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$100K approved for Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, plus an offer to match
By Phillip Molnar
Monterey Herald
[Editor’s note: Santa Cruz Tech Beat previous published a related article, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) website readies Launch, on June 26, 2014.]
Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) approves economic development work.
Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEC) board members were split on hiring an untested nonprofit for the job, but seemed swayed by an offer by local investor Bud Colligan to match their investment.
The Fort Ord Reuse Authority voted Friday (11/14/14) to give $100,000 to a new nonprofit for economic development work.
The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, incorporated in June, is a regionally-based effort formed by the Monterey
County Business Council to gather data and work with businesses to move to Monterey, Santa Cruz or San Benito counties. Board members were split on hiring an untested nonprofit for the job, but seemed swayed by an offer by local investor Bud Colligan to match their investment.
“This will be the first time FORA spent any money and got 100 percent back,” Seaside councilman Ian Oglesby said. “I don’t want to leave that $100,000 on the table.”
The reuse agency had attempted to hire an economic development director with an annual salary of $164,000 for a two-year contract, but said candidates balked at the pay and short duration of the contract.
Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter said he thought it would “probably be the best $100,000 this agency is going to spend in a while that will make us move forward.”
Partnership representatives Mary Ann Leffel and Brian Turlington said its work was about cooperation in the region. Eighteen entities have signed on to the partnership, including Monterey County, Salinas, Seaside, Marina, Santa Cruz, Sand City and Greenfield.
“We believe if we want to compete on a national level we really need to work together,” Leffel said.
Continue reading full article here: http://www.montereyherald.com/general-news/20141114/fort-ord-reuse-authority-approves-economic-development-work
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Tagged Bud Colligan, Fort Ord Reuse Authority, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
