The Monterey County Business Council (MCBC) hosts its third annual Monterey Bay Regional Critical Conversation at Casa Munras Garden Hotel and Spa on Thursday, June 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., in conjunction with the Monterey County Association of Realtors and California Forward.
One of 16 Regional Critical Conversation Forums in California, the forum is part of the California Forward and the California Stewardship Network that will bring outcomes from each regional forum to the statewide economic summit in Ontario on Nov. 12-13. As part of the summit network, MCBC continues to make significant progress with our community partners on regional workforce development, infrastructure financing, regulatory streamlining, advancing manufacturing, stewardship of working landscapes, access to capital and housing.
The morning's keynote speaker will be Leslie 
Appleton-Young, chief economist and vice president for the California Association of Realtors. The afternoon session will include a presentation by Kish Rajan, recently departed director of GO-Biz and who now, among other things, works with CALinnovates. Joyce Aldrich, executive director of the Monterey County Workforce Investment Board, will speak on workforce issues and lead one of the panel discussions, along with members of the Central Coast Broadband Consortium. Our forum this year will focus on regional workforce, housing and broadband infrastructure issues affecting San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Participants will share their ideas for our region during a working lunch.
Come hear from the experts about economic trends shaping our future and be part of the dialogue that informs our shared future.
MCBC gratefully acknowledges the support of its initial sponsors and partners for this event: Bianchi, Kasavan & Pope, LLC; California Forward; Monterey County Association of Realtors; the County of Monterey; PG&E; the Monterey Bay International Trade Association; the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership; CSUMB and Cal Coastal.
Tickets are $60 per person in advance, $70 at the door, with lunch included; RSVP here.
For sponsorship information, contact Monterey County Business Council Executive Director Brian Turlington at 582-3235 or via e-mail .
Free workshop focuses on government contracting, source selection process
The Monterey Bay Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) will host "Understanding Government Solicitation & Source Selection Processes," a free presentation from 5:30 to 7 p.m., June 18 at the Small Business Development Center CSUMB, 106 Lincoln Ave., Salinas.
This two-hour presentation provides detailed information about the federal government's contracting methods, solicitation types and formal source selection procedures. Attendees will learn how requirements drive and shape the government's acquisition planning, solicitations and source selection processes. Additionally, this presentation will provide valuable insight into how the government makes a contract award decision and, more importantly, how you can use that information to win more government contracts.
Leading the presentation will be Jeff Cuskey, senior procurement specialist/counselor with the Monterey Bay Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).
Cuskey has over 25 years of experience in federal and defense acquisition, contracting, program management and business financial management. During his 20 years of active duty service with the US Navy, Jeff’s acquisition related assignments included tours as a Contract Specialist at DCMA Philadelphia, Deputy Procuring Contracting Officer for the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Program and Business Financial Manager (CFO) for the Navy’s multi-billion dollar F/A-18 Program. After retiring from the Navy, he became a full time MBA faculty member at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he developed and taught defense-focused acquisition, contracting and program management courses. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delaware and a MS in Acquisition and Contract Management from NPS.
Register for "Understanding Government Solicitation & Source Selection Processes" at the Monterey Bay PTAC website http://www.montereybayptac.com/ under the Training Events tab.
State approves nearly $223 million in transportation funding
Continuing the push to rebuild and maintain California’s infrastructure, the California Transportation Commission has allocated nearly $223 million to 108 transportation projects statewide to alleviate traffic delays, repair aging roads and bridges and encourage bicycling and walking.
That includes funding for several active transportation projects here in Monterey County, including:
- $379,000 to the Monterey County Transportation Agency (BCM), allowing all cities along the Salinas Valley to work together to support infrastructure improvements including new sidewalks, bicycle lanes, multi-use paths and ramps compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.
- $841,000 so that the city of Monterey can install bike lanes on North Fremont Street between Casa Verde and State Route 218, a new sidewalk connection and American with Disabilities compliant improvements to five intersections. This project will increase mobility for those not using a motor vehicle.
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Photo courtesy of California Department of Transportation
Portola Hotel & Spa receives prestigious LEED recertification
Portola Hotel & Spa, which currently holds the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED® certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance, has completed the highly esteemed recertification process. This recertification represents a continuation of the eco-friendly initiatives set out in 2009 when the initial certification began.
As the first LEED hotel in Central California, Portola Hotel & Spa takes much pride in providing both eco-friendly and superior services and amenities to its guests.
Partnership aims to improve patient care
The Seaside Parade of Champions 4th of July Parade in Seaside will take place Sunday, July 5, beginning at noon. Entry deadline for participants has been extended to June 28.
Ecology Action, Plug In America and the Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance host a free workshop on Friday, June 12 for local residents interested in learning more about electric vehicles and other types of alternative fuel options such as fuel cell and biofuels. 