Title
Receive a presentation from Monterey County Economic Partnership (MBEP) and Uplift Central Coast on Creating a Resilient and Inclusive Economy.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Economic Development Committee receive a presentation from Monterey County Economic Partnership (MBEP) and Uplift Central Coast on Creating a Resilient and Inclusive Economy.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Founded in 2015, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP)'s mission is to improve the economic health and quality of life in the region. It is a regional member-supported nonprofit organization consisting of public, private, and civic entities located throughout the counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz. They are a regional convenor with three major initiatives: Economic Workforce Development, Housing and Broadband.
The Economic & Workforce Development initiative seeks to recruit and retain businesses and industry into the region for quality, high paying, and family sustaining jobs. In 2016, MBEP launched its housing initiative to support an increase in the supply of all housing at all income levels in the Monterey Bay region. MBEP recognizes the need for reliable and affordable Internet service, an essential utility, for all in our community. For this MBEP, convenes stakeholders toward collective impact in programs and policies that address the region's digital divide.
As a commitment to economic workforce development, MBEP partners with REACH and Ventura EDC on the Uplift Central Coast project which was funded by a $5 million state planning grant under California's Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) now renamed as California Jobs First. This project serves 6 counties, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Santa Barbara.
Uplift's goal is to create an inclusive economic resilience plan for the region through creative, community-led efforts. Uplift will work to determine how best to use the state grant for maximum impact fo...
Click here for full text