This 7 days in Santa Cruz County enterprise: Ag sector struggles, downtown visions, Michaels in Capitola

As we arise from the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering results on economies everywhere you go, we’ll be taking a closer search at the movers and shakers, the development of industries, and what is definitely driving the Santa Cruz County economy. I’ll be spotlighting some of the major locations for prospect, updates on local advancement and all things underpinning the regional small business scene, each Wednesday.

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Santa Cruz County’s lately produced crop report found that the sector made gains nearly throughout the board in 2022, for a total gross output price of virtually $667 million. The agricultural sector also contributes an believed 17,500 careers to the nearby financial state when you consist of production, processing and assist functions.

The previous few several years have dealt blow just after blow to our community agricultural community, from the impacts of COVID-19 to wildfires, rising temperatures and, of program, the storms this earlier winter that strike the space really hard, top to flooding, erosion and delayed crops. That’s on leading of the numerous other difficulties relevant to availability and charge of labor, inflation and substantially more.

Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner David Sanford has been in the leading place at the agency due to the fact June, soon after serving as the deputy commissioner due to the fact 2016. He moved up right after Juan Hidalgo remaining to grow to be Monterey County’s agricultural commissioner. I not long ago spoke with Sanford to get a better strategy of his agency’s priorities, his comprehension of the challenges regionally and the place he sees things likely future.

Study my entire job interview with Sanford listed here.

Watsonville town leaders voted unanimously very last 7 days to go forward with the eyesight for the city’s downtown region. (I noted on this in a earlier roundup.) The prepare paves the way for extra development along downtown corridors, from residential and business office to retail and restaurants. Christopher Neeley documented on the plan’s passage past week. Among other aspects, the strategy could likely enable for up to 6-story buildings to enter the community. It also phone calls for a reduction of traffic lanes on Primary Street from four to two, component of initiatives to generate an surroundings that is friendlier to bikes and pedestrians.

Christopher also took a further search at how Watsonville’s next steps parallel efforts getting made in Santa Cruz to renovate the city’s downtown region here.

Ch-ch-improvements: Openings, closings and other developments

• New wine bar opening in Scotts Valley: The Saison Cellar & Wine Bar will host its grand opening in the Kings Village Shopping Heart on Wednesday, Oct. 26. (Lookout’s Lily Belli has more facts in this article, and she and wine correspondent Laurie Enjoy will have additional on the new place soon.)
• New CEO at Parallel Flight Technologies: The La Selva Beach-headquartered organization, which is effective with unmanned aerial motor vehicle technologies, has named Craig Stevens as its new leader.
• Michaels coming to Capitola: A Michaels arts and crafts shop will be moving into the aged Mattress, Bath & Beyond Spot in Brown Ranch Market on Clares Road in Capitola. A spokeswoman for the firm states the retailer programs to open in January.
• Santa Cruz County Bank leaders recognized by American Banker Magazine: CEO and President Krista Snelling was named just one of the 25 Most Effective Women in Banking and Finance for 2023. Snelling, along with Chief Economical Officer Cecilia Situ, Chief Advertising Officer Mary Anne Carson and Chief Functions Officer Shamara van de Voort also obtained the publication’s Women of all ages in Banking Prime Teams Award.
• Casa Nostra closing Ben Lomond area: The restaurant, which struggled immediately after this previous winter’s storms, is closing its doorways as of Sunday, in accordance to the company’s Fb page. New homeowners will be having about the space with a new name and strategy. Casa Nostra’s Scotts Valley spot will remain open up.
• Balefire Brewing will take about previous Bigger Reason space: A new brewery has taken more than the location in the East Cliff Village buying middle in Live Oak right after Larger Reason Brewing closed this summer months. Balefire Brewing held a grand opening on Saturday. The new spot specializes in American and English-model ales.

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Preserve the day

• Wednesday, Nov. 1: Vita Collective, the Closet Shopper and Reside Happier Wellness will host a mixer with other regional business entrepreneurs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at The Closet Shopper at 1202 41st Ave. in Capitola.

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Enterprise news worthy of looking at

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