Pittsburg, California is becoming a regional leader in land reuse, clean industry recruitment, and workforce-focused growth. In the latest episode of Capital Rivers Connect: California Edition, brought to you by Team California, host Matthew Tate speaks with Mayor Jelani Killings and Jordan Davis, the city’s Director of Community and Economic Development. As legacy industries shut down or leave, Pittsburg is responding with a bold mix of revitalization and partnership. The city’s approach is changing how Bay Area development can work for both investors and residents.
Industrial Reuse as Economic Strategy
Pittsburg, CA development projects start with industrial reuse. US Steel and Corteva are closing, and the city is rethinking how to use its industrial zones. Instead of replacing old employers with more of the same, Pittsburg is attracting clean manufacturing, green tech, and data infrastructure.
Rather than removing industrial land, the new general plan adds more. A new zoning designation, Employment Center Industrial, is designed for anchor employers. It is also flexible enough for mixed-use job hubs. This gives developers and brokers more options and clarity on what they can build.
A Nimble Approach to Permitting and Incentives
Pittsburg is seen as one of the Bay Area’s most developer-friendly cities. That reputation is the result of deliberate action.
City leaders focus on speed and coordination. They use program-level environmental reviews and align city departments to speed up approvals. Pittsburg also has a strong track record of offering incentives that move projects forward.
The city helps developers move from approval to construction quickly. That’s true whether it’s a Sprouts grocery center or a data center. This approach keeps projects on track without hurting the public budget.
Projects like Dream Courts, a 45,000 sq ft indoor sports facility, and multiple hotels show how well these tools work. Pittsburg uses targeted incentives and infrastructure support to draw private investment.
Business Retention and Workforce Pipeline
Workforce alignment is central to Pittsburg’s long-term development strategy. With partners like Los Medanos College and Pittsburgh Unified School District, the city is building a pipeline of skilled workers through programs like Skill Up and Future Build. The city is not just recruiting businesses — it’s preparing residents to work for them.
This approach creates long-term value for businesses considering relocation or expansion in Pittsburg. It also improves retention and strengthens the city’s case as a regional employment hub within Contra Costa County.
Reimagining Downtown and the Waterfront
Downtown Pittsburg is undergoing a subtle but steady transformation. The city is pairing grants for signage and façade improvements with placemaking efforts, public art, and strategic infill. Anchored by the historic California Theatre and a walkable waterfront, downtown is becoming a central node in Pittsburg’s “live, work, play” strategy.
With 8,000 new residential units in the pipeline and new retail anchors coming online, downtown is poised for broader economic activity. Developers looking at urban revitalization opportunities in Northern California should not overlook this market.
Opportunity at Scale in Contra Costa County
Pittsburg offers something rare in the Bay Area: available land, committed leadership, and competitive utility infrastructure through its municipal power company. The city’s inclusion in the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative and Green Empowerment Zone adds even more regional relevance for companies in clean energy and tech sectors.
For CRE professionals, Pittsburg represents both a tactical entry point into the Bay Area market and a long-term opportunity to shape the future of an evolving city.
Listen to the full episode of Capital Rivers Connect to hear how Pittsburg, CA development projects support innovation, investment, and inclusive growth.
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Photo Credit: City of Pittsburg
