Northern Santa Barbara County is part of the central California coastal region. Comprised of the several communities in the Lompoc and Santa Maria valleys, North County provides substantial business and service
opportunities. The Pacific Coast Highway runs through the Lompoc Valley, while Highway 101 runs through the Santa Maria Valley.
The Lompoc Valley lies between yhe Pacific Coast and foothills. The influence of both agriculture and Vandenberg Air Force Base is evident in the economy of the community. The Space Center at the Air Force base generates a variety of civilian contract and support jobs. Consequently, Lompoc has evolved away from a strict agrarian community and now attracts more diverse employers.
With its airport, central location on Highway 101, shopping, and business infrastructure, Santa Maria is the economic heart of North County. Stron retail and service sectors have resulted in a growing number of discount and outlet stores in the valley. The newly completed CrossRoads Shopping Center in Santa Maria is indicative of continued economic prosperity in the City. Growing popularity of California wine has led to greater revenues for vintners in the county, and vineyards of all sizes dot the landscape. Along Highway 101, vineyards and wine tasting rooms are becoming ubiquitous.
Allan Hancock Community College recently expanded to include a satellite campus in Lompoc, provides continuing educational opportunities to North County residents.
South County Region
The South County Region's economy has large education, tourist and service sectors. While Santa Barbara City caters to tourism and business services, Goleta and Carpinteria are home to an array of technological and agricultural enterprises. Santa Barbara's Fiesta celebration, Goleta's Lemon Festival, and the Carpinteria Avocado Festival each attract thousands of visitors annually. Stearn's Wharf and Harbor are attractions for such annual events as Whale Watching, Semana Nautica, The Jazz Festival, and Outrigger and Sailboat competitions. This part of the County is well known for its restaurants and variety of unique shops.
Educational institutions are well represented in South County. Five higher education establishments are located in this area. Montecito is home to Westmont College, while Santa Barbara hosts Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara City College, and Antioch College. Goleta is home to the University of California Santa Barbara. The university offers adult education courses in both Santa Barbara and Goleta throughout the year.
Santa Ynez Valley Region
Foothills separate Santa Ynez Valley from the Pacific Coast. The Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains form the eastern boundary of the valley. Although winter lows can reach the mid-30's, and summer highs, mid-90's, the valley has less fog than the lower-lying coastal areas in early summer months.
Santa Ynez Valley is known for its 36 vineyards, horse ranches and bed and breakfast inns. The Los Padres National Forest attracts outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year for hiking, cycling, backpacking and rock climbing on the many sandstone crags. Cachuma Lake provided recreational fishing and boating opportunities, and furnishes most of the County's drinking water supply. The Danish Village of Solvang is a major tourist attraction for the Valley. Declining housing affordability and availability in the South County are contributing to moderate population increases both in the northern region and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Continued Growth
Public airports in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria serve the county, providing both national and international connections, along with two other arterial airports in Lompoc and Santa Ynez. Federal funds, authorized for repairs to local airports and for reconstruction purposes, could further facilitate and enhance county airport services.
The UCSB Economic Forecast Project provides data and analysis on economic, social, environmental and demographic and employment trends that impact government and private decision-makers. Additional information on current activities, upcoming events, and additional services can be found on the Economic Forecast Project's website
http://www.ucsb-efp.com/.
