Expanding High-Wage Industries

The Central Coast is home to fast-growing global industries with potential to expand and drive high-wage job creation.

Our work with industry, education, government and economic development practitioners across two counties and 15 cities is unleashing industry growth by developing talent pipelines, removing barriers, connecting assets and resources, and spurring innovation.

a mechanic working on the underside of a small jet
Space/Aerospace
Solar panels stretching out into the horizon
Cleantech/Energy
three people in lab coats working around a computer workstation
Precision Manufacturing
a man with a beard smiling while working at the computer
Technology
two agritech farmers walking through a field at sunset with a drone
Agtech
two people constructing the roof of a house
Building Design + Construction
female doctor pointing at a screen of vitals
Healthcare + Life Sciences
a worker in helmet and harness looking out at a wind turbine on the water
Offshore Wind

“The Central Coast is unique in its landscape. We don’t just have biotech companies — we have agtech companies, manufacturing companies, energy-based companies, software companies, and so much more.”

Jorge Mercado Pacific Coast Business Times

“There’s been exceptional value created on the Central Coast in the last 20 years. … There are exceptional entrepreneurs and technologies and exceptional companies that have come out of the Central Coast.”

Karen Roter Davis Managing Partner, Entrada Ventures

Key Activities
  • Ongoing coordination of business attraction, retention and expansion efforts across the full region through a robust Practitioner Network
  • Published a series of reports detailing the landscape, talent pipeline, economic impact and growth projections for key industries
  • Released another report with analysis and insights on bolstering the talent pipeline these industries need to grow and create quality jobs
  • Spearheaded development and adoption of the two-county region’s first-ever comprehensive economic development strategy, a critical roadmap for collaborative action and investment in the region