Three Antioch-area businesses, working together under the pilot initiative Antioch Made, have been awarded a grant through the City of Antioch's Work Together Fund. The grant funds a pilot program that turns beginners with zero experience into makers and creators through hands-on training in 3D printing, design, and fabrication.
The Fund
Antioch was one of 12 cities chosen nationwide for the National League of Cities' Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program, backed by the Gates Foundation. The six-month program, which also offers expert guidance, aims to expand, test, and implement economic mobility strategies at the local level. NLC has worked with over 20 municipalities over the past two years, providing more than $350,000 in awards, coaching, and peer-learning opportunities.
With the grant, Antioch launched the Work Together Fund to nurture collaborative problem-solving toward job creation among small businesses. Applicants received technical assistance through the Antioch Business Collaborative, a city initiative that supports local businesses through advisory services, workshops, training, and access to capital.
A total of $20,000 was awarded to selected teams ($5,000-$10,000 per team). All grant funds must be spent by June 1, 2026. Antioch's participation also has the potential to leverage additional funding for the city's economic mobility efforts.
As reported by the Mercury News, Mayor Ron Bernal said the grant "will help us strengthen pathways to economic mobility and drive long-term growth for our community."
The Team
The Antioch Made initiative brings together three local businesses, each contributing a different piece of the program:
- Pestec (Luis Agurto Jr., Project Lead) provides facilities and anchors the initiative. Pestec is a local leader in Bay Area pest management and research, rooted in the Antioch community for decades. Pestec was founded by his father in 1985, and recently celebrated 30 years in operation. Luis leads the program, coordinates across all partners, and brings Pestec's education mission and community connections to the project.
- Steward Advertising (Joshua Mendez Valdez, Outreach & Brand) handles community outreach, recruitment, and brand identity for the initiative, connecting the program to local creatives and businesses. He runs Antioch.town, one of the most popular local brands in Antioch for what is happening around the city.
- Maker Pub (Myk Klemme, Curriculum & Instruction) develops training curriculum, provides equipment access, and delivers hands-on instruction in 3D printing, design, and fabrication with the goal of establishing a makerspace in the area and scale to more manufacturing trades like CNC machining and wood working while expanding the 3D print lab.
The Program
The pilot runs from January through May 2026. Public classes and workshops launch in March, with a final showcase in May where participants present what they've built. The program covers 3D printing and fabrication, digital design, selling what you make, and building a portfolio of real projects.
No prior experience is required. The program is designed for beginners, career changers, and anyone in the Antioch area who wants to learn hands-on skills.
Learn more at maker-pub.com/partnerships/antioch-made.