Conference considers area’s overall health and well-being

UPDATE 12/1/2016 4:00 PM:

The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, an organization of public, private and civic groups in the tri-county area, hosted the second annual State of the Region conference on Thursday. The event focused on important issues that contribute to the community’s well-being and bring jobs to the area. The issues range from housing to healthcare, waterways to wages.

“So we tend to look at those and focus on the important, more foundational issues and help move the needle in the direction to improve those things,” said Kate Roberts, president of MBEP.

One of the most important issues is affordable housing. According to the CEO of Eden Housing, half the people who live in the Monterey Bay cannot afford it. Many agreed that without this basic necessity, people can’t progress.

“Well it gives me hope that more and more people are talking about housing and how housing is directly linked to people’s health – how housing is helping people be able to progress economically, to obtain a higher education. Housing seems to be the key. It’s the foundation of people’s well-being,” said Alfred Diaz-Infante, president and CEO of Chispa.

Panelists discussed how they’re addressing the issue.

Greg Handberg of Artspace helped develop Santa Cruz’s Tannery Arts Complex, an affordable housing community for local artists.

The chief financial officer of CSUMB, Kevin Saunders, talked about ways the school is housing students and staff on campus.

A lot of attention went to Tanimura & Antle’s migrant farm worker housing. Spreckels Crossing opened earlier this year to more than 360 workers, giving them a place to live which helps them save money. It also allowed some workers to work year round.

“42% of the people lived at Spreckels Crossing this last year were new hires but the rest of them worked for the company in another growing region where we harvest, so either Yuma, Arizona or Oxnard or in Fresno County and when they came to work the Salinas season, they had the opportunity to make that year round money,” said Wesley Van Camp, vice president and general counsel of T&A.

Tanimura and Antle has also looked at some of its own sites for family housing. But because it can impact schools, transportation and other infrastructure, it’s a project that could take years.

ORIGINAL POST:

Local business leaders met Thursday to discuss various factors that affect the quality of life on the Central Coast.

The State of the Region conference focused on housing, transportation, health care, and the outlook for jobs and wages on the Central Coast.

The conference – now in its second year – was presented by the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership at the Embassy Suites in Seaside.

KION’s Mariana Hicks attended the event and tonight will report on new developments in affordable housing, and the impact that local projects are having for farm workers, artists, students and the community at large.