Monterey County Business Council (MCBC)

06/13/2026

Monterey County Business Council extends our sincere thanks to the County of Monterey for its continued partnership, and to each of our valued members.

Interested in joining our esteemed roster? Discover how your business can help strengthen the collective voice of our region’s business community.

Become a member: https://lnkd.in/gVSQDEcG

06/12/2026

When you join MCBC as a member, you get access to our network, amplify your organizations voice in our tight-knit business community, and strengthen the voice of Monterey County’s business community.

Your support elevates local small business through access to free resources and services.

Together, we promote economic development, foster collaboration, and build a thriving community where businesses and nonprofits can succeed.

Don't wait, join today: https://mcbc.biz/about/membership/

06/11/2026

A Kiewit Stacey Witbeck Herzog team will construct the 119-mile section running partway between Bakersfield and Merced under a scaled-back plan to get trains running by 2033.

California’s high-speed rail plan is advancing, just on a smaller scale.

A Kiewit Stacey Witbeck Herzog joint venture will lay the first section of tracks under an initial, scaled-back plan for California’s controversial high-speed rail project that aims to get passengers on trains sooner.

The board of the California High-Speed Rail Authority picked the JV (https://mcbc.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e8403b58661a243f10ce641df&id=23e208d72a&e=cd4bd8c508) on Monday for a 119-mile section of the project, which will help span part of the 171-mile stretch between Bakersfield and Merced, according to a news release.

The contract was the result of a $3.5 billion request (https://mcbc.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e8403b58661a243f10ce641df&id=80d21d8def&e=cd4bd8c508) for proposals from the board in November that breaks the project down into nine separate work packages. The authority is now focused on first finishing the Valley portion by 2033 for $34.76 billion on the low end, according to the Fresno Bee.

Source: Construction Dive

A Kiewit Stacey Witbeck Herzog team will construct the 119-mile section running partway between Bakersfield and Merced under a scaled back plan to get trains running by 2033.

06/11/2026

For the sixth straight year, The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) will fund grants to support independent restaurant owners and their staff through the California Restaurant Foundation's (CRF) Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. The grants will support a record number of restaurants in Northern and Central California this year.

The PG&E Foundation is contributing nearly $1.3 million to the program this year — more than any other year. The grants will help build more resilient hometown businesses for the long term. A total of 213 restaurants and commercial caterers in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) service area will receive $5,000 grants. That number is up from last year's 188 grant recipients.

Since 2021, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have contributed nearly $5.6 million to the CRF's Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. This has provided grants to 863 local restaurants within PG&E's service area. With this year's contribution, the total number of restaurant grants awarded in PG&E's service area will exceed 1,000.

Grants can be used for vital business needs, including technology and equipment upgrades. They can also help with employee training and retention and unforeseen hardships.

CRF began the Resilience Fund in 2021 to support restaurants recovering from economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the fund has provided more than $11 million in grants to restaurants and caterers across California.

Resilience Fund grant applications accepted through June 30.

Building Resilience in CA’s Restaurants Since 2021, the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund has awarded $11 million across 2,087 grants to independent restaurants, caterers, and food trucks across California—supporting burger joints, taquerias, bakeries, and more that are the heart of our communiti...

06/11/2026

Make an investment in the future of Monterey County. For more than 30 years, MCBC has been forging cross-sector alliances to build a vibrant and prosperous business community. Contact us to learn more about how we can align your organization’s goals with our mission and programming.

06/10/2026

MCBC Director of Operations Jenny McAdams was among the industry and community leaders invited to join a recent tour of Joby Aviation, hosted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (MCBC member).

Joby, with more than 1,500 employees globally, is developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service. Its growth here has become one of the most significant advanced manufacturing and workforce development success stories in Monterey County. Since establishing its Marina facility in 2019, Joby has continued to expand its footprint at the Marina Municipal Airport, where its 120,000-square-foot facility operates as a key manufacturing and testing hub for its electric aircraft.

Through partnerships with Monterey County Works and regional education providers, Joby Aviation has already provided internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training opportunities to dozens of local residents. More than 65 adults and 20 young adults have participated in workforce programs, while the company’s continued expansion in Marina is expected to support hundreds of additional high-quality manufacturing and aviation careers in California.

As the recipient of a $9.8 million California Competes grant, Joby has committed to creating 690 additional full-time jobs in California by 2027 while investing more than $41 million in expansion and workforce growth.

Beyond direct employment, Joby’s growth is expected to increase demand for local suppliers and service providers, create family-supporting careers in advanced manufacturing and aviation, build a local talent pipeline through partnerships with schools, CSUMB, DART, workforce agencies, and apprenticeship programs, and position Marina and Monterey County as a leader in the emerging Advanced Air Mobility industry.

06/10/2026

Local government and law enforcement serve as the bedrock of the County of Monterey’s economy. On Friday, May 15, 2026, Leadership Monterey County (LMC) participants gained further insight into the challenges individuals in these roles typically face through meetings with local officials and visits to meet with law enforcement representatives.

The group began its day by meeting with Angela Bocanegra, Senior Field Representative for the County of Monterey for U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) (lower right photo) and Sonia de la Rosa, the County Administrator Officer of the County of Monterey (top photo)--the day-to-day manager of county government and representative of the County and the Board of Supervisors in a variety of activities.

The remainder of the day focused on law enforcement, with a visit to the City of Salinas Police Department, where participants heard from the Chief of Police and officers involved with the daily challenges of policing in that community. What followed later in the afternoon was a tour of the County of Monterey jail and presentations by members of the County of Monterey Sheriff’s Office who work with inmates there. The day concluded with a presentation by a representative of the County of Monterey District Attorney’s Office (lower left photo), whose perspectives rounded out the day’s discussion of the local legal system.

06/10/2026

Join a Virtual Health Fair webinar on Monday, June 15, hosted by Monterey County Business Council and Montage Health.

Learn about topics ranging from mental health, when to choose urgent care over the emergency room, heart health, and general nutrition.

The Virtual Health Fair webinar runs from 12:30-2:30 p.m., with each presentation approximately 30 minutes in length.

Schedule is as follows:

12:30-1 p.m.: Mental Health
1-1:30 p.m.: Urgent Care
1:30-2 p.m.: Heart Health
2-2:30 p.m.: General Nutrition

This Virtual Health Fair will be recorded for those unable to attend.

Sign up here ➡️ 7f2e4157-8ed3-4477-9ece-088ecef5351a@1d47e92d-507a-42e9-8461-16fe205179ab?mc_cid=41fb11fd9d&mc_eid=cd4bd8c508" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7f2e4157-8ed3-4477-9ece-088ecef5351a@1d47e92d-507a-42e9-8461-16fe205179ab?mc_cid=41fb11fd9d&mc_eid=cd4bd8c508

06/09/2026

The Soledad Chamber of Commerce has been awarded nearly $400,000 from the California Employment Training Panel (ETP). This funding will directly reimburse Chamber members for qualifying employee training expenses, boosting workforce skills and economic growth in the region.

"This grant is a massive win for our business community and our workforce," said Maria Corralejo, Executive Director of the Soledad Chamber of Commerce. "By offsetting the costs of professional development, we are removing financial barriers for our members. This funding allows local businesses to invest in their teams and grow without stretching their budgets. We encourage every eligible business owner to attend our informational session and see how these dollars can work for them."

To help local businesses access these funds, the Chamber will host an informational meeting and Q&A session on June 19 at the Cruz de Madera Taproom. The meeting will outline eligibility and the reimbursement process.

Event Details:
Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Cruz de Madera Taproom, 148 Main St., Soledad
RSVP Deadline: Friday, June 12

How to Register: Email [email protected] with "ETP Meeting RSVP" as the subject line.

The Soledad Chamber of Commerce received assistance from Monarch SBDC Advisor Lourdes Uranday, who was recently featured in this newsletter during Women’s History Month.

06/09/2026

2026 Salinas Biological Summit, June 23-24, brings together stakeholders from around the world, keen to support growers' transition to a biological future. As emerging scientific discoveries are transforming the AgChem landscape, the Salinas Biological Summit brings these discoveries to Salinas to showcase just how far the biological sector has come. The 2026 Summit will feature an opportunity to meet the growers and biopesticide companies looking to address some of the industry's key pest and disease challenges, along with a strong line-up of local and international speakers and experts, a Start-up pitch event, "deep-dive" workshops, and multiple networking opportunities.

The 2026 Salinas Biological Summit is sponsored by Building Business Back, a program of the County of Monterey, in partnership with the Monterey County Business Council.

Following three highly successful Salinas Biological Summits from 2023-2025, the 2026 Salinas Biological Summit returns to Salinas on June 23-24, 2026