MBEP to Recognize Workforce Housing Pioneers in the Region
(Jan. 7, 2026 — Marina, CA) — Join us Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s 10th Anniversary Gala — a celebration of a decade of transformation and a launchpad for the region’s next chapter of bold, innovative growth. For 10 years, MBEP has been the region’s economic catalyst—bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and communities to tackle the Central Coast’s most pressing challenges and secure resources that drive lasting change.
During MBEP’s 10th Anniversary Gala, three workforce housing pioneers — The Pebble Beach Company, Avila Construction, and Tanimura & Antle — will be recognized for their bold vision in creating innovative solutions to our regional workforce needs.
“In one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets, these organizations have led the way in creating much-needed housing for employees in our region’s agricultural and hospitality sectors and charted a path for others to follow,” said Monterey Bay Economic Partnership President & CEO Tahra Goraya. “They embrace the challenge with purpose, vision, and a dedication to improving the well-being of those that live and work in our region.”
In early 2019, The Pebble Beach Co. marked the opening of Morse Place Townhomes, an affordable housing complex built on about three acres of a 13.2-acre site in the Del Monte Forest. The 24-unit complex, which took nearly seven years to bring to fruition, was a bold solution by the Pebble Beach Co. to develop its own $8 million affordable housing project rather than turn construction over to the County of Monterey as part a requirement to build inclusionary housing.
The development, which consists of two- and three-bedroom units, provides much-needed affordable housing for Pebble Beach Co. employees and their families.
In 2015, facing workforce challenges that had left $100,000 worth of crops unharvested and placed future harvests in jeopardy, Tanimura & Antle approached Avila Construction with a massive challenge: Build housing for 800 H-2A agricultural workers, with the goal of completing that project within a year. With the project’s success, Tanimura & Antle pioneered a new model of guest worker housing in the region, and also gave the company an edge in recruiting migrant farmworkers from other states. That development — and the other agricultural workforce housing projects that it inspired — helped boost the number of guest worker visas certified for Monterey County, contributing to a more stable agricultural workforce in the region.
Spreckels Crossing was unprecedented — notable as an innovative solution to critical workforce shortages exacerbated by housing and immigration challenges, for the pace at which it proceeded, as well as for the collaborations it required. Its bold vision earned Tanimura and Antle, and the County of Monterey, MBEP’s first-ever public-partnership award in 2016.
The Tanimura & Antle development in Spreckels was the brainchild of the agricultural company’s late CEO, Rick Antle, whose vision for housing was unlike the bunk- house style format typically used for ag housing. Instead, he pictured spacious, quality apartments and a high quality of life for his employees.
Avila Construction played an integral role in the entitlement of the project and upon receiving approvals immediately proceeded with construction. From concept to completion, this project took about 13 months to complete, including design and entitlements.
Spreckels Crossing did more than create 100 new dorm-style apartments for 800 seasonal farmworkers — it also defied expectations and set a template for others to follow.
Since then, Avila Construction has been consistently working to add to the housing supply in the region, having constructed more than 520 housing units serving more than 4,100 employees: Casa Boronda in Salinas, Harvest Moon Housing just outside Salinas, Walnut & Third in Greenfield, Ag Housing in King City, and Gabilan Housing in Salinas. Royal Oaks Housing, an affordable apartment complex in Morgan Hill, features units dedicated to agricultural workers. The first phase of a 121-unit agricultural housing project for Tanimura & Antle is under construction in Arizona, and a second phase of the King City complex is still to come.
Reservations to MBEP’s 10th Anniversary Gala are still available and can be made here.
About Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP): Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) is a regional member-supported nonprofit organization consisting of public, private, and civic entities located throughout the counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz. Founded in 2015, our mission is to improve the economic health and quality of life in the region.