CITY OF MONTEREY

• The City of Monterey is focused on two big issues right now: ensuring a balanced budget and promoting economic development. It wants to hear the perspective of local businesses and residents about both issues and has scheduled opportunities to do so. Your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with business districts and other organizations to provide input to the city on these two issues.
• Budget
• As part of the city's Roadmap to Resiliency program, the city will host the first of its five planned fall community Budget Resilience Workshops (four in-person and one virtual) will be held on Tuesday, September 29 at Hilltop Park Center at 6:00 p.m. The workshops will include a presentation about the city's structural deficit and underlying cost drivers, a prioritization activity for attendees, and open discussion with a question and answer period. See information about the workshops here: Roadmap to Resilience - Budget Resilience Workshops.
• The city is also hosting "Budget Brews Drop-In Sessions," described by the city as "casual, 2-hour drop-in sessions at local coffeehouses to share information about the City’s budget and gather feedback from residents, businesses, and community members." See the list of sessions here: Budget Brews Drop-In Sessions - Fall 2026.
• Economic Development
• City officials are meeting with various "stakeholder" groups and will also have a community meeting to discuss the development of a city Economic Development Strategy. The meeting scheduled with your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce will be held on Tuesday, September 29 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Please contact Monica Lal, President/CEO of your Chamber, at 831.648.5359 or at monica@montereychamber.com if you're interested in participating.
• At its March 26, 2025 special study session meeting, the Monterey City Council received an initial draft Economic Development Strategy prepared by staff. It included a new economic vision, a preliminary SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, and a strategy implementation roadmap. Watch a video of the city council study session on the draft Economic Development Strategy - Agenda Item 1 at this YouTube link: Monterey City Council - March 26, 2025 Meeting.
• In addition to budget and economic development issues, the City of Monterey is preparing for the possibility that the unusually strong El Niño weather pattern of ocean warming in the Pacific Ocean will result in a rainy season this winter with numerous intense storms. The city will hold a Winter Storm Ready Town Hall on Wednesday, September 30 at the Monterey Conference Center from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. to inform the public about city resources and responses for winter storms and what residents and businesses can do to prepare. It will include a panel discussion from representatives of the City of Monterey's Fire Department, Parks division, and Emergency Management team, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management, and the National Weather Service. See information about the meeting here: Winter Storm Ready Town Hall.
• Also, note this link: City of Monterey Storm Center Emergency Resources. And, sign up to get notifications from the official County of Monterey emergency and warning system: Alert Monterey County.

NON-PROFITS

• United Way Monterey County will be holding its 26th Annual Community Breakfast on Wednesday, September 23. This breakfast will focus on the organizations's Financial Empowerment Center, which helps Monterey County residents to gain financial literacy, improve their financial wellness, and learn about becoming sole proprietor and small business entrepreneurs.

MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT

• Construction on the terminal, long-term parking, and the roundabout at Garden Road and Olmsted Road continues as part of the MRY Metamorphosis project.
• After 19 years of absence, Delta Airlines is bringing service back to Monterey Regional Airport. See Delta Air Lines Announces New Service from Monterey Regional Airport to Los Angeles and Salt Lake City - September 18, 2026.
• USA Today has nominated Monterey Regional Airport as the best resort airport, and the Airport is looking for resident support to confirm this. You can vote here for Monterey Regional Airport as the Best Resort Airport, and vote here for Woody's at the Airport as the best airport sit-down restaurant.

REAL ESTATE & BANKING

Both industries report that the Fed's increase in interest rates on September 16 is not a positive development for the local economy.

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