Coalition pushes California to fast-track Solano shipyard and expansion plan

A broad coalition of labor, business and local leaders is urging California lawmakers to advance the Suisun Expansion Plan and Solano Shipyard, saying the projects could bring major manufacturing work, housing and tax revenue to Solano County. Supporters say the region has the workforce and industrial base to move quickly. Why it matters: - Supporters say the two projects could help replace lost industrial jobs in Solano County and create a new long-term economic engine for the region. - The effort is tied to housing, shipbuilding and broader domestic manufacturing goals in a county facing affordability pressures and long commutes. - Backers say the projects could strengthen California’s role in maritime and advanced manufacturing. What happened: - More than 100 workers, union leaders, local elected officials, small business owners and community advocates собрались with the California Alliance for Jobs in Fairfield on June 15, 2026. - The coalition called on state and local representatives to pass legislation advancing the proposed Suisun Expansion Plan and Solano Shipyard. - The group wants the projects to bring home-construction and shipbuilding manufacturing jobs to Solano County. The details: - The Suisun Expansion Plan would expand Suisun City’s borders into neighboring land through annexation to support growth and economic development. - The proposed Solano Shipyard would sit on 7,500 acres east of Collinsville. - The site is already designated for industrial shipbuilding activities. - Supporters say the shipyard could become one of the largest shipyard complexes in the world. - The two projects together are expected to generate $215 billion in construction investment, support more than 530,000 jobs and deliver over $16.2 billion a year in combined state, local and federal tax revenue. - Sandy Person, president of the Solano Economic Development Corporation, said Solano County has lost more than 2,100 jobs after hits to the Valero refinery, the Budweiser brewery and the Vallejo dry docks. - Joshua Arce, executive director of CAJ, said unions and employers want state representatives to introduce legislation that would bring shipbuilding and tens of thousands of homes to the area. - Chris Hannan, president of the State Building & Construction Trades Council, said the affiliated unions represent 450,000 workers. - Ron Rowlett, director of public relations and government affairs for the North Coast States Carpenters Union, said the region’s skilled members and apprentices are ready to build. - Chris O’Connor, senior vice president of government relations for the Associated General Contractors of California, called for legislation to streamline approvals. - Emily Cohen, CEO of United Contractors, said the group and its members are ready to help build a new future for Solano County and neighboring communities. - Oscar De La Torre, business manager for the Northern California District Council of Laborers (LiUNA), said working people in Solano County face impossible commutes, rising costs and shrinking opportunities. - Dan Reding, business manager of Operating Engineers Local 3, said many skilled workers in Solano County are forced to commute for good jobs. - Sal Vaca, project director for the Working Waterfront Coalition, said the county has the talent and tradition to lead the next chapter of shipbuilding. Between the lines: - The coalition is framing the projects as both an economic development plan and a workforce strategy. - The messaging also aims to link local job creation with California’s broader push to keep manufacturing and construction work in-state. - The scale of the projected investment and tax revenue suggests supporters are trying to build political momentum by emphasizing fiscal upside, not just job growth. What’s next: - Supporters want state leaders to introduce and pass legislation that would speed approvals for both projects. - Local officials are being pressed to line up behind the plan as the coalition works to keep the proposal moving. - If approved, the projects would move Solano County toward large-scale shipbuilding, housing construction and related industrial development. The bottom line: - The coalition is betting that one of California’s biggest proposed industrial buildouts can become a jobs-and-housing answer for Solano County — if lawmakers move fast enough.