Solano County Workforce Development Board Hosts Crucial Job Fair Amid Business Closures

The annual event drew a large crowd seeking new opportunities after recent layoffs in the region's manufacturing sector.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:49pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of polished, geometric objects such as a briefcase, a laptop, and a pair of work gloves, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to symbolize the tools and resources available to job seekers at the Solano Workforce Development Board's career fair.The Solano Workforce Development Board's career fair provided a critical lifeline for workers affected by recent business closures, connecting them with potential employers and offering support through training programs.Vallejo Today

The Solano Workforce Development Board held its annual Career Fair at Solano Community College's Fairfield campus, attracting a strong turnout of soon-to-graduate students and unemployed residents across Solano County. The event took on added urgency following several high-profile business closures that have reshaped the local job market, including the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, Valero Refinery in Benicia, and the Mare Island Dry Docks in Vallejo.

Why it matters

The job fair provided a critical lifeline for workers affected by the recent business closures, offering access to training, retraining, and new job opportunities. With the manufacturing sector hit particularly hard, the event highlighted the economic challenges facing Solano County and the need for state and federal support to help displaced workers and small businesses pivot to new markets.

The details

Solano Workforce Development Board President and Executive Director Dave Hubble said many people affected by the recent closures were made aware of the job fair. The WDB will soon announce grant opportunities of up to $10,000 for small businesses impacted by the Budweiser and Mare Island Dry Dock closures, and up to $25,000 for those affected by the Valero closure, to help them pivot to new market opportunities. Hubble acknowledged the tough economic times but said the state has provided an additional $3.4 million in assistance to help pay for training and retraining for displaced workers.

  • The Solano Workforce Development Board held its annual Career Fair on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • The job fair came on the heels of several high-profile business closures in the region, including the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, Valero Refinery in Benicia, and the Mare Island Dry Docks in Vallejo.

The players

Dave Hubble

President and Executive Director of the Solano Workforce Development Board.

Monica Brown

Solano County Supervisor who spoke to Governor Gavin Newsom's office about using workforce development funds for Solano Community College classes.

Zac Harris

A 21-year-old attendee of the career fair who is looking for a new job after his current employer, a local moving company, recently reduced its hours.

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What they’re saying

“We fully anticipate some folks who used to be employed by Valero and Budweiser and Harbinger Homes and so forth.”

— Dave Hubble, President and Executive Director, Solano Workforce Development Board

“A lot of folks here, like if you talk with Budweiser, I mean it's been here 50 years and you might have spent your whole career there. So it is very scary, and I do understand.”

— Monica Brown, Solano County Supervisor

“I feel like there needs to be more awareness towards that, so that the older generation can see that and not think that we're just lazy.”

— Zac Harris, Job Seeker

What’s next

Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown said she would like to see another career fair hosted by the college in about two months, noting the strong turnout as a 'warning that we need to keep doing this'.

The takeaway

The Solano Workforce Development Board's job fair highlighted the economic challenges facing the region, with the manufacturing sector hit particularly hard by recent business closures. The event provided a critical lifeline for displaced workers, but also underscored the need for continued state and federal support to help small businesses and workers pivot to new opportunities.