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What We Do

Our Mission

To uplift our residents as we uplift our regional economy, growing from within to create transformative opportunities for more than 2 million people across 6 Central Coast counties. 

Our Vision
Our goal is to create an inclusive economic resilience plan for the region through creative, community-led efforts.

Our Region

  • Santa Cruz County
  • San Benito County
  • Monterey County
  • San Luis Obispo County
  • Santa Barbara County
  • Ventura County

What does Uplift Central Coast do?

This group encompassing six counties is in a unique position to create a community economic development plan specific to the needs of the region it serves. Uplift Central Coast will work to determine how best to use California Jobs First grants for maximum impact for residents, creating a comprehensive plan for how to allocate resources.

How do we do it?

By working directly with local stakeholders and inviting traditionally underserved parties to the table – as well as experts in job development, workforce training, housing, financial services, enterprise development and other fields critical to economic growth – Uplift Central Coast does things differently.

Why do we do it?

The Central Coast is teeming with talent and potential that can not only help the region survive and protect against economic volatility but thrive and create new generational wealth and prosperity. Those best suited to help a community prosper are those who live in that community, and that’s who Uplift Central Coast aims to support.

Who We Are

See the faces behind Uplift Central Coast, and learn who our board and committee members are.

Uplift Coalition is a collaboration of:

Our Guiding Principles

  • Share decision making power
  • Challenge conventional thinking
  • Pull people in, resource people
  • Look at data differently, fill in the gaps with stories
  • Practice curiosity
  • Challenge your own biases
  • Follow a We Before Me approach
  • Listen to those individuals who feel unseen and unheard
  • Be present and communicate differently
  • Seek out different perspectives
  • Always ask: who does this serve, who will benefit and why?

Our North Star

Combining Economic Opportunity, Equity, and Sustainability is the North Star that guides governance, stakeholder engagement, project criteria and program metrics.

Our Work: A Background of Collaboration

The three primary economic development organizations that compose Uplift – Economic Development Collaborative, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and REACH – have a history of collaboration on the Central Coast. The three groups initially worked together on grant applications for the federal Build Back Better program, which fell through. Next, they turned their energy to the State of California’s program, known as CERF. As Uplift, the group was awarded the grant with 129 letters of support.

What is California Jobs First?

California Jobs First (formerly California’s Community Economic Resilience Fund — CERF for short) —  is a new approach to economic development that seeks to center disadvantaged communities as part of California’s transition to a clean energy, carbon-neutral economy, creating good-paying jobs and prosperous communities for all.

In 2023, our six-county region was identified as one of 13 regions eligible for a $5 million planning grant. The grant was intended to create an inclusive economic development process that focused on equity, sustainability, job quality, economic competitiveness, and resilience. The planning phase is coming to an end, and the Implementation Phase will continue during 2025-2026.

Go to state overview.

Read CA FWD’s Guide to Regional Inclusive Economic Development.

What’s Our Timeline?

July 25, 2022 | Deadline for Uplift to submit planning grant application

Leading up to the due date, Uplift worked to mobilize a diverse Central Coast ecosystem of stakeholders, developed a vision and goals, and crafted an inclusive outreach and engagement plan and process. On October 20th, 2022, the Uplift Coalition was awarded our regional CERF grant.

2023-24 | Phase 1: Planning

Uplift is now in a 18-24 month planning phase. This involves: building out the Central Coast ecosystem to include additional voices and perspectives; implementing an inclusive outreach and engagement plan; and developing a regional plan with collaborative partnerships. Our regional plan is due to the state in August 2024.

Beyond | Phase 2: Programs & Projects

Uplift was awarded $9 million to implement the Catalyst Predevelopment Phase (formerly referred to as the “Catalyst Program” or “Catalyst Fund”) for project predevelopment activities. These investments are intended to bridge the gap between planning and implementation and enable regions to develop ready-to-go projects that can compete for funding opportunities from federal, state, and private sources. The Catalyst Program would also help the California Jobs First program funding reach communities sooner while providing the flexibility to develop projects that meet regional needs. The goal of funding Catalyst Predevelopment Phase projects, as shared by the state of California, is to invest in industries that will advance priorities identified during the Planning Phase, fund projects that ensure workers and disinvested communities are the primary beneficiaries, and to leverage federal, state, and private dollars. Uplift will open the Request of proposals period in the fall 2024. 

Going forward, Uplift will work to advance and implement projects and programs resulting from the inclusive regional planning efforts. The state has set aside $50 million for the 13 regions, though the planning phase is also intended as a catalyst to compete for a range of other federal, philanthropic, and state funding.

Who Is Involved?

The Uplift partnership assembled a collaborative regional coalition that reflects the diversity of the Central Coast to work together to build a more inclusive economy. Our coalition includes:

  • Labor organizations
  • Employers, businesses and business associations
  • Grassroots and community-based organizations
  • Government agencies
  • Economic development agencies
  • Philanthropic organizations
  • Education and training providers
  • Workforce entities
  • Environmental justice organizations
  • Worker centers
  • Disinvested communities
  • California Native American Tribes

REACH is serving as the regional convener, facilitating meetings and organizing an inclusive group of stakeholders. EDC is serving as the fiscal agent, responsible for grant management. MBEP is serving as the sub-regional convener for the Northern tri-county region.