Co-authored by Bret Alexander Sweet, Economic Development Program Manager, City of Antioch and Gaby Seltzer, Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, City of Antioch
Positioned among Northern California’s major cities of Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and Stockton, and bordering a significant waterway, Antioch is the second-largest city in Contra Costa County, California. With a highly educated workforce, where nine out of 10 residents are employed, Antioch boasts a vibrant and diverse middle class. However, with 90% of employed residents commuting to jobs outside the city, Antioch faces significant challenges as this outflow of workers weakens its local economy.
Furthermore, Antioch’s small businesses face increasing pressure from the dominance of big-box stores that crowd the retail landscape. Small businesses, which rely heavily on foot traffic during weekdays, grapple with maintaining steady revenue streams, often depending on weekends to sustain operations. Concerns over the long-term sustainability of the local economic ecosystem served as an impetus for the development of strategies that foster more local job opportunities, support small businesses and re-energize the local economy.
Identifying Innovative Opportunities for Change
Spearheaded by Antioch’s Economic Development leadership, Kwame Reed and Bret Sweet launched ambitious efforts to revitalize the local economy. Sweet’s vision caught the attention of the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC), a program funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Recognizing Antioch’s potential and need for sustainable economic solutions, the ERC selected Antioch as one of its 65 host sites, providing additional resources and expertise to drive local economic growth.
The project, coined Crossroads to the Delta, was launched to focus on reinvigorating the local economy while building upon Antioch’s unique assets. As part of this initiative, Gaby Seltzer, an ERC Fellow, was placed in Antioch to support the city’s economic development efforts. Seltzer’s role involves collaborating with local leadership and stakeholders to implement forward-thinking solutions that address Antioch’s specific challenges, from boosting small business growth to enhancing workforce opportunities and diversifying the local economy.
Catalyzing Local Job Markets
Sweet and Seltzer have drawn from extensive local stakeholder input and comprehensive data collection, to identify five key focus areas to catalyze the city’s economic recovery. These focus areas provide a holistic, innovative approach to revitalizing Antioch’s economy. By leveraging the city’s existing strengths, the strategy focuses on creating a sustainable, healthy workforce pipeline that supports long-term economic growth. Through this targeted approach, Antioch is poised to foster an environment where both businesses and residents can thrive through:
- Antioch Business Collaborative
- Medical Innovation Accelerator
- Clean Tech Cultivation
- Industrial Zones
- Procurement Excellence
Small Business Support
Of the priorities above, Antioch has achieved the most progress with the Antioch Business Collaborative (ABC) operating using a hub-and-spoke model, with eight partner organizations that provide integrated support for local businesses. Focused on three key areas — funding, technical training, and ecosystem mapping — the ABC has become a critical resource for strengthening the small business ecosystem in Antioch. By dividing responsibilities among its program partners, each serving as a leader and expert in their respective areas, ABC offers small businesses a comprehensive range of services that enhance their opportunities for growth and success. With data-driven outcomes, the ABC has proven to be a vital force in expanding Antioch’s local economy, ensuring that small businesses are well-supported and poised for sustainable development.
Outcomes
ABC has made remarkable strides in supporting small businesses and fostering economic growth in the region. Through its tailored services, ABC has achieved impressive outcomes in the past year:
Business Growth & Job Creation
ABC has provided direct support to 91 businesses, helping 3 new businesses start and facilitating the creation of 162 new jobs. Notably, 61% of these jobs are full-time positions, contributing to long-term employment stability in the area.
Sales Impact
The collaborative efforts have led to a significant $307,000 increase in reported sales, showcasing the effectiveness of ABC’s programs in boosting the local economy and helping businesses expand.
Commitment to Social Equity
ABC is deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. Of the businesses served, 69% are women-owned, 8% are veteran-owned and 27% are Hispanic or Latinx. These figures reflect the organization’s focus on ensuring equitable access to resources for underrepresented communities.
Training & Capacity Building
ABC has facilitated 257 training sessions, with 41 clients benefiting from new skills and knowledge to strengthen their businesses. Impressively, 88% of clients receiving training were first-time participants, underscoring the program’s ability to reach new business owners and entrepreneurs.
Consultation Support
Through 352 consultation sessions, ABC has provided tailored guidance to 67 clients, with more than half of these clients being new to the program. This one-on-one support has helped entrepreneurs navigate challenges and seize new growth opportunities.
These achievements highlight the success of the Antioch Business Collaborative in driving small business growth, enhancing economic development and fostering a diverse, inclusive business environment.
As Antioch continues to work toward its other focus areas, the city’s leadership and community have embraced a forward-thinking approach to drive sustainable growth. Through initiatives like the Crossroads to the Delta project and the efforts of the Antioch Business Collaborative, the city is taking meaningful steps toward creating a more robust local economy. By focusing on small business support, workforce development and leveraging its unique assets, Antioch is positioning itself for a future where local businesses thrive, residents have access to meaningful job opportunities and the economy is more resilient and self-sustaining. With ongoing collaboration and innovative strategies, Antioch is poised to transform its economic landscape, ensuring that the city emerges stronger than ever before.
Want to Learn More?
Take a look back at the impact NLC has made through its Cities Inclusive Entrepreneurship program during the past year.
About the Author
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