Economy

The Gilroy City Council voted unanimously Aug. 15 to voice its opposition to the proposed quarry in southern Santa Clara County, but noted that while such a resolution makes a strong statement, the county is ultimately in charge of the project’s fate. The recent vote...

The Hollister City Council voted last week to put a proposed occupancy tax increase on the ballot for the November 2024 general election. If passed, this would be the first time since 1986 that voters will  decide to increase the tax on hotel stays...

A $30 million incentive project is underway to help businesses, nonprofits, public agencies and tribes fund the installation of electric vehicle chargers in disadvantaged and low-income communities across the state.  San Benito is on the list of 30 counties where such parties are eligible for...

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors narrowly rejected the 141-home Lee Subdivision residential project that has been proposed in southeast Hollister.  The board voted 3-2 at the Feb. 7 meeting to deny the project. The agenda item was an appeal hearing. Lee Subdivision developer...

The Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County announced this week that it has completed a draft update of its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), after receiving an $80,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration and a $5,000 contribution from the City of San...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital issued a statement Nov. 28 assuring its employees and patients that the Hollister facility’s staff and other experts engaged by the hospital are “pursuing multiple angles to resolve” its current fiscal emergency. HHMH also emphasized that the hospital remains open and...

The San Benito County Arts Council is seeking local artists or artist teams to submit their qualifications to create and install a mural on one of five utility boxes along Highway 25 in Hollister.  This project is part of a State Highway Beautification Project, sponsored...

In an effort to minimize impacts on wildlife and tribal resources, as well as to satisfy critics of the proposed Sargent Mine in southern Santa Clara County, the project’s applicant recently offered to scale back their original plans for the property. However, some of those...

The offshoring of U.S. jobs has accelerated in recent years, and the City of Hollister has seen a disproportionate loss of trade-related employment as a result, according to a study released last week

California faces a $22.5 billion budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Jan. 10 as he proposed billions in cuts and deferred spending amid a significant drop in capital gains tax revenue. After the state’s revenue boomed a year ago due largely to a capital gains...