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

A coalition of labor, business and local leaders is urging California lawmakers to advance the Suisun Expansion Plan and Solano Shipyard, a pair of proposed projects in Solano County that supporters say could create jobs, boost housing and strengthen domestic manufacturing. The projects face a push for streamlined approvals as advocates argue the region is ready to build. Why it matters: - Supporters say the two projects could bring major construction, shipbuilding and housing activity to Solano County. - The coalition says the plans would help replace lost jobs, ease housing pressure and strengthen California’s manufacturing base. - Advocates say the projects could also support workers living closer to their jobs in a county facing affordability and commute challenges. What happened: - More than 100 workers, union leaders, local elected officials, small business owners and community advocates joined the California Alliance for Jobs on June 11, 2026 in Fairfield, California. - The group called on state and local representatives to pass legislation advancing the proposed Suisun Expansion Plan and Solano Shipyard. - The proposed Suisun Expansion Plan would expand Suisun City’s borders into neighboring land through annexation to allow for growth and economic development. - The proposed Solano Shipyard would be located on 7,500 acres east of Collinsville and is already designated for industrial shipbuilding activities. - Supporters say the shipyard could become one of the largest shipyard complexes in the world. The details: - The two projects together are expected to generate $215 building in construction investment, support over 530,000 jobs and deliver more than $16.2 billion annually 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, Budweiser brewery and Vallejo dry docks. - Person said the county has an opportunity to restore economic vitality, including for military families at Travis Air Force Base. - Joshua Arce, executive director of the California Alliance for Jobs, 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 members and that Solano County has the workforce, vision and commitment to build a world-class shipyard and new homes. - Ron Rowlett, director of public relations and government affairs for the North Coast States Carpenters Union, said Carpenters Union members and apprentices are ready to build the future and that Forever California would position Solano County as a center for innovation and advanced manufacturing. - Chris O’Connor, senior vice president of government relations for the Associated General Contractors of California, urged state leaders to pass legislation to streamline approvals so the workforce can build housing, shipbuilding infrastructure and economic opportunity. - Emily Cohen, CEO of United Contractors, said the organization’s more than 800 members stand 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 workers in Solano County face impossible commutes, rising costs and shrinking opportunities. - Sal Vaca, project director for the Working Waterfront Coalition, said Solano County has the talent and tradition to lead the next chapter of shipbuilding and that the jobs belong in local communities. - The California Alliance for Jobs says it is a labor-management partnership representing over 70,000 union construction workers and nearly 2,000 construction industry employers. - The organization says its members build public infrastructure from the Central Valley to the Oregon border. - More information is available at the coalition’s website . Between the lines: - The push blends labor, business and local political support around one message: faster approvals could unlock both industrial and housing development. - The framing suggests supporters see the shipyard as more than a single project, but as a regional anchor for long-term economic growth. - The coalition is also trying to link the projects to broader California priorities, including job creation, housing supply and domestic manufacturing capacity. What’s next: - Supporters want state lawmakers to introduce and pass legislation that would speed approvals for the expansion plan and the shipyard. - Local officials are being pressed to back the projects as the campaign shifts from advocacy to the legislative process. - If approved, supporters say the projects would set up Solano County for large-scale construction, shipbuilding and housing development. The bottom line: - Solano County’s backers are asking California to move fast on a development package they say could revive jobs, expand housing and rebuild the region’s industrial base.