_Planning Commission meeting agenda packet 6-25-25

CITY OF PLEASANTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FY2024-2028 1. Catalog Regional Training Assets It is critical that the region’s education and training infrastructure keep up with new technologies. Companies looking to invest in the region will want to focus on the expertise of people graduating from local educational institutions and training programs. 2. City-Sponsored Workforce Training Fund & Program Establish a workforce training fund and program that partially, or fully, covers the costs of target sector needs. When economic development organizations in the region help with the costs of training its own workforce, this tends to create more loyalty to the region. Examples of this relationship building in other communities include provision of training funding to the employer with a reciprocal commitment to stay in the region for a minimum of two years or more (depending on the level of funding). 3. Regional High School Learning Ecosystem Development Cities are increasingly establishing a front- line, practice approach to building a regional high school work-based learning ecosystem by leveraging existing resources. Work-based learning is a proven practice for helping high school students make better career choices and for better preparing them for adult work life. 4. Youth Mentorship Program Incorporate the “New Generation Partnerships” model by offering a wide range of tools and services to discover local career and business opportunities and involve youth in meaningful ways. 5. Foster Communication & Collaboration Keeping active with the regional Workforce Development Board, labor organizations, State Employment Services, and other workforce-related programs should be a central focus of a city’s Business Retention & Expansion Program. The strategic partnership created by dedicating more time and focus on interplay between these specific organizations are proven sources of effective regional cooperation and collaboration. Regular communication is the key to attracting industry champions to provide leadership for strengthening alignment between industry, education, and workforce development. By creating this platform, industry has been at the table in partnering with education and government to tackle workforce issues that are inherent to all. Other efforts that can help improve communication, collaboration, and awareness of what the manufacturing and construction fields have to offer, including (some areas in the region may already be doing these). One popular example is Career Day, where professionals engage and educate students about career opportunities within skilled trade industries. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT While the following workforce development best practices provide focus on manufacturing and construction, they also support the community vision of professional services and tech scientific, integrating industry in education provides a vision to integrate university within the business district. 36