Regional nonprofit marks its first decade of regional impact
(Jan. 21, 2026 — Marina, CA) — As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) is honoring The Pebble Beach Company, Avila Construction, and Tanimura & Antle as workforce housing pioneers for their bold vision in creating innovative solutions to regional workforce needs.
MBEP’s sold-out 10th Anniversary Gala, taking place on Thursday, Jan. 29 at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, marks 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 and convener —bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and communities to tackle the Central Coast’s most pressing challenges and secure resources that drive lasting change.
“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 who live and work in our region.”
In 2012, when the Pebble Beach Company was faced with the choice to pay $7 million in in-lieu fees, or invest directly in a housing project, the company made the decision to invest directly in a housing project. In keeping with “Enriched Employees,” one of the company’s core values, and recognizing that its employees are its greatest asset, the company chose to build.
Constructing a $9M workforce housing development in the Del Monte Forest was challenging, innovative, and ensured that the benefit went directly to employees, said Pebble Beach Company CEO David Stivers.
Opened to residents in 2019, Morse Place Townhomes includes 24 units in a neighborhood close to great schools, grocery stores, public transportation and within easy reach of Pebble Beach work sites.
“Workforce housing is a win for employees, a win for employers, and a win for the region,” says Stivers. “We hope more employers will continue to advocate for breaking down barriers and expanding the housing supply — because when we invest in our people, everyone benefits.”
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.
“When Tanimura & Antle first approached us about what would become Spreckels Crossing, Rick Antle had a simple but meaningful directive: create two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments for their workforce — and make them nice. We approached it like any other construction project, but once the first residents moved in, we realized this wasn’t just a building. It was a turning point,” says Mike Avila, owner of Avila Construction.
“Providing safe, high-quality housing for the people who perform such essential work in our region had a profound impact — on the employees, the employer, and the surrounding community.”
Built in record time — about a year from concept to competition, Spreckels Crossing was groundbreaking in California’s challenging permitting climate.
The development also broke new ground in other ways, becoming the model for a new generation of employer-led workforce housing throughout the region.
Since then, similar developments have taken shape across the region — from the Susan Street project in Pajaro, to Casa Boronda, Harvest Moon, the Gabilan Apartments, and Greenfield’s Walnut & Third in Monterey County — resulting in more than 520 units and serving over 4,100 employees so far in our region. Avila Construction is currently building the first phase of a 122-unit agricultural housing project for Tanimura & Antle in Arizona.
“Today, thousands of workers have a safe place to live because one employer was willing to lead— and because our team had the privilege of bringing that vision to life,” says Avila. “When you provide someone with a safe, stable place to call home, you’re giving them the foundation for upward mobility. And that strengthens the worker, the employer, and the entire community.”
As a membership-based organization, MBEP works to advance regional economic development. Through its Housing Initiative, MBEP is driving policy, investment, and partnerships to expand the supply of housing at all income levels in our region. By unlocking capital for housing projects through the Monterey Bay Housing Trust (MBHT), advocating for housing across all income levels, and partnering with employers and industry to sponsor workforce housing and support public-private housing solutions, MBEP and its partners are helping to create a more resilient region.
To learn more about how to support MBEP’s work, visit the website. 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.