Committee backs Bay Area nine‑county economic development strategy for Board consideration

The Budget and Finance Committee considered a resolution adopting the vision, goals and objectives of a Bay Area comprehensive economic development strategy to establish a nine‑county regional Economic Development District (EDD). Supervisor Norman Yee, Laurel Arvanites of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), and Johnny Jaramillo of ABAG/MTC described broad stakeholder engagement across the region and said endorsement would improve competitiveness for grants and technical assistance from agencies including the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), EPA, and FEMA.

Jaramillo said the EDD designation provides a framework and implementation plan developed with a strategy committee composed of workforce, economic development, union, equity groups and other stakeholders; staff will continue to refine an action plan and take input from local jurisdictions. Supervisor Yee emphasized the importance of regional coordination for housing, transportation and workforce needs and thanked staff from ABAG and OEWD for their work.

The Budget Analyst did not provide additional comments at the hearing. There were no public commenters. Supervisor Yee moved to forward the resolution to the full Board as a committee report for the Sept. 26 meeting; the motion passed without objection.