2024 Economic Development Strategy – Building on our Strengths

On September 3, 2024, the San Leandro City Council adopted the final version of the 2024 San Leandro Economic Development Strategy, which will guide economic development activities over the next ten years. The Strategy focuses on initiatives to grow San Leandro’s economy, expand the City’s regional image and identity, spur new investment and high-quality jobs, and improve the quality of life for residents. 

The Vision of the Economic Development Strategy is to build on San Leandro’s unique mix of urban and suburban amenities, combining the community, safety and welcoming spirit of a small town, with the dynamism, accessibility, diversity and innovative enterprises of an urban hub. The Strategy focuses on five values to achieve this vision: innovation, character, quality, equity and community.

The Strategy sets forth six major goals to address San Leandro’s challenges and build on our strengths. Each goal contains more specific strategies and action steps.

1. Accelerate innovation and growth of target industries
2. Support transformative development opportunities
3. Preserve industrial districts and address infrastructure needs
4. Create vibrant gathering places with quality retail, dining, hospitality, and entertainment
5. Ensure resident workforce training and education for access to high-quality jobs
6. Support small businesses and entrepreneurship

Four key action steps will play a critical role in the early stages of implementation:

1. Innovation Action Strategy – to attract and retain innovative businesses in Clean Tech, Food Tech, Biomedical, Hardware, Robotics, the creative economy, and other emerging industries;
2. Brand Assessment and Marketing Strategy – to articulate San Leandro’s identity, communicate the city’s advantages, and promote the city’s economic assets;
3. Retail Action Strategy – to retain San Leandro’s diverse retail culture, attract appealing local and national retail businesses, and grow the city’s entertainment and family-oriented retail options; and
4. Workforce Partnership Strategy – to connect with businesses about employee and training needs, build partnerships with service providers, and increase job opportunities for local students

The Strategy also outlines ways in which San Leandro can support the creative economy to bring economic activity, foster innovation, attract talent and add vibrancy to the community. This unique and important new analysis identifies opportunities to attract high-wage film and video production companies, empower local talent through culinary arts, and support entertainment zones along key corridors.

The Strategy includes an Implementation Matrix that outlines action steps, responsible staff, and time frames to achieve the goals of the strategy.  Work to implement the Strategy will be evaluated based on performance objectives and deliverables, as well as through the tracking of key economic indicators, such as changes in property value, business activity, development activity, and community income.

Next, the Economic Development Strategy will move into its implementation phase. Over the next year, staff will prepare work plans for the different strategy areas, including an Innovation Action Strategy and Retail Action Strategy. Staff will present a City Council Economic Development Priority Work Plan in the fall/winter of 2024. At that time, prioritization of projects, timing of implementation, and necessary funding may be discussed further.

For more information, visit www.sanleandronext.com/strategy, where you can view the full Economic Development Strategy document and learn more about how the strategy was prepared. The presentation of the final Strategy can be accessed here and a recording of the City Council Meeting approving the Strategy can be viewed here.