Central Coast lands $7.5 million grant for aviation technology boost
MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO CREATE CALIFORNIA’S FIRST MULTI-AIRPORT FLIGHT CORRIDOR. THE FUTURE OF FLIGHT IS TAKING OFF ON THE CENTRAL COAST. THE MONTEREY BAY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP SECURED A NEARLY 7.5 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO BUILD THE STATE’S FIRST FAA-COMPLIANT, MULTI- AIRPORT FLIGHT CORRIDOR NETWORK. “IT’S SUPER IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO GET A NOD FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ABOUT IMPACT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY IN TRANSPORTATION.” “THIS IS GOING TO BE SUPER TRANSFORMATIVE, CREATE GOOD JOBS, HIGHER PAYING JOBS AND JOBS THAT ARE IN CLEAN ENERGY. SO IT’S A WIN WIN ALL AROUND” IT’LL ALSO CONNECT RURAL AIRPORTS IN WATSONVILLE, MARINA, SALINAS, AND HOLLISTER… CREATING A HUB FOR TESTING AND DEVELOPING CLEAN-ENERGY AIRCRAFT, AIR TAXI SERVICE, AND NEXT-GENERATION AVIATION TECHNOLOGY. “THIS IS GOING TO PUT US ON THE MAP FOR ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY AND AIR TAXI SERVICE. SO ABSOLUTELY ECSTATIC COULDN’T COME AT A BETTER TIME.” THE PROJECT – CALLED THE CALIFORNIA ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY CORRIDORS INITIATIVE, OR CAAMCI NOT ONLY MODERNIZES AIRPORTS… BUT ALSO ATTRACTS MAJOR INDUSTRY PLAYERS, EXPAND WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND CLOSE INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS THAT HAVE HELD BACK GROWTH. COMPANIES LIKE ARCHER, JOBY AVIATION, AND WISK ARE ALREADY PIONEERING ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT AND AIR TAXI TECHNOLOGY IN OUR REGION. NOW, WITH THESE 3 NEW FLIGHT CORRIDORS, THEY’LL HAVE THE CONNECTED INFRASTRUCTURE “THE FLIGHT QUARTERS THAT YOU NEED FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EVERY AIRPORT HAS. SO WE’LL BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES, THIS REGION OR INDIVIDUAL AIRPORTS FROM THE REST OF CALIFORNIA AND THE REST OF THE NATION.” FROM DELIVERING MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO RURAL AREAS, TO MONITORING WILDFIRES IN REAL TIME – THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. LEADERS SAY IT WILL NOT ONLY CHANGE THE WAY WE FLY – BUT THE WAY OUR LOCAL ECONOMY THRIVES. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO PUT THE CENTRAL COAST ON THE MAP AS ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY HUB
Central Coast lands $7.5 million grant for aviation technology boost
Updated: 6:12 PM PDT Sep 2, 2025
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The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership has received a $7.5 million grant to create California’s first FAA-compliant, multi-airport flight corridor network, connecting rural airports on the Central Coast.Tahra Goraya, President and CEO of MBEP, said, “It’s super important to be able to get a nod from the state of California and the governor’s office about the importance and the impact of the next generation of technology, especially in transportation.” Goraya added, “This is going to be super transformative, create good jobs, higher-paying jobs and jobs that are in clean energy. So it’s a win-win all around.”The project will connect airports in Watsonville, Marina, Salinas, and Hollister, serving as a hub for testing and developing clean-energy aircraft, air taxi services, and next-generation aviation technology. Matt Nelson said, “This is going to put us on the map for advanced air mobility and air taxi service. So absolutely ecstatic, couldn’t come at a better time.”The California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative (CAAMCI) aims to modernize airports, attract major industry players, expand workforce training, and close infrastructure gaps that have held back growth. Companies like Archer, Joby Aviation, and Wisk are already pioneering electric aircraft and air taxi technology in the region, and the new flight corridors will provide the connected infrastructure needed to scale.Salinas City Manager Rene Mendez said, “The flight quarters that you need for this technology is not something that every airport has. So we’ll be able to differentiate ourselves, this region or individual airports from the rest of California and the rest of the nation.”The initiative promises to revolutionize aviation on the Central Coast, with applications ranging from delivering medical supplies to rural areas to real-time wildfire monitoring. Leaders say it will not only change the way people fly but also enhance the local economy. The project is expected to put the Central Coast on the map as one of the nation’s top advanced air mobility hubs.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership has received a $7.5 million grant to create California’s first FAA-compliant, multi-airport flight corridor network, connecting rural airports on the Central Coast.
Tahra Goraya, President and CEO of MBEP, said, “It’s super important to be able to get a nod from the state of California and the governor’s office about the importance and the impact of the next generation of technology, especially in transportation.”
Goraya added, “This is going to be super transformative, create good jobs, higher-paying jobs and jobs that are in clean energy. So it’s a win-win all around.”
The project will connect airports in Watsonville, Marina, Salinas, and Hollister, serving as a hub for testing and developing clean-energy aircraft, air taxi services, and next-generation aviation technology.
Matt Nelson said, “This is going to put us on the map for advanced air mobility and air taxi service. So absolutely ecstatic, couldn’t come at a better time.”
The California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative (CAAMCI) aims to modernize airports, attract major industry players, expand workforce training, and close infrastructure gaps that have held back growth.
Companies like Archer, Joby Aviation, and Wisk are already pioneering electric aircraft and air taxi technology in the region, and the new flight corridors will provide the connected infrastructure needed to scale.
Salinas City Manager Rene Mendez said, “The flight quarters that you need for this technology is not something that every airport has. So we’ll be able to differentiate ourselves, this region or individual airports from the rest of California and the rest of the nation.”
The initiative promises to revolutionize aviation on the Central Coast, with applications ranging from delivering medical supplies to rural areas to real-time wildfire monitoring.
Leaders say it will not only change the way people fly but also enhance the local economy. The project is expected to put the Central Coast on the map as one of the nation’s top advanced air mobility hubs.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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