The Board of Directors and staff at Monterey County Business Council extends its warmest wishes to all graduates as they embark on an exciting journey into the next chapter of their lives. With great enthusiasm, the Monterey County Business Council anticipates the immense potential and contributions that each graduate will bring to their chosen career paths. Hard work, dedication, and perseverance have culminated in this momentous achievement, and we couldn't be prouder.
Monterey County is renowned for its vibrant business community and diverse industries, and we firmly believe that the Class of 2023 will play a pivotal role in shaping its future. Fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and boundless energy will undoubtedly fuel economic growth, foster creativity, and inspire positive change. The future is yours, and we have no doubt that it will be bright.
Monterey County: Business with PRIDE!
We invite business owners to proudly self-identify as LGBTQ+ owned or LGBTQ+ friendly and showcase their support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Help the Building Business Back and Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations teams in creating a comprehensive LGBTQ+ business directory for Monterey County by completing this survey!
Please fill out the short survey and you'll appear in directories for Building Business Back and Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations. The survey is available online here.
Salinas Valley LGBTQIA+ Progress Brunch
Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations is hosting a fundraising brunch at the Toro Place Café, a long-standing queer-owned business in the heart of Monterey County.
The event aims to showcase the presence of LGBTQ+ owned businesses in Monterey County and give them a platform to discuss the unique challenges they face. In turn, this brunch will give politicians a chance to demonstrate their support by discussing local policy and how to make improvements that benefit small business owners.
For more than three years, Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations has worked to develop a directory of queer-owned and friendly businesses. This helps serve our community by helping them identify safe spaces where they know they will be welcomed.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at Toro Place Cafe 665 Monterey Salinas Highway Salinas. RSVP
RSVP now for upcoming events with County Supervisors Glenn Church, Chris Lopez, and Chair Luis Alejo
Thank you to those who have attended our recent, and sold-out, Supervisor Speaker Series luncheons with Supervisor Mary Adams and Supervisor Wendy Root Askew. Limited seating is still available for our remaining 2023 Supervisor Speaker Series dates. Register online to save your seat for MCBC's sellout series. If your business is interested in partnership opportunities, please contact Jenny McAdams, Director of Operations.
Thank you to our partners:
New Member Spotlight | Big Sur Food & Wine Festival
MCBC welcomes our newest member, the Big Sur Food & Wine Festival. Started as a way to showcase the many culinary and wine-making talents of this special stretch of California coast, it has evolved into a vehicle of support for the Big Sur community and a special experience that showcases the best in regional and nationally acclaimed chefs and winemakers in the intimate backdrop of the beautiful Big Sur coast.
The Big Sur Food & Wine Festival is a project of the Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation, a 501c-3 nonprofit charitable trust created to stimulate the local economy and donate event proceeds to support local nonprofits that benefit health, safety, education and the arts.
Mark your calendars for this year's Big Sur Food & Wine Festival, which takes place Nov. 2-4. Learn more
Every month, the Monterey County Business Council offers essential outreach programs, workshops, and networking opportunities for our local businesses and members. Take advantage of these valuable resources by either registering online for one of our events or reaching out to us directly to learn more about how our team can assist your business.
May 31st at 10 a.m. - Free Workshop "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.RSVP here
June 7th at 11:30 a.m.- Free Lunch & Learn "Resources to Help Your Business"
Building Business Back is excited to host its first Lunch & Learn on the Monterey Peninsula. Don't miss out on soon-to-expire programs that can help your business. RSVP here
June 15th at 4 p.m.- Taller Gratuito "El Sueño Americano con su ITIN"
¿Le interesa emprender un negocio o comprar una casa? El equipo de Building Business Back le invita a acompañarnos en este taller GRATUITO en el que expertos compartirán cómo puede iniciar un negocio y comprar una casa con un ITIN. RSVP aqui
June 16th at 11:30 a.m. -Monthly Luncheon with Sheriff Tina Nieto
Join us as we get to know our Monterey County Sheriff and hear her vision and priorities for the Monterey County Sheriff's Department. RSVP here
Job fair organized to support Pajaro flood victims
The Monterey County Workforce Development Board is teaming up with the County of Monterey and the Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board to host a job fair from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 100 Salinas Road in Pajaro.
Job fair participants can expect to see employers and businesses from the local area in attendance, which is designed to support families impacted by recent flooding and the devastating effects of winter storms.
Employers are asked to contact Monterey County Workforce Development Board Business Services Specialist, Diego Anguiano at (831) 597-4375 or Business Services Specialist, Laura Kershner at (831) 796-3341 to register to attend. Employer space is limited to 20 businesses that are currently hiring. Read more
Building Business Back team featured on Radio Joya
MCBC's Program Analyst Jose Luis Barajas and Program Manager Jesus Escutia were featured Thursday on the Spanish-language radio show "Comunidad en Contexto" on Radio Joya 1570 AM. Our Building Business Back team is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share our vision and mission with such a supportive and engaged audience. Stay tuned for more updates on our Building Business Back program and upcoming events!
Leon Panetta announced as keynote speaker for the 2023 Salinas Biological Summit this June
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the current Chairman of the Panetta Institute of Public Policy, will be the keynote speaker on Day 2 at the Salinas Biological Summit, where he will talk about the importance of Food Security and Innovation. Hosted by Western Growers and New Zealand-based agrifood tech consultancy, Wharf42, will take place June 20-21 to support growers in deepening their knowledge of globally applied biological solutions. The 2023 Salinas Biological Summit will showcase both U.S. and internationally-sourced, science-based biological applications. The two-day Summit will feature keynote speakers, plenary sessions and targeted panel discussions. The Summit will host an exhibition of biological solutions and provide a major platform for growers to meet and engage with peers from around the world.
The FTC Safeguards Rule: Luis Alvarez discusses upcoming changes and impact on data privacy
In data privacy and security, the FTC Safeguards Rule is a pivotal regulation that every organization should be familiar with. The Safeguards Rule is a regulatory framework that mandates financial institutions to protect customer data’s security, confidentiality, and integrity. With the upcoming changes set to take effect on June 9, businesses must comprehend the implications and prepare accordingly.
Recently, Luis Alvarez, the CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, shared his expert insights on the subject and the evolution of this rule in a local Salinas radio station interview. Listen to the interview here
As the digital landscape evolves, so too will threats to data security. The FTC Safeguards Rule is not a static regulation but an adaptable one that evolves to combat these threats. Alvarez underlines this: “Change is the only constant in technology. Staying ahead of these changes is not just about regulatory compliance; it’s about securing customer trust and your business’s future.”
Read the full article here by MCBC Board Member and Past Chair Luis Alvarez, CEO of Alvarez Technology Group.
Supervisors weight cuts to county's Cannabis Program
With budget hearings for the entire county beginning next week, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors signaled Tuesday that they will support a 30% cut in the county’s Cannabis Program. A glut in the statewide cannabis market, as well as competition from black market cannabis, resulted in dramatic drops in revenue for cultivators and consequently significant drops in county tax revenue collected from those cultivators. The cost of operating the program stands at roughly $6 million, while collected tax revenue through the first three fiscal quarters of this year has fallen to $2.8 million, according to a staff report provided to supervisors. Read more Source: Monterey County Herald
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Submit news items of general interest about your organization or upcoming events for consideration for inclusion in Friday Facts, our weekly MCBC 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.
With budget hearings for the entire county beginning next week, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors signaled Tuesday that they will support a 30% cut in the county’s Cannabis Program. A glut in the statewide cannabis market, as well as competition from black market cannabis, resulted in dramatic drops in revenue for cultivators and consequently significant drops in county tax revenue collected from those cultivators. The cost of operating the program stands at roughly $6 million, while collected tax revenue through the first three fiscal quarters of this year has fallen to $2.8 million, according to a staff report provided to supervisors. 
