14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com After months of lobbying Joby Aviation to expand its manufacturing presence in Marina, a coalition of local business, tech, education and government stakeholders eagerly awaits the electric aviation startup’s decision on where it will build a new factory. An announcement is expected in a matter of weeks. The Santa Cruz-based company first set up shop at Marina Municipal Airport in 2018, and has since used its 120,000-square-foot facility there to develop electric air taxis promising to shuttle passengers over short distances. Joby officially launched production at the Marina plant last month after receiving a testing certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, celebrating the occasion by demonstrating its prototype before hundreds of guests. But as the company seeks to scale up operations ahead of its goal of beginning commercial service by 2025, it has set off a bidding war between state and local governments across the country competing to house a new 580,000-square-foot manufacturing facility expected to create up to 1,800 new jobs. “We’ve been meeting on a weekly basis since January to put together what I would characterize as a California retention effort,” says Josh Metz, executive director of Monterey Bay DART, a group promoting the development of the region’s robotics tech sector. DART has helped lead that effort—working alongside Monterey Bay Economic Partnership; City of Marina and Monterey County government officials; and education partners like UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and local community colleges. That coalition, backed with support from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), presented a proposal to Joby this spring. The offer is centered around two property tax incentives provided by GO-Biz—a Capital Investment Incentive Program (CIIP) and an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)—that would reward Joby for its estimated $700 million investment in the area. There are also curriculum and workforce orientation programs being developed by the education partners, such as UCSC’s nearby MBEST Center, that would serve not only Joby but other regional aerospace startups like Archer Aviation and Wisk Aero, with the goal of establishing the area as a tech hub for the emerging advanced air mobility sector. Despite these incentives, “There are some sizable gaps between what Joby’s been offered out-of-state to what’s been provided in-state, and that’s not a surprise,” notes Larry Samuels, special assistant to the chancellor at UCSC, who has been involved in the process. Though Joby’s leadership has expressed a desire to stay in California, according to Samuels, it remains to be seen “whether the economic realities make that a possibility.” Marina does appear to have made a select group of finalists, he adds, with Joby expected to make a decision by the end of next month. A Joby spokesperson says the company is still considering sites. Ready for Landing A local coalition awaits Joby Aviation’s decision on the location for a new factory. By Rey Mashayekhi The production area at Joby’s Marina location. California’s retention effort included a visit from Gov. Gavin Newsom to the production facility in June. NEWS The offer is centered around two property tax incentives. DANIEL DREIFUSS ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play Pacific Grove Hardware 229 Forest Avenue • 646-9144 Locally Owned and Operated BEST Hardware Store THANKS FOR YOUR VOTES! Your Hometown Hardware Store ’09-’22 take $5 OFF ANY $25 or more regular items With this ad. Exp 7/31/23 One discount per transaction We’re Open! Mon-Sun 8am-5pm YOU DON’T HAVE TO FACE IT ALONE. 24 Hour Crisis Lines Salinas: (831) 424-HELP (4357) Monterey: (831) 375-HELP (4357) www.mtryrapecrisis.org Services are bilingual and confidential Now serving Salinas and Monterey JUST FLICKSFILM SERIES Examining the true value of happiness, health, and nonviolence. A BOLD PEACE Free Event Discussion Follows Free Popcorn Costa Rica’s National Policy of Demilitarization Monterey Peace & Justice Center Seaside, CA 1364 Fremont Blvd. Friday, July 28 6:30 - 8:30 PM Doors open 6 PM
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