A Weekly Newsletter Promoting Monterey County:
Open for Business

Friday, June 28, 2019

Edition 797

MCBC 24th Anniversary Gala & Annual Economic Vitality Awards

Please join the Monterey County Business Council as we honor remarkable organizations for their contribution to our economic vitality. Our 24th Anniversary Gala & Annual Economic Vitality Awards will take place from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at the Monterey Plaza Hotel.

2019 Honorees
Agriculture: Indus Holdings, Inc.
Creative & Technology: Monterey Bay Drone, Automation & Robotics Technology Team
Defense: The Center for Homeland Defense & Security / Naval Postgraduate School: Research on School Shooter Database
Health & Wellness: The Ohana Project by Montage Health
Higher Education & Research: Hartnell College: Dr. Willard Lewallen
Hospitality & Tourism: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Sustainable Building & Design: City of Monterey: Monterey Conference Center
President's Award: Scheid Vineyards

2018 Monterey County Crop Report: Agriculture valued at nearly $4.26 billion

Agriculture, the top economic engine for Monterey County, saw the gross value of ag commodities grown in the county top out at $4.258 billion in 2018, a decrease of 3.7% from 2017, according to the 2018 Monterey County Crop Report.

Some key findings:

The top four spots remained unchanged with leaf lettuce being the number one crop, with a value of $733 million but sustaining an 11.6% decrease from 2017 due in large part to the reduction in romaine lettuce production. That reduction was in response to outbreaks of E. coli infections that resulted in Food Safety Alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Strawberries continued to hold the number two spot, with a value of $698 million and a 1.9% increase over the previous year. That increase resulted mostly from improved pricing for strawberries destined for processing.

Third on the list was head lettuce, posting a $459 million value, a decrease of 8.6% caused by decreases in production and pricing.

Broccoli held onto the fourth position with a value of $388 million, a 5.2% decrease from 2017.

Rounding out the top 10 are wine grapes, $247 million; cauliflower, $209 million; miscellaneous vegetables, $205 million; nursery, $204 million; celery, $145 million; and spinach, $143 million.

Wine grapes saw an increase of 3.7% for a total of $247 million. “Wines grapes had the best year they’ve ever had last year,” said Kim Stemler, Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association executive director.

Strawberries saw a decline in acreage but an increase in production, due in part to new varieties developed to produce more fruit per acre. Read more

See the full report 

Aera Energy ranked in Top 20 on Forbes America Best Mid-Size Employers List

Congratulations to Aera Energy (MCBC member) for being named one of the best midsize companies to work for on Forbes America’s prestigious 2019 Best Midsize Employers List. The Bakersfield-based company, which is one of California’s largest oil and gas producers, was ranked 13th on the list of 500 best midsize companies in the United States.

Aera Energy, which employs about 1,100 employees and nearly 2,800 contractors in Kern, Fresno, Monterey and Ventura counties, also ranked second among 32 companies listed in the construction, oil and gas operations, mining and chemicals category.

Competitive compensation and benefit programs, professional development and learning opportunities, flexible schedules, healthy lifestyles for employees at work and home, and generous leave programs are among the reasons why Aera made the list, along with some great communities for employees to work, live and raise families.

Forbes’ best midsize employers were selected based on the results of a series of independent and anonymous surveys conducted among 50,000 employees who work part or full time for companies with at least 1,000, but fewer than 5,000 employees in the United States. Read more 

See the full list of America’s Best Midsize Employers here and Aera's press release about the announcement.

California EPA grants include Central Coast projects

The state's Environmental Protection Agency has announced $1.5 million in environmental justice grants to fund 34 projects working towards "combating pollution, improving health outcomes and increasing public engagement in some of California's most pollution-burdened communities."

Four of these projects are based in, or include, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, and total roughly $160,000. They include training and support for organic and sustainable agriculture for Salinas Valley farmworkers, support for "low-income, predominantly Latino communities in the Central Coast" regarding safe and affordable water, community education in Gonzales to deal with environmental health and justice issues, and improving health through "heat stress prevention outreach" in the Pajaro Valley. Read more
Source: KION

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special thanks to the County of Monterey for its ongoing support of the Monterey County Business Council's efforts for economic development and education.

Submit news items of general interest about your organization or upcoming events for consideration for inclusion in Friday Facts, our weekly MCBC e-newsletter that reaches key decision-makers, industry leaders, movers and shakers in Monterey County and the greater region.  And if you aren't yet a member, join us now and help shape the future of Monterey County for the better. Download the membership application or call 216-3000.

Founded in 1995, the Monterey County Business Council (MCBC) is a 501(c)(6) organization comprised of a diverse group of members representing all industries and geographic areas of Monterey County. It remains the only countywide organization focused on business advocacy, economic development and workforce readiness.

Please support our efforts, by becoming a member today: Membership Application
 
If you are a current MCBC member, please help us grow our membership by forwarding this email to businesses who will benefit from our services.