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The Santa Cruz Business Beat is a monthly roundup of the most relevant local news stories, trends, and issues affecting Santa Cruz County. Each edition highlights topics important to business and community leaders, including education, workforce development, housing, transportation, climate, health, and local government updates. Our goal is to keep you informed, connected, and ahead of the curve on the issues shaping our community and economy. On The Move METRO Leadership Tapped for State Advisory Roles: Santa Cruz Metro CEO Corey Aldridge and Chief Planning and Innovation Officer John Urgo have been selected for statewide transit advisory roles with the California Transit Association. Aldridge will serve on a new Transit Funding Force focused on identifying sustainable funding solutions and supporting transit agencies in upcoming state budget and legislative discussions. Urgo will join the California Transit Advisory Committee, providing strategic guidance on transportation policies and planning in collaboration with Caltrans, transit agencies, and other partners. Learn more in this Lookout Santa Cruz article. RTC Advances Bond Funding for Highway 1 and Rail Trail Projects: The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission approved up to $75 million in bonds to accelerate funding for Highway 1 widening between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard and several segments of the Coastal Rail Trail. The bonds would be repaid using future Measure D sales tax revenues, with transportation officials considering additional borrowing in 2028. The financing comes as project costs have increased, including a significant funding gap for the rail trail, while construction on key trail segments is now anticipated to begin in 2027 or 2028. Learn more in this Santa Cruz Local article. Living Local Santa Cruz County Retains “Most Expensive” Title: Santa Cruz County continues to face one of the nation’s most severe rental affordability challenges, with workers needing to earn about $81 per hour to afford a modest apartment without spending more than 30% of their income on rent. The region’s housing shortage remains a major factor, with far fewer homes being permitted than needed to meet state housing goals. While rental assistance is helping thousands of residents stay housed, increasing housing production, particularly affordable housing, will be critical to improving affordability and reducing displacement. Learn more here. Santa Cruz Seeks Input on Multifamily Design Guidelines: The City of Santa Cruz is seeking public input as it develops design guidelines for larger multifamily and mixed-use housing projects throughout the city. Following feedback from design professionals, the Planning Commission, and community workshops, the City has launched a survey to gather additional perspectives on how new housing can fit into neighborhoods while supporting attractive, safe, and livable communities. The survey takes about 15 minutes and will remain open through August. You can take the survey here. Policy Pulse Supervisors Add Sales Tax to November Ballot: The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to place a temporary half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot to help maintain critical safety-net services amid significant state and federal funding cuts. If approved, the measure is expected to generate about $27 million annually for five years, supporting services including emergency and mental health care, food security, housing stability, and homelessness response. Learn more in this Santa Cruz Sentinel article. The Business Beat Volunteer Center Names New Executive Director: Following a nationwide search, the Volunteer Center’s board has selected Shawn Peterson as its new executive director. Peterson has been part of the organization’s leadership team for 10 years and was previously promoted to director of operations and impact as part of the center’s succession planning. He will lead the organization following Karen Delaney’s retirement after more than four decades at the helm. Founded in 1967, the Volunteer Center has grown under Delaney’s leadership into one of the country’s largest volunteer centers, now overseeing 19 programs and partnering with more than 300 nonprofits and agencies each year. Learn more here.
The Santa Cruz Business Beat is a monthly roundup of the most relevant local news stories, trends, and issues affecting Santa Cruz County. Each edition highlights topics important to business and community leaders, including education, workforce development, housing, transportation, climate, health, and local government updates. Our goal is to keep you informed, connected, and ahead of the curve on the issues shaping our community and economy.
On The Move
METRO Leadership Tapped for State Advisory Roles: Santa Cruz Metro CEO Corey Aldridge and Chief Planning and Innovation Officer John Urgo have been selected for statewide transit advisory roles with the California Transit Association. Aldridge will serve on a new Transit Funding Force focused on identifying sustainable funding solutions and supporting transit agencies in upcoming state budget and legislative discussions. Urgo will join the California Transit Advisory Committee, providing strategic guidance on transportation policies and planning in collaboration with Caltrans, transit agencies, and other partners. Learn more in this Lookout Santa Cruz article.
RTC Advances Bond Funding for Highway 1 and Rail Trail Projects: The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission approved up to $75 million in bonds to accelerate funding for Highway 1 widening between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard and several segments of the Coastal Rail Trail. The bonds would be repaid using future Measure D sales tax revenues, with transportation officials considering additional borrowing in 2028. The financing comes as project costs have increased, including a significant funding gap for the rail trail, while construction on key trail segments is now anticipated to begin in 2027 or 2028. Learn more in this Santa Cruz Local article.
Living Local
Santa Cruz County Retains “Most Expensive” Title: Santa Cruz County continues to face one of the nation’s most severe rental affordability challenges, with workers needing to earn about $81 per hour to afford a modest apartment without spending more than 30% of their income on rent. The region’s housing shortage remains a major factor, with far fewer homes being permitted than needed to meet state housing goals. While rental assistance is helping thousands of residents stay housed, increasing housing production, particularly affordable housing, will be critical to improving affordability and reducing displacement. Learn more here.
Santa Cruz Seeks Input on Multifamily Design Guidelines: The City of Santa Cruz is seeking public input as it develops design guidelines for larger multifamily and mixed-use housing projects throughout the city. Following feedback from design professionals, the Planning Commission, and community workshops, the City has launched a survey to gather additional perspectives on how new housing can fit into neighborhoods while supporting attractive, safe, and livable communities. The survey takes about 15 minutes and will remain open through August. You can take the survey here.
Policy Pulse
Supervisors Add Sales Tax to November Ballot: The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to place a temporary half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot to help maintain critical safety-net services amid significant state and federal funding cuts. If approved, the measure is expected to generate about $27 million annually for five years, supporting services including emergency and mental health care, food security, housing stability, and homelessness response. Learn more in this Santa Cruz Sentinel article.
The Business Beat
Volunteer Center Names New Executive Director: Following a nationwide search, the Volunteer Center’s board has selected Shawn Peterson as its new executive director. Peterson has been part of the organization’s leadership team for 10 years and was previously promoted to director of operations and impact as part of the center’s succession planning. He will lead the organization following Karen Delaney’s retirement after more than four decades at the helm. Founded in 1967, the Volunteer Center has grown under Delaney’s leadership into one of the country’s largest volunteer centers, now overseeing 19 programs and partnering with more than 300 nonprofits and agencies each year. Learn more here.