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Spotlight on Catalyst-Funded Projects Building Opportunity in Our Region
This month, we’re excited to highlight three Catalyst-funded projects run by exceptional organizations here on the Central Coast. These community-driven initiatives are creating pathways to economic mobility, innovation, and resilience. From supporting single parents to strengthening childcare systems and pioneering AgTech education, Uplift Central Coast is proud to partner with these organizations.
EmpowerPath: Economic Mobility for Single Parents
Women’s Economic Ventures
In Santa Barbara County, only 6% of employed single parents with two dependents earn a living wage. Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is determined to change that.
WEV is launching EmpowerPath, a new initiative to help single parents—especially women, people of color, and low-income families—achieve lasting financial stability. Over the next year, WEV will engage the community through surveys and focus groups, connect with employers, map existing services, and study proven models from across the country.
🌟 The goal: By 2026, EmpowerPath will be ready to launch, offering a clear path to good jobs, stable housing, and the flexibility parents need to thrive. It’s more than a program—it’s a lifeline for families across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
EmpowerPath: Economic Mobility for Single Parents
Uplift Regionwide Child Care Coalition
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
First 5 San Luis Obispo County is leading the Uplift Regionwide Child Care Coalition, a regionwide effort to tackle one of the Central Coast’s most pressing challenges: affordable, accessible child care. The Coalition unites advocates from six counties—from Santa Cruz to Ventura—in a first-of-its-kind collaboration to strengthen the child care system as a driver of economic mobility.
This spring, the Coalition held its inaugural convening, bringing together early care educators, parents, community leaders, nonprofits, employers, and resource partners to begin building a shared vision and strategy.
Next up ▶️ Learning Communities—a series of 90-minute Zoom sessions beginning this fall and running through winter—will connect participants across sectors and counties, offering a space to share strategies, best practices, and innovative approaches to child care. If you’re interested in participating, we invite you to complete this brief survey. By bringing diverse voices to the table and turning conversation into coordinated action, the Coalition is paving the way for a stronger, more equitable child care system across the Central Coast.
Uplift Regionwide Child Care Coalition
Roots of Resilience: Empowering Communities Through AgTech Innovation
Hartnell College & Reservoir Farms
At Hartnell College in partnership with Reservoir Farms in Monterey County, innovation is taking root. Through the Roots of Resilience initiative, faculty are collaborating to harness agricultural technology (AgTech) as a force for community empowerment and economic opportunity.
👥 This spring, Hartnell convened its first Community of Practice, an interdisciplinary team with expertise in computer science, agricultural mechatronics engineering, and other STEM fields. The meeting aligned goals, set priorities, and began shaping the roadmap for a new AgTech curriculum.
Reservoir Farms also hosted their “Intro to Reservoir Farms” webinar with guest speakers Ben Palone (Western Growers) and Nicholas Ruiz (Duda Farm Fresh Foods). They shared an inside look at the On-Farm Incubator—where Reservoir Farms enables AgTech startups to test and scale their ideas in real-world settings—and explained what it’s like for growers who are already putting cutting-edge solutions to work in the field. Watch the webinar recording here.
With each step, the project moves closer to its vision: connecting students to one of the region’s most innovative sectors while ensuring that technological advancements strengthen the communities they touch.
“Intro to Reservoir Farms” webinar
Looking Ahead
These three projects represent just a fraction of the work happening across the Central Coast. Together, they show how thoughtful investments, community partnerships, and a focus on equity can create lasting impact. We are excited to continue sharing updates on the 36 initiatives shaping the region’s future.
