2024 San Leandro Economic
Development Strategy September 3, 2024
Agenda
• Overview & Updates
• Vision & Goals
• Strategies
• Next Steps
2 Overview & Updates
3 ED Strategy Overview
• Prioritizes & focuses City resources on initiatives
with greatest potential to:
• Grow local economy & improve quality of life
• Builds on Vision and ED Strategies outlined in
General Plan to support:
• Innovation
• Jobs
• Revenue for City services
• Transit-oriented development
4 Acknowledgements
• Based on analysis and input from 130+
community members, small and large
business owners and workers, and staff
• Strategic Economics
• Alex Greenwood
• Winter Consulting
• CVL Economics
5 Updates
• Connection to General Plan vision
• Highlight major initiatives
• Phasing of Implementation
• Focus Areas Map
• Economic Indicators
6 • Equity and Inclusion
• Crime Prevention Assistance
• Business Incentives
• Tourism & Special Events
• Reducing Barriers to Entry
• Childcare, Outreach, Translation
Additional Information Additional Emphasis
Vision and Goals
7 8
2035 General Plan - Vision
ED Strategy works towards General Plan Vision:
• San Leandro is a safe, attractive, vibrant,
sustainable, healthy, and economically resilient
community and destination
• Economy that is thriving with arts, dining,
entertainment, small businesses, innovation,
"smart" technologies, and diversity.
ED Strategy Vision
San Leandro will combine the
community, safety and welcoming
spirit of a small town, with the
dynamism, walkability, accessibility,
diversity and innovative enterprises
of an urban hub.
9 Economic Development
Strategies
10 6 Goals & Strategy Areas:
11 Key Industries Transformative
Development
Infrastructure
and Industrial
Districts
Retail and
Restaurants
Workforce
and Education
Small
Businesses and
Entrepreneurship
12 Major Initiatives
Innovation
Action
Strategy
Brand
Assessment
& Marketing
Strategy
Retail
Action
Strategy
Workforce
Partnership
Strategy
13 Implementation
Focus Areas • Downtown Mixed-Use • Bay Fair Transit Oriented Devel.
• Retail, Arts & Entertainment • Community Shopping Centers • Industrial District • Kaiser North • Shoreline Creative Economy Analysis
• Unique feature – integrated throughout
• Modern 21st Century urban environment
• Benefits of Creative Economy:
• Brings significant economic activity
• Fosters innovation & attracts talent
• Adds vibrancy to community
• Drive long-term economic vitality
• Areas of opportunity
• Digital film and video production
• Culinary arts
• Arts & entertainment districts
14 ED Strategy Phasing
15 Time Frame Outcomes & Indicators of Success
Short Term
(2-4 years)
Stronger, more positive image & identity thanks to:
• Branding & Marketing
• Planning & Approval of high-profile development projects • Launch of aggressive retail attraction efforts and improvements to local and shopping areas Medium
Term
(4-7 years)
High-quality jobs and business opportunities that are attainable for local residents through:
• Attraction of innovation-oriented industries
• Infrastructure funding & planning of industrial districts • Programs to support and strengthen local small businesses and entrepreneurs • Partnerships to improve job training and placement, higher education, & access to childcare Long Term
(7-12 years)
Solidified position as vibrant, regional center of business & culture, that is unique & welcoming:
• Several large-scale, transformational projects (e.g., Bay Fair, Shoreline) are underway • Public art, plazas, streetscape improvements, arts venues, transit, and urban amenities articulate San Leandro’s unique sense of place • City has established itself as a destination for innovation-based industries as well as several creative industries, such as culinary arts or digital film production.
Innovation and Target Industry Growth
16 Action Timeframe
Innovation Action Strategy
• Attract businesses in industries where have competitive advantage • Food tech, clean tech, robotics, biomedical
Short Term
Brand Assessment & Marketing Strategy
• Improve visibility & identity, attract businesses & residents Medium Term
Creative Economy Strategy
• Foster innovation from within community
• Support vibrant arts & cultural districts
• Attracts talent & growing companies
Long Term
Accelerate Innovation & Growth of Target Industries
17 Transformative Development
Facilitate Projects and Enhance City Regulations/Processes Action Timeframe
Facilitate Transformative Development Projects
• Bay Fair, Downtown, Shoreline, Kaiser North
Short-Medium
Term
Evaluate & Update Zoning and Review Processes
• Development Process Evaluation
• Non-Residential Zoning Updates
• Commercial – incl. specialty, family-oriented & experiential retail • Industrial – incl. new use types, development & design standards
Short-Medium
Term
18 Preserve Industrial Districts & Address Infrastructure Needs Industrial Districts & Infrastructure
Action Timeframe
Community Facilities & Financing Districts Feasibility Study • District-based programs to support infrastructure & quality of life • Support businesses in challenges of today & improve for tomorrow Medium Term
Support bike/ped, BART, LINKS & other transit improvements • BART Community Based Transportation Plan
Medium Term
Public Private Partnership & Real Estate Evaluation
• Opportunities for public-private partnerships & alternate funding Long Term
19 Attract High-Quality Retail & Support Shopping Districts Retail, Restaurants, & Vibrant Places
Action Timeframe
Retail Action Strategy
• Retain & enhance diverse businesses
• Attract specialty, experiential and family-oriented retail Short Term
Update Commercial Incentive Programs
• Safety & security upgrades
• Façade & site upgrades
Short Term
Targeted to
neighborhood needs
Downtown Public Improvements Needs Assessment
• Support placemaking - plazas, wayfinding, landscaping, art, etc.
Medium Term
Hotel Feasibility Study & Promotion Medium Term
Workforce & Education
Facilitate Workforce Development & Education Opportunities 20 Action Timeframe
Workforce Partnership Strategy
• Ensure programs are responsive to resident & business needs Short Term
Childcare Services & Needs Assessment
• Support childcare services to reduce barriers to employment Short Term
Workforce Outreach Plan
• Increase awareness of resources
Medium Term
Higher Education Partnership Evaluation Medium Term
21 Support Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Action Timeframe
Small Business Technical Assistance Workplan
• Ongoing partnerships with technical & financial assistance providers Short Term
Proactive small business assistance & incentive outreach Short Term Explore potential for local small business support center Medium Term Reduce barriers to entry for diverse & underserved businesses • Continued multi-lingual guides and workshops Short Term • Strengthened relationships & support for multi-cultural, women and LGBTQ+ owned businesses
Short Term
• Pop-up Retail Feasibility Analysis Medium Term
Tracking the Local Economy
City Revenues
• Business Licenses
• Sales Tax
• Property Tax
• Transient Occupancy Tax
22 Industry & Employment
• Jobs and wages
• Unemployment Rate
• Residents' income
• Industry comps
Establish Baseline & Measure Changes in Key Economic Indicators, such as:
Real Estate & Development
• Building Permits
• Rental Rates
• Vacancy Rates
Next Steps
23 Economic Development Strategy Process
24 Input & Analysis
Data analysis
Community Workshop
& Stakeholder
conversations
Finance Committee
Meeting
Drafts
Develop preliminary
findings,
recommendations,
and draft strategies
Feedback
Community Workshop
#2 – March 13
Finance Committee
Meeting – May 22
Council Workshop –
July 8
Finalize
Finalize Strategy and
Work Plan
Adoption Hearing -
Today
Fall 2023/Winter 2024 Winter/Spring 2024 Spring/Summer 2024 Summer/Fall 2024 25 Council Priority
Work Plan • Present in Fall 2024 • Note additional resources and staffing needed
• Phasing driven by budget • Performance Measures • 2025-2027 Budget Recommendation
26 Recommend City Council Adopt a Resolution to Approve the 2024 San Leandro Economic Development Strategy