outstanding work. In the category of Colla ..read more

Oakland, California – On Thursday, March 28, 2024, East Bay EDA hosted the 11th Annual East Bay Innovation Awards presented by Sutter Health at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center, drawing an impressive crowd of over 500 attendees. This highly anticipated event showcased the region’s spirit of innovation and celebrated remarkable organizations and people that contribute to the East Bay’s legacy of pioneering advancements. For more than a decade, the East Bay Innovation Awards has been a platform to honor outstanding businesses and organizations from Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. In December ..read more

The East Bay’s location at the heart of the Northern California megaregion marks its importance to the Bay Area economy. Assets like BART, commercial and commuter rail, and an extensive highway system, have established the region as a hub of transportation with the capacity to move people and goods across the state and beyond. Central to planning for our region is the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), a public agency formed by Contra Costa County voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and countywide transportation planning. According to Chris Kelley ..read more

On January 19, East Bay EDA kicked off the year by hosting a private tour for members and partners at Penumbra, headquartered on Bay Farm Island in the City of Alameda. Penumbra is a global healthcare company that designs, develops, and manufactures devices for interventional therapies to treat vascular conditions such as stroke and aneurysm. Today, its products can be found in 100+ markets worldwide. The company was founded in 2004 and has grown significantly over the past twenty years, employing nearly 4,000 employees. According to Penumbra CEO, Adam Elsesser, who greeted our tour group in t ..read more

2018 Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees The Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding women for their achievements and contributions to Alameda County and its residents. This award is in recognition of a legacy of work – both in professional careers and/or volunteer service – that has made a positive impact in the lives of residents in Alameda County. For 2024’s celebration, the Hall of Fame will honor women in up to 12 categories: Business & Professions, Culture & Art, Community Service, Education, Emerging Leaders, Environmental, Health, Justice, Non-Tr ..read more

Oakland, California – The 11th annual East Bay Innovation Awards will take place at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Often referred to as the “Academy Awards of the East Bay,” the East Bay Innovation Awards is the premier program of its kind that celebrates and honors the extraordinary companies and organizations that contribute to the East Bay’s legacy of innovation. For over a decade, the annual awards ceremony has showcased outstanding companies and organizations from Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.  This year, nearly 200 nominations were submitted in 10 ..read more

The city of Richmond has a long and storied history as one of the industrial centers of the Bay Area. Incorporated in 1905, the city has been at the vanguard of many developments, investments and technologies that have defined its past and are now helping to shape a more promising future. From its early days as a transit hub for rail and ferry service to its ensuing growth and legacy as a manufacturing and shipbuilding powerhouse in the mid-20th century, Richmond has seen many economic cycles come and go. Much to the city’s credit, it is now using these experiences to position itself to attrac ..read more

In mid-November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit converged on the Bay Area. This annual gathering of world leaders seeks to promote trade, investment, and economic development among nations around the Pacific Ocean and was last hosted in the United States in 2011. This year, San Francisco welcomed leaders of the 21-member states, along with trade, finance, economic, innovation ministers, and business leaders representing the region’s largest companies. According to a White House fact sheet, U.S. companies represented at the APEC CEO Summit announced over $50 billion of inve ..read more

The holidays are here and gift shopping is underway. Small Business Saturday is just one way to support businesses competing with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals offered by online and big-box retailers. Your commitment to shopping local in the East Bay this season helps to ensure our regional economy remains resilient. The East Bay is full of amazing small businesses offering unique and quality products throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. You will get great products, support local businesses, and make an economic impact on the entire community. Here are the top 3 reasons to shop ..read more

The East Bay cities of Berkeley and Emeryville have been among the region’s hot spots when it comes to supporting growth and innovation in new industries and technologies, particularly in the cleantech, food and life sciences sectors. Drawing from their proximity to University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, both cities offer a variety of amenities and resources to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch and scale new businesses in emerging fields, including abundant accelerator/incubator and lab spaces, support with commercialization, funding and more. In recent ..read more