Economic Leaders Come Together to Meet the Latest Challenges on the Central Coast
John Palminteri
SOLVANG, Calif. – Some of the top economic minds in Santa Barbara County gathered in Solvang today for the 2025 Santa Ynez Valley Economic Summit, focused on building solutions and strengthening the regional economy.
The event, hosted by the Solvang Chamber of Commerce at the Craft House at Corque, carried the theme: “Building Economic Growth for a Stronger Future.”
“These aren’t the challenging times — this is a great time,” said Solvang Mayor David Brown. “So go from there and conquer. You’re going to be great.”
Even with new tariffs, international travel restrictions, and layoffs making headlines, Mayor Brown and many others at the summit said they remain optimistic.
Speakers with local and state business experience emphasized collaboration, data, and solution-sharing as essential tools to build a resilient economy.
“We’ve studied the manufacturing industry; we’ve studied agriculture and agtech. We looked at the wine and tourism industry, done the research, created the data, the talking points, and then gone before the city, the county, the state, or the federal level to educate policymakers on how their decisions impact these industries — and how better decisions can be made with the data we’ve gathered,” said Jenelle Osborne, CEO of EconAlliance.
Some presenters shared practical programs already underway to help grow the workforce, including financial support to subsidize pay for new employees. Alyssa Stovall, Workforce Development Program Manager, explained that support can range from 150 to 400 hours of financial assistance.
“Those are typically for individuals with limited or no work history,” said Stovall. “We’re able to subsidize 100% of the wages for that limited period of time through an on-the-job training opportunity.”
Often, these early hires become long-term employees.
“We’re looking for opportunities to connect job seekers with jobs that turn into careers — things they’re excited about,” Stovall added.
For business owners who may not be aware of the financial resources available, speakers emphasized crossover opportunities through grants, stimulus funding, and mentorship.
“When you have someone who can really support you, look at your business plan, and help identify innovations, you can better leverage the resources that are available,” said Juliana Ramirez, of JR Bookkeeping and the Economic Development Collaborative.
In Solvang, Mayor Brown says there’s a reason why business vacancy rates are low — and it’s tied directly to the town’s appeal.
“The secret is the number of tourists that come through town every day — millions over the course of a year. People want to be part of that. Our town is safe, walkable, and friendly.”
Looking ahead, experts said business owners and local leaders need to closely track state and federal developments throughout 2025 and 2026.
This year’s speakers and panels included:
SB County Supervisor, Joan Hartmann
Solvang Mayor, David Brown
Visit SYV, Shelby Sim
Santa Barbara Vintners, Alison Laslett
EconAlliance CEO, Janelle Osborne
City Manager City of Buellton, Scott Wolfe
Several other key stakeholders helping drive innovation and growth
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