Businesses in China may have never heard of East Contra Costa County, but they soon will as a small group of Bay Area mayors, including ones from Antioch and Oakley, are visiting this week to promote the area’s economic strengths with hopes of attracting new investors and fostering business ties.
Organized by China Silicon Valley, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Silicon Valley with branches in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the trip is the first the group has taken since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s trip focuses on the green development of cities, business expansion, and deepening international relationships through sister-city partnerships.
Though Antioch has no Chinese sister cities, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said he sees the value in building such relationships, something he learned more about during a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors gathering in Washington D.C. and visit with Secretary of State Antony Blinken who touted sister-city relationships.
“He said the best way mayors can help in international relations was partnerships because the best way of foreign policy is one-on-one engagement and people getting to know each other,” Hernandez-Thorpe said. “So I’m taking to heart the Secretary’s recommendation.”
Shortly before departure on Sunday for the one-week trip, the Antioch mayor said he will be focusing on promoting strategic trade, the area’s economic strengths and potential job expansion. He also plans to showcase East Contra Costa’s Glydways micro transit system that will connect Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley.
Others on the trip include Oakley Mayor Anissa Williams, San Carlos Mayor Adam Rak, East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio López, Saratoga Mayor Yan Zhao, Morgan Hill Mark Taylor along with Silicon Valley business leaders. The trips were paid for by the nonprofit Hong Kong-based China-United States Exchange Foundation.
The delegation is expected to tour several major cities and participate in a number of events, including meetings with local government officials, and business leaders from some of the fast-growing cities, including in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
While there, Hernandez-Thorpe said he plans to promote Antioch’s deepwater port, AMPORTS’ expanded marine terminal, access to the BNSF railway, and the planned construction of two major commercial warehouses.
“It’s not some small thing that AMPORTS now has a marine terminal here in Antioch,” he said. “And, I think for Oakley, it’s not a small thing that they have a logistics warehousing facility that’s anchored by Amazon.”
Hernandez-Thorpe said that while AMPORTS, one of the world’s largest automotive shipping companies, has been storing new cars in Antioch for a number of months, it was only last week that it brought cars here by ship after expanding the wharf to accommodate roll-on and roll-off traffic. The first vessel brought nearly 1,500 new Buicks here from China and the cars will later be trucked to their destinations.
Related Articles Business | First commercial hydrogen fueling station in US for big rigs set to open in Bay Area
First commercial hydrogen fueling station in US for big rigs set to open in Bay Area Business | Ron Gonzales: It’s time to finish what we started with San Jose BART extension
Ron Gonzales: It’s time to finish what we started with San Jose BART extension Business | Wolfe Road in Sunnyvale to undergo long-awaited repavement
Wolfe Road in Sunnyvale to undergo long-awaited repavement Business | Me & My Car: Roy Orbison said to have once owned ’34 Bentley in East Bay
Me & My Car: Roy Orbison said to have once owned ’34 Bentley in East Bay Business | Senate passes bill to boost air safety, right before FAA law expires “Right now they’re using Antioch as a place to kind of bypass,” he said. “The goal in their second phase will be connecting to BNSF rail, so that they can directly send them to the East Coast using rail lines instead of semi trucks.”
The first phase will be a pilot program to see the impacts from the ships while the second phase of the project includes building an offloading car facility, where workers will process the cars before going off to market, the mayor said.
“For a long time, people have said, ‘why doesn’t Antioch utilize its deepwater ports?’,” Hernandez-Thorpe said. “Clearly, there’s an opportunity here and AMPORTS saw it and, from my perspective …if there’s an opportunity and it’s cheaper, why not?”
Not only will the offloading car facility provide some 40 jobs, but the marine industry has a multiplier effect, creating more jobs regionally as a result, he said.
“It’s kind of replicating what’s happening in Benicia,” the mayor said of AMPORTS’s similar Benicia facility.
Henrnadez-Thorpe also said two nearly 450,000 square feet built-to-suite warehouses suitable for advanced manufacturing, light industrial and more are about to break ground on East 18th Street.
“So, there’s still a lot of flexibility still for businesses to come in here,” he said, noting it’s a point he will make during his talks with Chinese businessmen and officials.
No longer just a place for service-sector businesses, Antioch is now competing for business with the 580 corridor, Hernandez-Thorpe said.
“We have a lot of people with very high skills whether they’re formally educated academically, or they have some type of high skill that they’ve trained for through union trade or whatever it may be,” he said. “I think that’ll change the trajectory of Antioch.”
Mayors travel to China to promote economic strengths, attract investors
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer