2026
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THE PRESS O RE NT WO
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Vol. 28, No. 32
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August 7, 2026
Brentwood awards $125,000 in grant money Recipients include multicultural events By Jake Menez Staff Writer
The Brentwood City Council voted 5-0 during their July 28 meeting to award $125,900 in grant money to 12 different organizations through the city’s Economic Development Fund. Those awarded money included organizations putting on business-related events as well as multicultural celebrations and other recreational activities. Initially, 19 groups had applied for grants with the total for all these proposals equaling roughly $310,000. According to city staff, the City had $204,863 available to fund proposed grants. However, a separate agenda item approved by the Council for a potential winter market was
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Grants awarded through Brentwood’s Economic Development Fund help bolster local events celebrating multiculturalism, business-related events and more. also approved with a price tag of $60,000, which brought the available funding for grants down to $144,863. The initial $204,863 available this year was an in-
crease from the roughly $180,000 the city had available last year, which itself was an increase over the roughly $140,000 available in 2024.
Brentwood Raley’s store to close on Nov. 3
Speculation from residents about the closure of the Brentwood location centered primarily on retail theft as a motivating factor as well as high rent for the retail space. However, the company has not provided a reason for the closure. “All of us at Raley’s are in shock,” one employee wrote on social media. “We don’t understand it ourselves but nothing we can do now.” The Brentwood closure comes in the wake of a similar closure this
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Unemployment dropping as job market is evolving Local agencies offer insight By Soumya Jain Agarwal Correspondent
Contra Costa County’s employment outlook is showing encouraging signs, even as the nature of work continues to change. The U.S. economy is navigating a period of uncertainty. Slower economic growth, shifting trade policies, inflationary pressures, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence have all contributed to a more cautious hiring environment. National unemployment has edged higher over the past two years, leaving many workers won-
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year in Antioch. The store at 3632 Lone Tree Way had been in operation for 47 years prior to it being shuttered in April. “The Raley’s leadership team has made the difficult decision to close our Antioch store on Lone Tree Way,” Carol Barsotti, chief marketing officer for Raley’s told news organizations at the time. “With the lease up for renewal and after careful review of the store’s performance and economic factors, we have chosen not to extend the lease” Following the announcement of the closure, the City of Brentwood’s economic development staff is working with the property owner to find potential tenants for the soon-to-be-vacant retail space, according to Councilmember Jovita Mendoza.
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Following the announcement that the Raley’s grocery store at 2400 Sand Creek Road in Brentwood will be closing on Nov. 3 after over 20 years of operation, the company has released a statement about questions regarding the future of other local stores. The company’s Antioch location closed last April. “We understand why the community is asking that question,” Raley’s representative Chelsea Carbaha said via email about the future of the store at 2077 Main St. in Oakley. “Raley’s continuously evaluates store performance, lease terms, and market conditions across our footprint. That’s ongoing, not something that only happens around a closure announcement. We don’t have any further closures to share at this time.”
The source of funds for the Economic Development Grant Program is the required 20% set aside from the City’s Business License Tax revenue, and there is no impact on the city’s General Fund, according to the agenda packet for the meeting. This process has been in place since 2002. Eight of the organizations that received grant money also received funding last year, while four of the awardees were new. Of the seven organizations that did not receive funding, six were new applicants. The only returning applicant to have been granted money in 2025 to not be granted money this year was the Brentwood Turkey Trot. According to Councilmember Jovita Mendoza, the Turkey Trot was not awarded any grant money because of the language of the
dering what lies ahead, experts say. California, however, continues to outperform much of the country. With a $4.3 trillion economy — accounting for nearly 14% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product —the state remains one of the strongest economic engines in the world. That strength is beginning to show in its labor market as well. According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the state’s unemployment rate fell from 5.5% in June 2025 to 5.2% in June 2026. Contra Costa County is faring well too. Average unemployment in the county declined from 4.8% in 2025 to 4.4% during the see Jobs page 18A
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