Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce

As Election Day nears, the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to remind you of the Chamber’s endorsed candidates. This list may be a helpful resource as you explore candidate positions and make your decisions. To learn more about each of the endorsed candidates, visit the October Issue of the Salinas Valley Business Journal for more details on the Endorsement Recommendations at SalinasChamber.com.

Born and raised in Turlock, CA., Raymond Costa is the proud son of Portuguese immigrant parents who called the Azores their home. His work ethic carried over to a local nursery, where he moved sprinkler pipes and then onto a cheese factory, before moving over to UPS, where he delivered packages for 17 years. In 1995, he became a McDonald’s Owner/Operator, opening his first restaurant in Fort Bragg, CA. Today, he operates nine restaurants. A servant leader, Ray has always passionately supported several local nonprofit organizations, including the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, the California Rodeo-Salinas, The Boys & Girls Club, the California Air Show Salinas, and Rancho Cielo. He is a past Board Member of both the Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto and the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. In 2017, he established the Raymond H. Costa Family Scholarship, which awards educational scholarships to his employees or their children. Since its inception, the scholarship has awarded over $419,000.00 to 151 recipients. Congratulations to The Costa Family McDonald's Restaurants, our Business Philanthropy Honoree.

Prósperos celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new office in the Alisal Corridor. Chair-Elect Leonard Batti, local dignitaries, SUBA, and Chamber Members were on hand to celebrate not only Prósperos's growth as a business but also the contribution and impact the business will have on the local Salinas Valley community, eliminating financial barriers and offering modern banking solutions to all! Congratulations to Prósperos!

Local Halloween Fun Awaits! Get ready for a spooktacular lineup of events around town! Coastal Kids Fall Harvest: Face painting, pumpkin decorating, and a costume contest! Oct 25th, 4-8 PM at Borchard Farms, Salinas. Free entrance! LFC Haunted House: Dare to enter on Oct 19-20, 5-8 PM at 830 Park Row, Salinas! Free entry, donations welcomed, and thrills for all ages. Special scare packages for 18+! Zombie Prom 2024: An LGBTQ+ inclusive Halloween party for youth! Oct 31st, 4-8 PM at The Epicenter, 737 S Main St, Salinas. Free event with food, music, and more! Monster Ball: Get spooky on Oct 25th, 1 PM at 339 Pajaro St, Salinas! Games, dancing, and fun—costumes optional. Hosted by OMNI Resource Center, a program by Interim Inc. Costume Cruise & Scavenger Hunt: Dress up and cruise in classic cars on Oct 27th at 2 PM! Includes spooky treats and a scavenger hunt. $150 to drive a classic car (up to 4 people) & $100 to drive your own! Hosted by Monterey Touring Vehicles-Classic Car Rentals, in Seaside, CA. Trunk-or-Treat & Movie Night: Join the fun on Oct 19th, 5-6:30 PM for trunk-or-treat, followed by "Hotel Transylvania" at 6:30 PM at Colton Hall Lawn, Monterey. Mall-o-ween: Trick-or-treat, enjoy a science show, meet spooky characters, and join the costume contest at Northridge Mall, Salinas. Oct 31st, 4-8 PM. Downtown Salinas Trick or Treat: Free trick-or-treat at local businesses! Enjoy costume contests, pumpkin decorating, a scavenger hunt, and more on Oct 26th, 11 AM - 2 PM in Oldtown Salinas. Toro Park Center Afterschool Trick or Treat: Join local merchants for afterschool trick-or-treating fun on Oct 31st, 2-4 PM at Toro Park Center. Pre-Halloween Family Fun Event: Bring the family for crafts, s’mores, and a not-too-scary house! Oct 25-26, 6-8 PM at First Mayor's House, Salinas. $10 per family. Graves Elementary Harvest Festival & Trunk or Treat: Fun games, raffles, and candy on Oct 25th, 6-8 PM at 15 McFadden Rd, Salinas. If you're a member and we missed your event, please comment below and let us know!

Brewjee Coffee Co. celebrated the opening of its storefront in Salinas with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Local dignitaries, Board Member Amy Salmina, Chamber Ambassadors, and community members were present to warmly welcome the owners and staff. With every cup served, Brewjee pours passion, creativity, and excellence into the lives of those it touches — the Brewjee way! Congratulations on this incredible milestone—may Brewjee's journey ahead be as rich and fulfilling as the coffee it brews!

Save the Date! We’re celebrating a significant milestone in Monterey County! The community and media are invited to the ITNMontereyCounty (Independent Transportation Network Monterey County) 100,000th Ride Celebration. ITNMontereyCounty, founded in 2012, provides dignified rides to anyone over 60 years of age or those with visual impairments over age 18. At a Glance: What: ITNMontereyCounty’s 100,000th Ride Celebration Where: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Hospitality Pavilion When: Thursday, October 24th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm Brief elected officials’ ceremony at 6:00 pm This free event will include a hosted wine reception and delectable food from Rancho Cielo's Drummond Culinary Academy. The celebration will commence with a reenactment of the 100,000th ride. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to enjoy hot laps and go-cart rides. There will also be a silent auction with amazing prizes! To register, please visit https://lnkd.in/gABxBagH Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement and support ITNMontereyCounty’s ongoing mission to provide essential transportation services to our community.

Join us in celebrating Paper Tacos, our Legacy of Leadership Outstanding Business Honoree! Founded with just $2,500 of Jesús Ruvalcaba's own savings, Paper Tacos started as a way to combine his love for art, design, and cultural heritage. What began as a small passion project has since evolved into a successful business with a growing customer base. The mission of Paper Tacos is simple: to create bold, funny, and culturally relevant greeting cards that reflect the beauty and spirit of Mexican culture. However, the road to growth has not been without its challenges. Scaling Paper Tacos has presented significant struggles in managing logistics, fulfillment, and supply chain processes, especially as demand grew beyond what Ruvalcaba could have imagined. Through hard work and community support, Paper Tacos continues to thrive, with over 200 retail wholesale customers, ranging from brick-and-mortar to national retail stores. Don't miss the Legacy of Leadership Gala on Thursday, November 7, where we'll honor Paper Tacos and other outstanding business in the Salinas Valley. #salinasvalley #outstandingbusiness #legacyofleadership

Volunteer members of the Candidate Review Committee of your Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce interviewed and reviewed submitted questionnaires of twelve candidates on Sept. 12 and 13, 2024. Committee members had the responsibility of considering and recommending official Chamber endorsements for these local public offices with competitive races: 1. Mayor of Salinas 2. Salinas City Council District 1 3. Salinas City Council District 3 (two-year term) 4. Salinas City Council District 4 5. Salinas City Council District 6 Swipe to view our candidate endorsements and visit SalinasChamber.com to read more in our October issue of the Salinas Valley Business Journal.

Join us in celebrating Braga Fresh, our Legacy of Leadership Distinguished Business Innovation Honoree! From humble beginnings in 1928 to nearly a century of groundbreaking farming, Braga Fresh continues to lead the way in business and agricultural innovation. Hear from CEO Rod Braga as he shares how the company evolves year after year to shape the future of farming. Don’t miss the Legacy of Leadership Gala on Thursday, November 7, where we’ll honor Braga Fresh and other visionary businesses in the Salinas Valley. 

For over 30 years, Valley Health Associates (VHA) has been a premier provider of outpatient chemical dependency treatment programs in Monterey and San Benito Counties. Its mission is to provide the highest quality substance use disorder services for youth and adults in Monterey and San Benito Counties. On October 30, 2024, VHA celebrate its new location with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 5:00 p.m. at 913 Blanco Circle, Salinas, CA. A special program, small bites, refreshments, and iHeart’s Showbiz will be part of the celebration.