Concord California is a scenic and historic northern California town.  Though it has a small-town feel, it is but 30 minutes from the activity and excitement of the San Francisco and Oakland metropolitan areas. Many of the large corporations that operate out of these larger communities manage branch operations in Concord, including financial service and health care operations. Concord is a major retailing community as well. Area colleges and technical schools can offer students strong academic programs in business, information technology and design, and opportunities for hands-on experience abound thanks to the strong economy of the region.