Spotlighting our industry strengths
We’ve introduced new pages on our website highlighting the key growth industries for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
+ Space & Aerospace
+ Clean Tech & Renewable Energy
+ Technology & Innovation
+ Precision Manufacturing
+ Agtech
+ Health & Life Sciences
+ Building Design & Construction
CERF is up 🏄♂️
The six-county Uplift Central Coast Coalition – led by REACH, the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) and Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) – is excited to announce its continued partnership to develop an application and secure our region’s share of California’s new $600 million Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF).
The purpose of CERF is to support new plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create high-quality, broadly accessible jobs for all Californians.
The CERF strategy is based on triple bottom line principles and values— economy, equity and environment—and calls for input from and ultimate benefit to disadvantaged, disproportionately impacted and under-represented communities.
Moving forward, our broadened Uplift Central Coast initiative will focus on the aerospace industry while also expanding into other sectors. The coalition will identify, prioritize and invest in a wide range of workforce and economic development projects, while contributing to a comprehensive approach to regional economic resilience. Our efforts and partnerships will continue to cover the same six-county region: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Grants of up to $5 million will be awarded this fall to support inclusive engagement and planning efforts to inform regional investment opportunities.
Sign up here if you would like to stay engaged, track progress or participate with the coalition.
“A momentous day”
All seven cities and all five supervisors across SLO County united last week over a plan to reduce homelessness by 50 percent in five years.
The plan — a proactive and coordinated set of tangible actions crafted with involvement from city and county officials, nonprofit service providers and homeless advocates — paves the way for serious traction on a widespread persistent challenge. Demonstrating the power of a collective, collaborative approach, it’s regionalism at its best.
Offshore wind: “Go big and go bold”
That emerged as the central theme of the recent Pacific Offshore Wind Summit in San Francisco, proclaimed by everyone from industry leaders to California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild and BOEM Director Amanda Lefton.
Offshore wind is here to stay, Lefton said:
“Here in California, we are going to bring it to scale, starting at the Morro Bay and Humboldt Wind Energy Areas.”
With federal, state and industry leaders in attendance, the summit provided an excellent opportunity for REACH to further efforts to usher in the jobs and economic benefits of this remarkable industry, REACH CEO Melissa James, who moderated one of the panels, said.
“The starting line is fast approaching, with the Morro Bay lease auction set for fall, and the future is looking bright!”
See highlights of the summit at Offshore Wind California.
