Tahra Goraya exits Monterey Bay Economic Partnership after major revenue growth

Tahra Goraya has stepped down as CEO of the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership after leading a period of expansion that pushed annual revenue above $10 million and helped secure major federal and state wins for the Monterey Bay region. Her next move is to expand consulting work focused on regional competitiveness, emerging industries and coalition building.

Why it matters: - Goraya’s departure closes a run that expanded MBEP’s reach and funding power across Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. - MBEP gained new leverage for federal, state and philanthropic investment during her tenure. - The region also won its first federal Economic Development District designation in 15 years, which strengthens its ability to compete for outside dollars.

What happened: - Tahra Goraya stepped down as CEO of the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership after leading the organization through its strongest growth period. - Under Goraya, MBEP’s annual revenue grew to more than $10 million. - Goraya said the Monterey Bay region proved it can compete for federal, state and philanthropic investment. - Goraya moved to the Monterey Bay region from Boston during the pandemic and led MBEP through a period of broader regional organizing.

The details: - Goraya helped unite government, business, philanthropy, education, community organizations and residents around a shared agenda. - That agenda included housing, broadband, workforce development, technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and advanced air mobility. - Goraya secured the region’s first federal Economic Development District designation in 15 years. - Goraya secured the $7.45 million California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative from California Jobs First. - MBEP leveraged more than $106 million in California Public Utilities Commission broadband investment for the Monterey Bay region. - Goraya co-convened Uplift Central Coast, the six-county California Jobs First collaborative. - Uplift Central Coast guided $9 million in predevelopment funding to 36 regional organizations. - Goraya co-launched Central Coast: Build to Prove What’s Next in Autonomous Systems and Advanced Air Mobility, described as the first initiative of its kind in California. - Goraya convened Regions Rise Together, which produced an investment blueprint for housing, childcare, jobs and community power building. - Goraya launched the region’s first AI Summit and first Creative Economy Summit. - Goraya co-founded the Monterey Bay Tech Hub, which helped secure a $2.21 million Jobs First grant for its Drones Uplifting California Communities initiative. - MBEP also secured its first farm robotics funding for the tri-county region to educate high school and community college students. - MBEP won major investments from the James Irvine Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Bank of America. - Tracked grants totaled more than $3.175 million in 2025-26 alone. - Goraya established MBEP’s first unrestricted endowment. - MBEP raised $400,000 at its first public fundraising event, which sold out. - Goraya also established the region’s first Regional Black Leadership Roundtable.

Between the lines: - Goraya expanded MBEP beyond traditional economic development work by tying together infrastructure, emerging industries and community capacity. - The mix of wins suggests a strategy built on coalition-building, not just project chasing. - Goraya also raised the region’s profile with state and federal policymakers, philanthropy, industry leaders and the media. - She expanded MBEP’s public presence as a regular columnist for the Monterey Herald. - During a period of rapid growth, Goraya expanded the team and pushed staff to lead larger regional initiatives.

What's next: - Goraya will expand Goraya Consulting and advise regions, economic development organizations and philanthropic partners. - Her consulting work will focus on federal and state competitiveness, advanced air mobility, artificial intelligence, early learning and cross-sector coalition building. - Goraya said the regions that win future investment will organize early, build broad coalitions and tell their story well. - Goraya is also a commissioner for the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. - Her background includes civil rights, public health, early learning and public policy.

The bottom line: - Goraya leaves MBEP with more money, more regional clout and a larger playbook for competing for outside investment.