A Weekly Newsletter Promoting
Monterey County's Thriving Business Environment
Friday, May 5, 2023 | Edition 979
Our team is dedicated and focused on communicating with our elected officials on issues important to the business sector, assisting businesses with pandemic recovery, disaster recovery, educating leaders about the different job sectors in Monterey County, and ensuring our business community is informed (and utilizing) available programming and resources. At MCBC, we believe that by working together, we can create a thriving business environment that benefits everyone in the community. Monterey County Business Council remains on the front lines of business advocacy. As a member of our organization, you will have the opportunity to contribute to this vision and make a positive impact on the local economy. Please support our efforts, by becoming a member today. We greatly appreciate our members and your support!
Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator brings $21,678,728 to Monterey County businesses
The numbers are in! Our Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator team has been working hard connecting Monterey County businesses with $21,678,728 in contract awards for fiscal year to date, with $4,847,102 in quarter 1 alone. Our team guides business owners through the process of finding, bidding, and winning government contracts. Our Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator provides expertise for contracting and subcontracting opportunities. All services, trainings, and webinars are free. Contact us to see how your business can be next!
National leaders gather at Naval Postgraduate School to problem-solve climate change issues
The Naval Postgraduate School hosted a two-day Department of the Navy Climate Tabletop Exercise on April 27-28 to tackle climate and sustainability initiatives. The event was held in partnership with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, which signed an education partnership agreement with NPS in December in an effort to tackle climate change.
Last week’s event brought together participants from the Department of Defense, federal agencies, Congress, think tanks, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to come up with solutions and initiatives in support of the Department of the Navy’s climate strategy, Climate Action 2030. Read more Source: Monterey County Herald
Winners named in annual CSUMB Startup Challenge
Friendly Robot won the $10,000 grand prize at the CSUMB-based Institute for Innovation and Economic Development’s (iiED) annual Startup Challenge on April 28 at CSUMB’s Otter Student Union grand ballroom. (Both CSUMB and the iiED are MCBC members.)
Xiao Xiao, owner and founder of the small company, which produces automated commercial vacuum cleaners (think, giant Roomba), said he was excited to be chosen among the other seven startups in the Venture Division of the competition. He’s hopeful the acknowledgment will draw investors. That’s what happened when he won a similar competition with the Silicon Valley-based Alchemist Accelerator. He said his company had attracted $960,000 from investors within a few months of that.
That kind of boost is a big part of what the Startup Challenge is about, said Brad Barbeau, executive director of iiED. Read more Source: California State University, Monterey Bay
Monterey approves four marijuana dispensaries
The Monterey (MCBC member) City Council had laid the framework for three potential pot shops, a cannabis delivery service, and multiple testing labs within city limits. The council on Tuesday voted to move forward with four locations, adding one on North Fremont, and up to five annual cannabis-related events at the fairgrounds. The city plans to finalize plans sometime in 2024. Read more Source: KION
Cash mob shopping event helps Pajaro businesses
Businesses in Pajaro received a boost this past weekend with a cash mob event designed to bring in customers and support the community. Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez said he wants to make sure future events reach even more people, with advertising on all platforms, including television and through public service announcements. More cash mob shopping events will happen in the future, according to Supervisor Hernandez. Read more Source: KION
Join our Monterey Bay APEX Accelerator team in an upcoming free webinar
May 17th at 10 a.m. - "Understanding Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IDIQ)" We will go over the most common types of IDIQs, explain their benefits, and how you may be able to participate in some contracting opportunities related to an IDIQ even if you are not the awardee of a specific IDIQ. RSVP here
May 31st at 10 a.m. -"Introduction to the SBIR/STTR Program," The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs encourage small businesses to engage in Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. Learn some important aspects of these outstanding programs. RSVP here
Soledad seeks to transform Front Street to attract new hospitality businesses to its downtown
City officials in Soledad (MCBC member) are working on a concept to create a village of shipping containers on Front Street, a plan that would reinvent its downtown district and build up its hospitality industry.
Soledad owns several parcels that are long and narrow, which makes them unappealing for housing developers but ideal for commercial use.
“South Monterey County deserves a place to get a beer, a glass of wine, to go to a little concert,” says Bryan Swanson, Soledad’s community and economic development director.
In recent years, the city has attracted new businesses including Premiere Cinemas and Grocery Outlet; now, they are focusing on the hospitality industry. The container village would host city-sponsored events and festivals, and planners hope it would attract new businesses, preferably local. (As one example of a successful container business, Fieldwork Brewing Company’s downtown Monterey location is made of shipping containers.)
A village of a dozen containers would cost up to $10 million and include space for restaurants, drinks, retail and an outdoor stage. The city is also considering is a community kitchen similar to El Pájaro Community Development Corp.’s commercial kitchen incubator for emerging food entrepreneurs. Read more Source: Monterey County Weekly, artists' rendering courtesy of the city of Soledad.
Salinas officials are considering a project that could bring new four-story hotel, residential units to city
The city of Salinas (MCBC member) is considering a multi-year project that would bring a new hotel and hundreds of residential units to the southeast corner of Abbott and John streets. The 22-acre lot could become home to a four-story hotel with 111 rooms and a pool. It would include 242 residential units, offices, and retail space. The project would be built over seven phases.
Salinas City Council Member and Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce President Steve Mcshane said there is a need for a new hotel in the city and hopes the proposed plan will accommodate tourists visiting the Central Coast. The city could also benefit from the transient occupancy tax. Read more Source: KSBW
Make sure your news gets noticed!
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.
Special thanks to the County of Monterey for its ongoing support of the Monterey County Business Council's efforts for economic development, business recovery, and education.
