The Hourglass Project is set to unveil an action plan for regional job creation at the REACH 2030 Summit on March 16, and the Chamber is incredibly supportive of the concepts embodied in the plan including regional cooperation, activating key industries and equipping residents for jobs of the future.
“The only way to solve these wide-ranging issues is through regional conversation,” said Jim Dantona, SLO Chamber President and CEO. “The Chamber applauds the steps the Hourglass Project has taken to bring the Central Coast together, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to cultivate a vibrant economic future for generations to come.”
The work of gathering input and data, setting priorities and laying a foundation of regional collaboration progressed over the last year with guidance from several SLO Chamber Board members who also serve on Hourglass’s board.
“Reach 2030 is a bold, ambitious plan to drive job creation on a game-changing scale,” said Ty Safreno, CEO of Trust Automation and Hourglass Project Board Chair.
Gov. Newsom’s Chief Economic and Business Advisor Lenny Mendonca will deliver the keynote speech on cultivating an innovation economy. Mendonca is one of the state’s leading voices on growing a sustainable economy for all Californians. Among his priorities are increasing the stock of affordable housing, preparing our youth for a changing economy and new strategies for growing living-wage jobs.
Attendees will also hear from top voices on the region’s economic future including:
- Mindbody CEO Rick Stollmeyer on driving high-wage job creation
- Congressman Salud Carbajal and 30th Space Wing Commander Col Tony Mastalir on propelling the space industry at Vandenberg to new heights
- Jim Hamilton, CEO of the national Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative, on navigating Diablo’s closure for maximum local benefit
- Cal Poly President Jeff Armstrong on harnessing higher education for economic development
The seeds of the Hourglass Project incubated at the SLO Chamber under then-SLO Chamber Director of Economic Initiatives and Regional Advocacy Melissa James before forming the new organization with James at the helm.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the work of Hourglass so far and looking ahead to fostering a more resilient, prosperous regional economy at the summit Monday, March 16, 2-5 p.m., at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande.
Tickets are available through EventBrite.