Santa Cruz / Monterey
Subregion Overview
Santa Cruz-Monterey is the southernmost subregion of the BACCC, encompassing Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties, collectively labeled the “North Central Coast”.
The area is defined by rich agricultural valleys, coastal corridors, and growing population centers separated by large rural areas. The subregional economy leans heavily on legacy industries, most notably agriculture and tourism, with a disproportionately high number of low wage jobs and dramatic economic disparities across racial and ethnic groups.
Demographically, the subregion is home to majority Latino/e communities and a multilingual workforce, with emerging sectors, proximity to Silicon Valley, and population growth contributing to evolving education and training needs.
Subregional Director
Bronwyn Moreno
bronwyn.moreno@baccc.net
Counties served:
Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz
Bronwyn convenes community colleges, employers, and regional partners in the Santa Cruz / Monterey subregion to translate labor market data into shared priorities and coordinated action, aligning educational programs with local workforce needs and expanding opportunity for students and families across the region.
In Demand Sectors
The sectors in the Santa Cruz and Monterey region with the highest demand for middle-skill workers with median hourly earnings of above $26 are:
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Healthcare
- Public Safety
- Energy, Construction, & Utilities
- Advanced Transportation & Logistics
Emerging Sectors: Air Mobility/Aviation (Advanced Transportation) & Agricultural Technology (ICT/Mechatronics/Engineering)
College Contacts
Key Initiatives
Farmworker Advancement
The the colleges of Santa Cruz-Monterey are collaborating to address economic mobility and access challenges impacting current and prospective students in our community who are employed in agriculture
Early College Credit (Dual Enrollment)
Dual enrollment leads from each of the four colleges partner strategically to reduce competition, share best practices, increase capacity, and ensure high quality early-college offerings throughout the subregion
ECredit for Prior Learning
Led by Cabrillo working with colleges across the Bay Region, Santa Cruz Monterey colleges are developing systems to recognize and award credit for the unique sets of skills and experience our students bring to their education
Santa Cruz Monterey Teacher Education Pathways
Focused on creating equity driven systems for student recruitment, retention, and completion for students seeking careers in the ECE/EDU sector, leaders and practitioners from the four colleges have been working together to reduce institutional barriers and define and align pathways to living wage teaching careers
K12 Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Technical Assistance
In order to address capacity gaps for underrepresented districts with high need in our service area, Santa Cruz Monterey K12 Pathway Coordinators collaborate to provide a menu of support to K12 LEAs who are considering applying to receive K12 SWP Funding in partnership with their community college district. Application development supports include providing labor market information (LMI), conducting technical assistance webinars, and facilitating K14 partnership convenings
K14 Industry Advisory Convening
BACCC partnered with the JPA of Monterey County to design and implement a collective industry advisory model to reduce competition and improve quality and outcomes. The result is an annual industry advisory event that brings together seven K12 districts, two community college districts, and employers from 12 sectors that formally addresses the advisory meeting requirement for K12 programs.
Cross System Partnerships
BACCC partners strategically with other collaborative organizations and structures in the subregion focused on workforce and economic mobility to reduce competition, expand capacity, and maximize positive impact for our students, such as the North Central Coast K16 Collaborative and the Regional Planning Unit of the three Workforce Development Boards.
Unique CTE Programs
Monterey Peninsula College
Success Stories
New Campus Library
