Community Opportunities Through the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC)

The military capabilities of the small U.S. Navy military facility in the City of Monterey identified as the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC - pronounced Fin-Mock) was the featured topic at the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Business Insights Breakfast on Friday, April 12, 2024. This event was hosted in conjunction with the City of Monterey and the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance. As is typical at Quarterly Business Insights Breakfasts, there was a robust question-and-answer period for the audience.

Many attendees were surprised to learn that most personnel at FNMOC are civilians. Besides the 20 officers at FNMOC, the facility employs 125 civilians. In fact, FMNOC has hired 22 new civilians since the start of the current 2023-2024 fiscal year and is in the process of hiring another twelve civilians. FNMOC also has contracts with 25 businesses.

FNMOC seeks to hire young people who majored in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), especially those who grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and want to return after college for “a stable job that does exciting work.” FNMOC jobs allow for a middle class lifestyle and time for community involvement. The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce supports and appreciates these FNMOC objectives. Among FNMOC civilian employees, 35% have a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, 30% have a Masters of Science (MS) degree, and 9% have a PhD.

California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), Monterey Peninsula College (MPC), and Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) are local educational districts where FNMOC promotes job opportunities and internships. Monterey High School has an embedded program called Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science (MAOS) that aligns with FMNOC interests in STEM education. A new hire at FNMOC is a graduate of Seaside High School.

Your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce will continue pursuing its goal of promoting the military capabilities of our local military bases. Be aware that FNMOC also has a facility in Mississippi, and the State of Mississippi promotes lower costs for facility infrastructure and personnel as compared to costs on the Monterey Peninsula and California as a whole.

For information about job opportunities and internships at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), contact Monica Lal at monica@montereychamber.com or at (831) 648-5350.

Consider Applying to Serve on a Local Government Board, Commission, or Oversight Committee

Are you interested in serving your community, and doing it with other people interested in community service? Our local governments routinely send out notices seeking people to apply for boards, commissions, and oversight committees. For example, the City of Monterey is taking applications for city council appointments to numerous committees. See Get Involved in Your Beautiful City! for more information. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) Measure X Citizens Oversight Committee, the Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) Measures I and V Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) Measure I Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, and the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) Measure Q Citizens Oversight Committee are all seeking to fill vacancies.

Your Chamber’s President & CEO and Government Affairs Liaison each serve on several appointed committees. As a service to Chamber members, they can help you in preparing and submitting your outstanding application. Contact Monica Lal at monica@montereychamber.com or at (831) 648-5350 for information. 

Local Governments Are Figuring Out How to Spend Less and Collect More

Private businesses and non-profits are dealing with higher costs and lower revenue, and governments are not immune from the same economic trends. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors, the Monterey City Council, and the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) Board of Trustees are all discussing how to balance their budgets for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025. The City of Salinas is facing a $20 million budget deficit for FY 2024-2025, an amount that is 14% of the city’s total operating budget for FY 2023-2024. Some of the revenue loss is a result of reduced payments from the State of California, which has a substantial budget deficit. The state legislature has already taken some actions to address the state's budget deficit, but the state legislature must still make difficult decisions in order to pass a balanced budget by June 15, 2024.

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MIXER: KRML Radio at Alvarado Street Brewery

Thursday, April 25 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Alvarado Street Brewery, Beer Garden, Monterey

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "Food, Microbes & Mood: How Food & Microbes Alter Brain Chemistry" with Emily Nahas Reistetter of Grounded Health & Wellness

Wednesday, May 1 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Zoom or In-Person at MPCC Offices

FREE

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ALL CHAMBER MEGA-MIXER: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Thursday, May 2 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Salinas

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Mending Clothes, Mending Hearts This Saturday!

Two downtown Monterey businesses, slowfiber and The Pearl Works, have teamed together for a creative fundraiser this Saturday, where volunteers will teach you to mend and/or mend your clothes while you wait for a donation. All proceeds benefit local programs for homeless women, youth and families with children through Community Human Services. Plus enjoy wine from Dawn’s Dream Winery and more! Click here to buy your tickets today — space is limited.

NBA Champion/Former Golden State Warrior & Chicago Bull, Clifford Ray, Jr., to do a Meet and Greet and Book Signing of “Big Clifford Ray Saves the Day”

Attention NBA Basketball Lovers! Everyone is invited to a very special Meet and Greet and Book Signing event with NBA player, coach, two-time champion, author and two- time cancer survivor Clifford Ray Jr. and his co-author Laynie D. Weaver this Saturday, April 27 from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM in front of Old Fisherman’s Grotto.

Clifford Ray, Jr. recently released his first book. “Big Clifford Ray Saves the Day”, about the same time he saved a bottlenose dolphin named Doctor Spock in 1978. For everyone who buys a copy of the book, they will receive one certificate for a free Princess Monterey Whale Watching trip at Old Fisherman’s Wharf, where they may see dolphins, whales, otters and more!

"Big Clifford Ray Saves the Day" activity books for kids will be available free of charge along with crayons. A portion of the book sales will be donated to the Duke Cancer Institute.

What: Meet & Greet and Book Signing event with NBA Champion Clifford Ray, Jr.

Where: In front of Old Fisherman’s Grotto on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey

When: Saturday, April 27, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Check, Please! Bay Area Airs First-Ever Monterey Bay Special Edition

Several of Monterey Bay’s restaurants are being featured on KQED’s local eats show, Check, Please! Bay Area. The first installment of the two-part Monterey Bay feature aired Thursday, April 18, with the second installment airing this Thursday, April 25 at 7:30pm. Tune in to see if you agree with the guests’ take on the best dishes. Congratulations to our Members Cafe Fina (Monterey) and Wild Fish (Pacific Grove) on their features in this special edition of Check, Please!

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