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9/23/2025 - 10:00 AM
MISSION: We seek to provide timely, informative updates on regional topics relevant to our members.
Recap:
CITY OF MONTEREY
- The Monterey City Council will hold a joint meeting with the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Committee on October 13 to discuss how the NCIP can adjust its planned expenditures of $12 million to accommodate the city's projected $10 million structural (annual) budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Which city programs and projects would be appropriate for NCIP funding?
- The Monterey City Council has indicated their policy preferences for reducing the budget deficit. At their September 16 meeting, the City Council voted to survey residents about their support for a potential .375% sales tax increase that would raise $4.5-5 million annually. Residents will also be asked about their interest in continuing the Measure P/Measure S sales tax that has paid for local street and sidewalk improvements and the proposed imposition of a new "admissions tax" for visitors to attractions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Car Week generated $300,000 more in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue this year as compared to last year. This is a 4% increase.
- Chris Shake Enterprises has bought the long-vacant Caruso's Corner and Casa Verde Inn properties on North Fremont Street.
- In 2021, a developer proposed building an Avid Hotel at that location. The developer gave up on the plan this year, and now there may be a locally-owned restaurant called Isabella's and a hotel at that location.
- City officials are interviewing candidates for an Economic Development Manager, a new position supported by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The process for recruiting and hiring a new City Manager is ongoing.
- The Alvarado Street Brewery Oktoberfest event on Saturday, September 20 at Colton Hall was successful and sold out.
COUNTY OF MONTEREY
CITY OF SEASIDE
- An Ace Hardware store is planned in the City of Seaside. A light manufacturing company will open next week at 656 Broadway. Two other eateries are planned for Broadway. These new businesses were helped by policies implemented recently by the Seaside City Council.
- Four developers have responded to the City of Seaside Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the Main Gate Mixed-Use Development Project ("Main Gate").
- Site preparation continues on parcels adjacent to Lightfighter Drive for Campus Town.
- The developer of the Grand Hyatt Seaside Resort Hotel at the Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course remains in negotiations.
- On Saturday, October 4, the City of Seaside will hold the 1st Annual Seaside Music Festival on Lower Broadway.
ENERGY
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) reports that its rates have been decreasing since the beginning of the year.
- PG&E customers will be receiving a "California Climate Credit" on their October bills.
- This reduction in customer bills is funded by California's Cap-and-Trade Program, which requires entities that emit greenhouse gases to purchase permits.
- On September 19, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 254, which includes provisions that extend a California Wildfire Fund that pays for damages caused by wildfires ignited by infrastructure owned by privately-owned public utilities.
- An additional $18 billion will be collected -- half from shareholders and half from customers. There would be no additional surcharges on customer bills; the current surcharges will simply be extended.
- PG&E continues work on improvements to the Monterey substation on the corner of Del Monte Avenue and Figueroa Street.
REAL ESTATE/HOUSING
- The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District board will vote tonight on criteria for eligibility for its new workforce housing on Garden Road.
- The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve System (the Fed) voted on September 17, 2025 to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 4 to 4.25 percent. It is uncertain if this will have any meaningful effect on the housing market. Locally, prices of houses keep going up, although there are a lot of houses on the market.
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- The Central Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in cooperation with the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) will be operating a regional capital access center to provide a database of potential lenders, venture capital firms, and other potential sources for capital for small entrepreneurs.
CHAMBER BUSINESS
- You are encouraged to read the summary of comments on economic development made by local government officials at your Chamber's annual Leadership Luncheon on September 12. See Local Government Leaders Discuss Economic Development: Chamber Connection - September 16, 2025
- The annual Monterey Bay Business Expo will be held at Del Monte Center on October 16.
- The Quarterly Business Insights Breakfast on October 24 will feature industry experts discussing "California Leads the Nation in Women-Owned Businesses: Insights, Impact, and Opportunities for Monterey County." The forum will be presented by Katherine Aguilar Perez, Co-Creator of the Altadena Rapid ADU Deployment Project and Associate Adjunct Professor at USC.
Next teleconference will be held Tuesday, 10/7/2025 at 10:00 AM.
If you are interested in participating on the teleconference or being added to the list, please contact monica@montereychamber.com. Your feedback is welcome.
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KION News Programming Shuts Down
Leaders of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce were stunned this afternoon by the unexpected announcement from another news source that the local news programming of KION was terminated today by the station's ownership. KION has been an important partner of the Chamber over many decades. Recently, KION sales manager Jeff Mitchell served as a member of our Board of Directors, and news anchor Veronica Macias was the emcee for the 2021 Business Excellence Awards. KION reported on community events and business developments of interest to the Chamber and the general public in the Monterey Bay area. Their absence will be missed.
At a more philosophical level, we understand that our U.S. Constitution protects freedom of the press because the press informs the people about their government and acts as a check and balance against government abuse. The loss of KION means one less news outlet to inform people in the Monterey Bay area about what their local governments are doing. Chamber representatives regularly appeared in KION stories to provide insight about government activities. While no medium of communication is going to be perfect, KION local TV news programming had accountability, accuracy, and balanced perspective that far exceeds what is found in social media posts.
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RIBBON CUTTING: Peter B's
Thursday, September 25 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
2 Portola Plaza (behind Portola Hotel & Spa), Monterey
Please join us for the Peter B's Ribbon Cutting celebrating the newly renovated restaurant and bar! Enjoy passed apps and beverages. Peter B's beer and wines by the glass will be available from 4:30pm - 5:30pm. The Money Band Duo will be performing from 4:00pm - 8:00pm.
Register Now >>
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Food For Thought: Sustainable Solutions for Businesses presented by Carbonovate
Wednesday, October 1 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
MPCC Offices or on Microsoft Teams
FREE Ongoing Education Series
Register Now >>
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RIBBON CUTTING: Stewart Title of California
Thursday, October 2 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
409 Washington Street, Monterey
Please join us for the Stewart Title of California Monterey Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of their Monterey office! Meet the team and enjoy refreshments and great company.
Register Now >>
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Monterey Bay Business Expo presented by Rayne Technology Solutions
Thursday, October 16| 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey
Our Monterey Bay Business Expo (MBBE) is designed to promote regional businesses and nonprofit organizations in the community in an effort to strengthen the local economy and encourage consumers to buy locally. This returning event is an opportunity for all businesses in the region to build brand awareness and to showcase and sell their products and/or services to the members as well as to the community at large.
Sign up today and promote your business to hundreds of new customers face-to-face, and network one-on-one with more than 50 other exhibitors in the show. Sell, demonstrate and distribute your products while you introduce your brand to the community. Chamber membership is not required to exhibit at the Expo. For more information, email info@montereychamber.com.
Become an Exhibitor >>
Register as an Attendee (FREE) >>
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Network, Showcase Your Business, and Make Valuable Connections at the 2025 Monterey Bay Business Expo!
Join us for a day filled with networking, learning, and collaboration. This in-person event will be held at the Del Monte Shopping Center, a beautiful venue perfect for connecting with fellow business professionals. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your products and services and expand your business network. If you are interested in becoming an event Exhibitor or Sponsor, please visit our website or email info@montereychamber.com. Chamber membership is not required to exhibit at the Expo.
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This special program will spotlight California’s leadership in women-owned businesses and explore the impact and opportunities right here in Monterey County. We are currently seeking sponsors to help make this important event possible. Sponsorship offers valuable visibility for your business while showing your support for women entrepreneurs and leaders in our community. For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Monica Lal at monica@montereychamber.com.
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Please forward this e-blast to your colleagues, customers, clients, friends, family and fellow community members!
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