California Forever is a privately held real estate development company founded in 2017 by Czech-born entrepreneur Jan Sramek. Through its subsidiary Flannery Associates, the firm quietly acquired some 62,000 acres of farmland in eastern Solano County, roughly 60 miles northeast of San Francisco, with the aim of building a new city of up to 400,000 residents. (Wikipedia)
Investors & Identity
Backers include high-profile Silicon Valley figures like Michael Moritz, Reid Hoffman, Marc Andreessen, Laurene Powell Jobs, and others. However, the company maintains that its investors are not involved in daily operations.
The East Solano Plan: A City in the Making
- Scale: Up to 400,000 people on about 17,500 acres (two-thirds the area of San Francisco).
- Vision: Designed as a walkable, sustainable city with Mediterranean-style architecture, streetcars, and a mix of residential, park, and solar infrastructure.
Evolving Vision: Solano Foundry & Shipbuilding
Solano Foundry: Advanced Manufacturing
In July 2025, California Forever unveiled Solano Foundry, a 2,100‑acre advanced manufacturing park amid its masterplan lands. Aimed at industries in robotics, energy, aerospace, and defense, the Foundry is projected to create up to 40,000 jobs, including 35,000 manufacturing and 5,000 warehousing positions. The site includes over 40 million sq ft of industrial space, positioned as the largest such park in the U.S. (The Guardian)
Positioned within one hour of Silicon Valley, the location is promoted as ideal for serial hardware production—a return to “designed in California, made in California.” California Forever is working with JLL to lease facilities and attract high-tech tenants.
Shipyard at Collinsville
In parallel, the firm is exploring development of a 1,400‑acre shipbuilding yard near Collinsville, tapping into Solano County’s naval heritage and federal interest in domestic shipbuilding. Local officials and state representatives—including Assemblywoman Lori Wilson—expressed support, seeing it as potential regional economic anchor.
Final Thoughts
California Forever represents one of the boldest—and most controversial—visions of 21st-century urban development: a Silicon Valley–backed city rising from farmland, alongside manufacturing and shipbuilding hubs. While the vision includes high standards in sustainability and scale, it faces serious questions around transparency, governance, environmental impact, and equitable community development.
As the project pivots from ballot measures to annexation and industrial planning, all eyes remain on whether California Forever can build trust, enable real local benefit, and align its ambition with sustainable, accountable growth.
