SESLOC Spotlight: REACH

SESLOC Spotlight highlights local organizations that make the Central Coast the best place to live.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on REACH, a regional economic action coalition focused on fostering a thriving Central Coast through high-paying job creation. Ermina Karim, Board Member, explains how local leaders come together to make that happen:

REACH 

Industry: Nonprofit

Serving the Central Coast since: 2019

How many employees? 2 plus a few contractors and interns

How many volunteers? 40 and growing

What’s your mission? To increase economic prosperity through big thinking, bold action, and regional collaboration.

What’s unique about REACH? We are focused on creating better-paying jobs in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Right now, 2 out of 3 jobs in our region pay less than $50,000 and our workforce is struggling to get by. We can and must do better. We’re led by businesses and we partner with government, education, and philanthropic sectors so that we can collectively tackle some of the biggest challenges and unlock some remarkable opportunities to bring transformational change to the people of our region. For the first time, job creators from throughout the region are working together so that current and future generations can have the opportunity to live, work, and thrive on the Central Coast.

What do you attribute to your success? Our region is filled with doers and dreamers that are committed to building a better future. Our region’s leaders recognize that we can’t solve the challenges to high-paying job creation — housing, infrastructure, water, broadband, educational access, etc. — in any one community or by any one organization. These are regional challenges that demand regional solutions and collaboration. By speaking with a united voice to state and national interests, we are attracting attention and investment that wasn’t accessible to us previously. We know we can go much further together.

What advice would you give someone interested in supporting your mission? Please check out our website and engage in our action teams. We’re thrilled that SESLOC is a critical partner as a member of the REACH Council and an early and strong supporter of the REACH 2030 job creation plan.