Read CMTA’s round-up of manufacturing news from May 2026. The articles below don’t reflect the views of the manufacturing industry or CMTA. They are a collection of the latest industry news from this past month.
Latest Industry News
Rocket Lab Awarded $90 Million Contract to Build GEO Satellites
Rocket Lab Corporation—a CMTA member and leading launch and space systems company—was awarded a $90 million contract by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design, manufacture, integrate, and operate two geostationary (GEO) satellites hosting the Heimdall space domain awareness payload.
Rocket Lab will assemble, integrate, and test the spacecraft at its Spacecraft Production Complex in Long Beach, CA.
Cepheid Opens New Warehouse, Now Employs More Than 1,500 Workers in Lodi
Cepheid—a CMTA member and the largest private employer in Lodi, CA—officially opened its new 180,000-square-foot central warehouse designed to strengthen the company’s end-to-end manufacturing capability.
The molecular diagnostics company operates advanced manufacturing, production, and engineering facilities on a 576,000-square-foot campus that spans five buildings and employs 1,539 people.
Read more from Lodi News-Sentinel
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling Continues California Investment
As Coca‑Cola celebrates 140 years, CMTA board member company Reyes Coca‑Cola Bottling (RCCB) continues building on its long-term commitment to California.
Through a series of investments totaling more than $700 million, RCCB is building modern infrastructure to support long-term growth, strengthen local economies, and create opportunities for California communities.
Read more from Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling
California Companies to Receive CalCompetes Tax Credits
Seventeen companies across California are set to receive in-state tax credits through CalCompetes. This comes with a goal of creating almost 5,000 in-state jobs, according to an announcement from Governor Newsom in early May.
The included companies heavily represent the manufacturing industry in aerospace and battery storage
Read more from The Sacramento Bee
Emerald Packaging Acquires Santa Ana Facility
Emerald Packaging, a CMTA member and a leading supplier of flexible packaging solutions for the produce industry, has acquired a new facility in Santa Ana, CA.
The move establishes Emerald’s second California production facility and positions the Union City based company closer to its largest customer base in Arizona and northern Mexico.
Premium Food Manufacturer Expands to Mountain House
One of California’s premium food manufacturers is officially coming to Mountain House, CA.
Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc., a nationally recognized company known for its frozen Italian specialty products and signature pesto sauces, announced it has signed a 15-year lease for a new manufacturing facility in Mountain House.
Read more from the City of Mountain House
Manufacturing Policy News
Governor Newsom Announces $1 Billion Rebate Program for Electric Trucks
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new $1 billion rebate program for electric trucks. Beginning June 26, rebates will be available at authorized retailers for public and private fleets across the state.
The rebates range from $7,500 to $120,000 and can be applied toward the purchase of new electric medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
Read more from the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Newsom Tax Plan Faces Criticism Over Potential Consumer Cost Increases
CMTA said the changes could negatively affect the state’s economy, as businesses across industries rely heavily on software for daily operations.
“We’re all using software in our business-to-business transactions. We’re using software internally at our companies,” said CMTA President & CEO Lance Hastings. “The impact would be felt throughout the economy, which would be adding costs at a time when affordability should be the priority in addressing that issue.”
California Wine Bill Advances to Restrict “American” Wine Label to 100% Domestic Blends
An Assembly bill to restrict wine sold in California from being called “American” on the label unless it contains 100% domestic wine passed its second committee hearing Thursday with a 15-0 vote.
Assembly Bill 1585 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee, including the additional language that it would apply only to wine bottled on or after July 2027.
Read more from the Sacramento Business Journal
California’s New Plastic Recycling Rules Spark Fights From All Sides
Under new rules, plastic producers have to cut single use plastic, increase recycling rates, and pay $5 billion to remedy harms from plastic pollution.
Plastic producers were given until June to come up with a plan for how they’re meeting state mandates.
See CMTA’s resource packet here.