Pg 1 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
UPDATE
Economic
Development
Workplan
Innovation
Action Plan
Retail Action
Plan
AGENDA
Pg 2 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
ECONONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WORKPLAN PROJECTS
INNOVATION
4.1 – Accelerate
Innovation and Growth of
Target Industries
DEVELOPMENT
4.2 – Support Major
Developments and Update
Zoning
4.3 – Preserve Industrial
Districts and Address
Infrastructure Needs
RETAIL
4.4 – Create Vibrant Gathering
Places with Quality Retail,
Dining, Hospitality, and
Entertainment Businesses
WORKFORCE
4.5 – Ensure Resident
Workforce Training and
Education for Access to High
Quality Job Opportunities
SMALL BUSINESS
4.6 – Support Small
Businesses and
Entrepreneurship
Pg 3 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
INFRASTRUCTURE
INNOVATION
ACTION PLAN
Pg 4 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
4.1 - Accelerate Innovation &
Growth of Target Industries
In progress
Deadline extended
Completed
Completed ahead of
deadline
Discontinued
Q1 (July-Sept), Q2 (Oct-Dec), Q3 (Jan-Mar), Q4 (April-June) Due Date Timeline
FY 2024-2025 FY 2025-2026 FY 2026-2027
PROJECT NAMES Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Accelerate Innovation and Growth of Target Industries
Implement Innovation Action Plan and provide
Council with an update - COMPLETE 3/31/2026
Revamp Economic Development website and flyers
to recruit and support innovative and retail
businesses
6/30/2026
Evaluate process/platform for tracking Economic
Development work, data and contacts
9/30/2026
Complete City Brand Assessment and develop a City
marketing strategy to improve visibility, image and
identity
12/31/2026
Finalize Economic Development Marketing Plan to
implement new marketing strategy 4/30/2027
Pg 5 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
INNOVATIVE
COMPANIES
Good Jobs
Build Community
Wealth
Increased Property
Value
Increased Sales &
Other Taxes
Funds for City Services &
Infrastructure
Attract
Innovative
Companies?
WHY
Pg 6 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
A Plan to Attract the Future of Industry
First Major Initiative of 2024
Economic Development
Strategy
Completed May 2025
Implementation Underway
Build on unique strengths to:
• Grow innovation ecosystem
• Enhance infrastructure
• Foster partnerships with
industry leaders
Pg 7 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
TARGET
INDUSTRIES
Pg 8 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
CleanTech
• Batteries
• Energy Storage
• Electrical Equipment
• Carbon Capture &
Storage
FoodTech
• Alternative Proteins
• Personalized Nutrition
• Food Waste Reduction
• Sustainable Packaging
MedTech
Life Science & BioMedical
• Specialized Med. Equip.
• Contract Manufacturing
• Incubators & Lab Spaces
• Drug Discovery Startups
• Specialized Therapeutics
Adv. Manuf.
• Machinery & Components
• Clay Product
• Coating, Engraving, etc.
• Semiconductors &
Electronics
ACTION STEPS
Process
Infrastructure
Relationship
s
Marketing
One Support -on-one Business Retention &
Expansion Support
Focused Business Attraction;
Outreach Materials & Website Updates
Industry and Property Owner Outreach &
Relationship Building
Refine Regulations & Processes to
Support Target Industries
Explore Need & Feasibility of Financial Incentives Incentives Develop a strategy for PG&E Outreach
Support Business Applications
Pg 9 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
BUSINESS
RETENTION &
EXPANSION
Helping appx. 12 companies with:
• Grant & Award Applications
• Technical Assistance
• Permit Information
• Workforce Resources
• Location & Landlord Connections
Pg 10 of 26 City Council March 2,. 2026
BUSINESS ATTRACTION
Pg 11 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
• 2021 Farallon – 261,000 sf – sold for + $62 Million
• 1936 Fairway – 237,000 sf – Ferguson lease renewal
• 1919 Williams – 200,000 sf – new building for Torani
• 1345 Doolittle – 266,000 sf – Prologis Nexus green bld. • New Buildings Planned:
• 1700 Doolittle - +79,000 sf - approved
• 880 Doolittle – + 240,000 sf - approved
• 3199 Alvarado - ~ 240,000 sf - proposed
• New Businesses – Pacific Fusion, Lyten, Fuse, Berkeley Yeast, Reforge Robotics, Vita Chem, Shasta Bio
Businesses & Developers Investing in San Leandro
MARKETING
Creating What’s Next
Promoted San Leandro as a great place
to invest and locate a business in a
number of ways:
ONLINE
• San Leandro Next
• Social Media
• Newsletters
FLYERS
Focused Outreach
INTERVIEWS
Capstone Podcast
HIGHLIGHTS
Business Stories
Awards Nominations
Pg 12 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
MARKETING
NEWS
San Francisco Business
Times
• 1,500 page views
• 810,000 headline
impressions
EVENTS
Development Breakfast
• 60+ attendees
• connections
Pg 13 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
RELATIONSHIPS
Industry outreach:
• Raise the City’s profile & credibility
• Build relationships with leaders
• Understand issues & trends
Relationships Through:
• Business Tours & Visits – 15+
• Industry Organizations
• Property Owner Relationships
• Broker Relationships
• Events
Pg 14 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
INFRASTRUCTURE
Pg 15 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
PG&E Outreach
Support Existing Applications
• Monthly Meetings = relationships
• Learning processes
• Tracking Applications
Advocate for Expanded Service
• Improved Local Power Grid
• Planning for Increased Power Two Large Applications Progressing
NEXT STEPS
Pg 16 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
Continue One-on-one
Business Support
Revamp Economic
Development Website
Evaluate process or
platform for tracking
work, data & contacts
Continue Industry &
Property Owner
Outreach
Explore Need &
Feasibility of
Financial Incentives
Update Regulations &
Processes to Support
Target Industries
Continue Action Steps, Including:
RETAIL ACTION
PLAN
Pg 17 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026 _____
Project 4.4 Create Vibrant Gathering Places
with Quality Retail, Dining, Hospitality &
Entertainment
In progress
Deadline extended
Completed
Completed ahead of
deadline
Discontinued
Q1 (July-Sept), Q2 (Oct-Dec), Q3 (Jan-Mar), Q4
(April-June)
Due Date Timeline
FY 2024-2025 FY 2025-2026 FY 2026-2027
PROJECT NAMES Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Create Vibrant Gathering Places with Quality Retail, Dining, Hospitality, and Entertainment Develop a Retail Action Plan to retain diverse
businesses and attract new quality businesses
- COMPLETE -
10/1/2025
Hold annual retail event & perform outreach to
recruit targeted retailers 10/1/2026
Perform outreach to major shopping center
owners and encourage improvements
3/1/2027
Design and Install Beautification, Art, and
Wayfinding in Downtown to enhance the
pedestrian experience
5/1/2026
Evaluate the feasibility of attracting hotel uses,
and identify opportunity sites
6/30/2027
Pg 18 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
A Plan to Attract What’s Next in Retail
Second Major Initiative of 2024
Economic Development Strategy
Completed October 2025
Implementation Beginning
Goals
Attract quality and diverse retail that
community wants
Support ‘experiential’ retail and
placemaking
Upgrade shopping centers and
support neighborhood districts
Pg 19 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
KEY FINDINGS OF RETAIL
ACTION PLAN
• Strategic Bay Area Location
• Rising Household Incomes
• Growing Cultural Diversity
ASSETS • Aging Retail Buildings
• High Construction & Utility Costs
• Lingering Public Safety Perceptions
• Limited Spaces for Restaurants & Entertainment
CHALLENGES
San Leandro’s Diversity Matches with Regional
Demand for Food, Services & Specialty Grocers
esp. National Asian Supermarket Brands
DEMAND
Retailers, Restaurants, and Service Businesses
could benefit from additional permit guidance,
especially for immigrant-owned businesses
PROCESS
Pg 20 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
STRONGEST
OPPORTUNITY
• Health & Personal Care
• Quick- and Full-service Restaurants
• General Merchandise / Value Retail
• Clothing (off-price, boutique)
• Auto-Related Services
• Electronics / Appliance Repair
• Bars & Small-Scale Beverage Concepts
• Furniture (small footprint)
• Lawn & Garden
• Sporting Goods / Hobbies
• Stationery, Jewelry, Luggage
• Books & Periodicals
• Grocery
• Liquor
• Home Goods
• Shoe Stores
• Some Auto Categories
RETAIL
OPPORTUNITIES
LIMITED
OPPORTUNITY
Pg 21 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
OVER
SUPPLIED
RETAIL
ACTION PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION
Lorem
WEB
Modernize Economic
Development Web
Pages
OUTREACH
Proactive Outreach to
Major Centers to
Encourage
Investment &
Improvements
MATERIALS
Update Marketing
Materials for Retail
Recruitment
DATA
Establish a System to
Track Data, Inquiries
& Space Availability
EVENT
Host an Annual RetailFocused Event for
Brokers & Property
Owners
Pg 22 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
RETAIL
MARKETING
Pg 23 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
SHOPPING
CENTER
OUTREACH
Pg 24 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
• Painting & Façade Upgrades
• Planters & Landscaping
• Updated Signage
• Outdoor Seating & Decorative Lighting
• Parking Lot Maintenance
• Operational Improvements – e.g. Trash
• Security Improvements – e.g. Cameras
Proactive Outreach to Major
Centers to Encourage
Investment & Improvements
RETAIL ARRIVALS
Pg 25 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026
New Businesses
• Sprouts grocery
• Club Pilates
• Workroom
• Small Circle Judo
• Ace Hardware
coming soon!
New Restaurants
• Smack Burgers
• Dao Artisan Noodle
• Vivid Bibim
• Wonderful Cafe
• Chocolate Bash
and more . . . .
Even Newer Restaurants
• Lavanta Mezze
• As Kneaded Café
• Gold Bean Cafe
• Philz Coffee
coming soon!
I’ve eaten at Korean restaurants all over California.
This sizzling rice bowl is the best one I’ve tried.
Making the News
COUNCIL
QUESTIONS
Pg 26 of 26 City Council March 2, 2026