(March 20, 2025 — Marina, CA) The Silicon Valley Business Journal has awarded Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) President & CEO Tahra Goraya its 2025 AAPI Business Leadership Award. This award recognizes exemplary local Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs for their contributions to the community and outstanding professional performance.
“Our tri-county region has greatly benefitted from the incredible leadership of MBEP President & CEO Tahra Goraya. It is wonderful to see her many accomplishments and talents recognized with the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2025 AAPI Business Leadership Award,” said University of California, Santa Cruz Chancellor and MBEP Board Chair Cynthia Larive.
Since joining MBEP in January 2022, Goraya’s vision for a better community has driven measurable results, from advocating for affordable housing projects to addressing key regional challenges for jobs, educational pathways, and broadband connectivity. Under her leadership, MBEP secured Economic Development District (EDD) designation for the tri-county region, streamlining access to significant federal funding and opening doors to powerful new resources and opportunities for innovation and investment. It marks the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s first new EDD designation in California in 15 years. She co-led the creation of the Monterey Bay Tech Hub, which builds upon regional momentum supporting workforce training and regional infrastructure needs of the eVTOL and hydrogen-fueled aircraft sector, facilitated record funding for broadband investment and infrastructure in the region, and leveraged nearly $30 million for housing development through the Monterey Bay Housing Trust, a revolving loan fund financed by MBEP and Housing Trust Silicon Valley. She has also strengthened MBEP’s voice with state and federal partners. In 2024, Goraya was appointed by Speaker Robert Rivas to the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA).
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and to be working alongside a great team of board members and staff in furthering MBEP’s mission to improve the economic health and quality of life in the tri-county region.”
The only recipient from the Monterey Bay region, Goraya joins 10 honorees from several fields, including health care, law, tech, nonprofit and commercial real estate, in the inaugural class of AAPI Business Leaders.
Save the date: If you’d like to attend to celebrate the 2025 AAPI Business Leaders, mark your calendars for Thursday, May 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree in San Jose. Registration information will follow.
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.