Economic Development
Economic Development
Located in beautiful Monterey County on California's Central Coast, the City of Salinas is a young, vibrant, and diverse community of over 157,000 residents. Located in one of the world's premier agricultural areas and just one hour from Silicon Valley, the City of Salinas is poised for long-term economic growth. The Economic Development Division is dedicated to identifying and removing barriers to prosperity, while seeking new opportunities for private investment in the City.
Agriculture/AgTech
The Salinas Valley is one the world's premier agricultural regions, with an estimated economic impact of over $8 billion per year. Monterey County has ten crops with an annual farm gate value of over $100 million, with 26 crops having a farm gate value of at least $1 million. The City of Salinas serves as the processing center for regional produce.
In addition to being an agricultural hub, the City of Salinas is also home to a number of businesses and initiatives in the Agricultural Technology (AgTech) industry. Information about local agtech can be found here.
Opportunity Zones
The City of Salinas has had five Census Tracts designated as Opportunity Zones. Please click here for more information.
Monterey County Tourism Improvement District Renewal Notice
The City of Salinas has received a letter from the City of Monterey requesting the City of Salinas take to council and consider the renewal of the Monterey County Tourism Improvement District (“MCTID”), which would replace the existing TID. The City of Salinas would like to formally notify Hotel/Motel Owners and Operators of the City’s intent to consent to the renewal of the MCTID on the January 24, 2023 council meeting.
City of Monterey - Council Staff Report
City Announced as Finalist for City Nation Place Award

The City of Salinas has been chosen as one of this year’s finalists for City Nation Place’s Place Brand of the Year award. As a global organization dedicated to the advancement of place brand strategies, City Nation Place selects top cities, states and countries for their prestigious awards. This year, the organization received more than 100 entries from more than 70 places across 16 countries.
For the Place Brand of the Year award, judges take into consideration all aspects of a community’s strategic branding efforts and messaging strategies. Home to more...
Five Salinas Census Tracts Included in Governor's Opportunity Zone Request
Governor Jerry Brown submitted a request to the United States Treasury to designate 879 census tracts throughout the State as Opportunity Zones; five of those tracts are located in the City of Salinas. The selected zones represent some of the City's best opportunities, including Downtown Salinas, Chinatown, Carr Lake, Division Street, the Alisal Marketplace, and the City's industrial center.
Opportunity Zones are being created on this one-time designation round, and designations will have a term of ten years. The City of Salinas worked with Assemblymember Anna Caballero and her staff to aggressively pursue the...
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Economic Development Element
public_draft_eir.pdf
public_draft_eir.pdf (29.4 MB)