California Forever has announced what it calls the largest construction labor agreement in history, signing a 40-year deal alongside the Napa/Solano Building Trades Council and the Northern California Carpenters Union as the group works toward building a new city in Solano County.
The agreement covers almost 70,000 acres — roughly 110 square miles — owned by California Forever and outlines how large-scale construction across the project will be delivered using union labor through individual Project Labor Agreements. The scope of work includes infrastructure and public works, as well as major commercial, office, retail, industrial, defense and energy projects.
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In its announcement, California Forever framed the partnership as part of a broader effort to revive the state’s legacy of large-scale building and innovation, pointing to California’s historic role in shaping major industries from shipbuilding to technology.
According to California Forever, the agreement mandates that the majority of construction across the full development area be performed by union labor. That requirement extends beyond vertical construction and into the infrastructure work needed to support a new city built at scale.
The city is planned to rise on roughly 100 square miles in Solano County, positioned between Silicon Valley and Sacramento. The proposed development includes plans for a large advanced manufacturing park, a major shipyard, and what California Forever describes as the first walkable city built in a century.
The announcement also coincided with the release of an analysis by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, which evaluated the economic and fiscal impact of the Suisun Expansion Plan and the Solano Shipyard.
California Forever said the report estimated that once construction ramps up, the two projects could generate more than 17,000 direct construction jobs in Solano County each year during the 40-year buildout. The report also projects that the majority of those jobs would be union positions, with an average annual compensation of $108,000.
Supporters of the agreement emphasized that the potential impact goes beyond wages alone, describing the project as a long-term source of stability for working families in the county.
“This isn’t just a construction project; it’s a multi-generational promise to the working families of Solano County,” said Danny Bernardini of the Napa-Solano Building Trades Council.
“This is a project where a worker can start as an apprentice, work their entire career, and retire—all while living in the community they helped build. This agreement sets a new national gold standard for how private investment and organized labor can work together to build a better future,” Ron Rowlett of the Northern California Carpenters commented.
Supporters of the plan also highlighted how the project could reduce long commutes and help union members build careers closer to home while supporting local housing affordability.
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“For too long, our members have had to endure long commutes out of the county to find meaningful work. This partnership will guarantee well-paid, local jobs for a lifetime, and a future where our members don’t just work here, they’ll be able to afford a home here,” said Steve McCall, Representative, Solano County Building & Construction Trades (Vacaville).
“This project offers us our shot at the American Dream: well-paid, stable jobs and a chance to own our own homes. It’s a chance to change the trajectory of Fairfield, of Solano County, and of California. I’m proud to be part of it,” said Alicia Mijares, Business Manager, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 (Fairfield).
“As a carpenter living right here in Fairfield, this project is personal. It means I can put my skills to work building the future of my own community instead of driving hours away every morning. This is about more than just a paycheck; it’s about the pride of knowing that my hands helped build the homes and neighborhoods where my neighbors will live and grow. I’m ready to get to work,” said Jermaine Dowdell, Local Carpenter and Fairfield Resident.
California Forever founder and CEO Jan Sramek positioned the agreement as a milestone for partnership between business and organized labor, and as a step toward unlocking approvals needed to begin construction.
“For the last 150 years, California has been the place where dreamers and builders came to build the future—and with it, the middle class. As the grandson of steelworkers and farmworkers, and the son of a mechanic and a school teacher, I could not be more proud of this historic partnership between American business and labor to build the next great American city,” Sramek said.
California Forever said the next step is securing approval to move forward in order to break ground in 2026, noting that planning work and workforce preparation are already in place.
Originally reported by California Forever.
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