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HomePublicationsTool/ResourceTechnical Assistance for a High-Road Economy

Technical Assistance for a High-Road Economy

    March 13, 2025 - 
    UC Berkeley Labor Center

    The UC Berkeley Labor Center provides no-cost technical assistance to employers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to facilitate high-road projects and partnerships in California and beyond. In a high-road economy, job quality, equity, and sustainability are treated as complementary goals, rather than competing ones. We offer support identifying opportunities for projects and partnerships that advance these outcomes.

    Examples of the type of assistance we offer:

    • Identifying labor and community partners for new or ongoing projects.
    • Facilitating introductions and relationship-building with potential partners.
    • Identifying public funding opportunities.
    • Reviewing funding solicitations and outlining strategies related to a community and labor engagement, job quality, workforce development, and other community benefits.
    • Reviewing workforce and community impact sections of funding applications and recommending ways to strengthen them before submission.
    • Providing resources and examples of best practices for high-road partnerships and community benefits plans.

    Who should apply?

    • Businesses, economic and workforce development professionals, elected officials and other policymakers, community-based organizations, unions, or others interested in exploring high-road strategies related to your work.
    • Applicants for public funding who are seeking support related to labor and community partnerships.

    How to apply?

    If you are interested in the technical assistance described above, please fill out the short intake form below. If selected for technical assistance, our team will contact you within 3 business days to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss your request.

    If you have any questions please contact Francisco Arzú at farzu@berkeley.edu.

    Regional focus: Bay Area and the Green Empowerment Zone

    The intake form includes a question related to the geographic focus of your project. The Labor Center offers technical assistance regardless of project location, but we currently prioritize assistance to manufacturing employers in the Bay Area and clean energy manufacturing employers in the Green Empowerment Zone in Contra Costa County.

    Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ):

    • Focus: Clean energy manufacturing. Includes manufacturing for components related to clean energy and supply chain decarbonization.
    • Geography: Waterfront cities and unincorporated areas in Contra Costa and parts of Solano counties. This includes: Antioch, Benicia, Brentwood, Concord, El Cerrito, Hercules, Martinez, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, Richmond, San Pablo, and Vallejo.

    Bay Area High Road Manufacturing Initiative (BAHRMI):

    • Focus: General manufacturing.
    • Geography: San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Solano and Contra Costa Counties.