San Benito County Business, Economy & Jobs Articles

Renewable energy sources provided 37 percent of California electricity in 2021, a new record for the state as it moves toward its 2045 goal of 100 percent clean energy. Battery storage will play a huge role in reaching that goal.

A bill to tax Airbnb and other short-term rentals to fund affordable housing projects could be voted on by the Senate as soon as today. The proposal has revived the debate over Airbnb and its role in the housing crisis.

Hollister residents who enjoy fine barbecue will no longer have to struggle through the traffic on Hwy 156 to take in the offerings at The Smoke Point BBQ in San Juan Bautista. The restaurant had a soft opening at its …

Farmers in 2022 suffered an estimated $150 million in crop losses due to the impatiens necrotic spot virus and an additional $54.4 million from flooding.

California is unwinding the prison-building boom of the 1980s and 1990s. The cuts are falling on small towns that banked on government jobs to anchor their communities.

A new analysis shows that the California State University system doesn’t make or receive enough money to cover its costs, even with state support. The report and lawmakers urge the system to increase tuition, but even that might not be …

The ongoing fight for a mobile food scene in Hollister continues as more than 30 people attended an informal meeting to discuss a new ordinance in the works that will allow vendors to sell food throughout the city. A good …

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital’s financial advisors and administrators assured the public at a crucial May 22 meeting that a Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing is their only option to keep the Hollister hospital functioning—though perhaps eventually with reduced services—and would not …

California will cut use of water from the Colorado River drastically under a new agreement announced by the Biden Administration on May 22. Nevada and Arizona have also agreed to the cuts.

The Board of Directors of the San Benito Health Care District, which oversees Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, will decide whether to file a Chapter 9 bankruptcy case at the next board meeting at 5pm May 22. The agenda item and …

Casey Printing – the King City-based commercial printer which operates one of the last publication-style printing presses on the Central Coast – has been sold and will continue to operate under new ownership.

San Benito County recently started working with regional organizations to develop a countywide strategy to expand reliable and affordable broadband communications services. Authorities are beginning to ask the community and stakeholders for input on the forthcoming Broadband Strategic Plan, according …

The Gilroy Planning Commission recommended a project on May 4 that would construct two hotels and other buildings on a vacant lot at the corner of Highway 152 and Camino Arroyo. The city council at a future meeting will have …

Live music and the smell of barbecue filled the air throughout San Juan Bautista May 5-7 as the San Juan Bautista Rib Cook-Off returned to Third Street in the historic city’s downtown. Plenty of hungry guests made their way to …

California stands as America’s agricultural powerhouse, growing half of its fruits and vegetables. Here’s how California farming has shaped the state, from the early missions to today’s “factories in the field.”

The Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education will serve as one of the anchor tenants for the $1.2 billion project in Sacramento.

Life expectancy in California exceeds all but three other states, but how long you live depends on which county you live in. They're not all equal. Why? The answer may lie in political policies.

Sarah Rosso grew up in her family’s furniture business, starting off as a receptionist 27 years ago as a high schooler who did a lot of what she called the “grunt work.” She took every opportunity she had to learn …

Texas often claims to have lower taxes than California. But a new study by WalletHub shows that California's overall tax burden is significantly less, and that California does better for lower and middle income taxpayers.

Artificial intelligence development is moving fast. Elon Musk and others are now calling for AI researchers to pause for six months to ensure safety and ethical measures are put in place.