San Francisco Creates New Plan To Keep Manufacturing Jobs In The City
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- San Francisco's manufacturing sector is getting some love from the city in an attempt to keep jobs in the area.
The city's industrial side is alive and well in the Dogpatch neighborhood where Dave McLean founded Magnolia Brewery, which recently expanded.
"This is our new brewery," McLean said as he pointed out the company's new 10,000 square foot space.
But many manufacturers in San Francisco have trouble finding large spaces in the city.
"We're running short on space," Todd Rufo, director of San Francisco's Economic and Workforce Development department said.
So, the city is rolling out an ambitious agenda to help those businesses to keep manufacturers humming.
"That strategy includes a number of key provisions supporting the growth and development of new industrial space in SF," Rufo said.
The plan aims to take a hard look at the bleak options in late-night transit, and target more training for entry level positions for workers.
For business owners, the plan prioritizes affordable industrial space, even on public land, and sets up a go-to liason for when questions about city bureaucracy pop up.
Nearly 400 businesses in food and beverage manufacturing call San Francisco home, which McLean says is the heartbeat of the city's economy.
"We need to have a good, strong manufacturing sector to be a healthy part of our economy, and I see a lot of signs of hope there."