The cities of Pittsburg and Richmond each have an Enterprise Zone. Financial incentives are offered to businesses for locating and hiring in Enterprise Zones.

There are numerous Redevelopment Project Areas located in the county. Companies locating in these areas may receive assistance in obtaining permits and will benefit from improved infrastructure, site assembly assistance and other services that save valuable time and money.

Other incentives available in the Contra Costa Recycling Market Development Zone are:

• Industrial Development Bonds (IDB). Typically, IDBs reduce financing costs by up to 20-30 percent when compared to conventional funding alternatives.
• Micro Business Loan Programs. The Microenterprise fund allows businesses to borrow from $1,500 to $15,000. The Economic Development Assistance fund provides businesses with loans generally ranging from $15,000 to $75,000, with a maximum loan amount of $140,000. These programs are available to startup, newly established, or growing small business concerns.
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The county directs funds from this program into economic development, infrastructure improvements and other programs that are designed to meet the needs of very low and low-income persons.
• Business development assistance is available from the Contra Costa Economic Partnership and the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
• A full range of employer services is available through the EASTBAY Works centers. EASTBAY Works centers offer all types of employer services such as connecting businesses with qualified employees, finding out about business opportunities, researching state and federal regulations, and exploring the state’s economic development services. The centers also offer business startup information, management assistance, counseling, and workshops.

Contra Costa County also offers streamlined permitting, and land is available at lower cost than many other Bay Area locations. For further local RMDZ information, see http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/recycle/rmdz/.

Target materials include construction and demolition debris (including wood debris, gypsum, carpet and padding, all types of roofing materials, cabinetry, railroad ties and porcelain), tires, plastics, green waste, textiles, and electronics waste.

Recycling Infrastructure

Contra Costa County has an established infrastructure for the collection of secondary feedstocks. Currently three landfills operate in the County, three material recovery facilities and a numerous recycling facilities, which accept various materials (these materials are listed in Contra Costa County’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Guide which can be viewed online at http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/guide.pdf).

Transportation Infrastructure

Contra Costa has an extensive network of highways, railways and waterways. Businesses have ready access to the San Francisco Bay Area’s huge market and beyond. Interstate 80 provides East/West access from San Francisco to Sacramento and across the county, Interstate 680 connects Contra Costa to the Silicon Valley, State Highway 4 runs east through the County’s ‘growth corridor’ and connects to Interstate 5. Completion of the Richmond Parkway connects Interstates 80 and 580, which makes a significant portion of industrial and commercial land in West County easily accessible. Four hub airlines are located with in a 60-mile radius from most locations (Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento), and seven ports are located nearby, including Richmond, California’s third largest in annual tonnage, and Oakland, which accounts for nearly 5 percent of U.S. exports. Major railways are the high-speed rail Denver & Rio Grande Western (San Joaquin Valley to Oregon), Union Pacific (Oakland to Chicago) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (Richmond to San Joaquin Valley).

David Brockbank

Principal Planner
30 Muir Rd
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 655-2911
Email: David.Brockbank@dcd.cccounty.us
County: Contra Costa
CalRecycle Contact: Frank Severson