California Loses Major Investment Opportunity

California recently lost a proposed $3.2 billion shipyard project to Texas that would have generated roughly 10,000 construction jobs. The announcement is a significant setback for California and its ability to compete for large-scale industrial and infrastructure investments.

Background: 

California Forever is a proposed new city planned for roughly 17,500 acres in Solano County. The project represents billions of dollars in infrastructure investment, including housing, major transportation and utility systems, and two industrial anchors: the Solano Foundry manufacturing park and the Solano Shipyard, envisioned as the largest shipbuilding complex in the nation. For union contractors, this means decades of work building roads, utilities, water systems, public infrastructure, industrial facilities, and housing at a scale California has not seen in decades. UCON is proud to be a leading advocate for the project and the opportunities it could create for union signatory contractors.

Why It Matters: 

The Saronic shipyard was one of the first major industrial projects tied to that vision. California was one of two finalists, but the company ultimately chose Texas because it could break ground faster.

For UCON, the message to state leaders is simple: California just lost a $3.2 billion project and the construction work that came with it. If California wants to attract the next shipyard, manufacturing facility, or major industrial investment, it must be able to compete with other states that are actively pursuing those opportunities.

What's Next: 

The California Forever vision remains unchanged, and the opportunity to attract major employers to Solano County remains significant. The focus now should be on ensuring California is positioned to compete for the next manufacturer, shipbuilder, or industrial user looking to make a long-term investment. UCON will continue advocating for policies that help bring those projects, and the construction work they generate, to California rather than another state.

Contact Gus Flores for more information.