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County outlines agricultural economic development work plan, proposes branding and advisory council
Summary
The county presented a draft 2025 agricultural economic development work plan focused on leveraging open‑space and ag assets in unincorporated areas, creating an interactive events map with Visit Gilroy, and recruiting a program manager to lead agritourism and branding efforts.
Deputy County Executive Consuelo Hernandez presented the county’s draft 2025 work plan to support agricultural economic development, with a focus on unincorporated areas and a branding and awareness strategy to promote agritourism.
Hernandez described reorganizing the county’s asset and economic development functions to better serve agriculture and unincorporated properties, work with UC Cooperative Extension on branding, and partner with local groups such as Visit Gilroy and Visit Morgan Hill. The plan includes recruiting a second program manager position funded in the midyear budget for FY25 and a proposed interactive map on the county website to highlight events and agritourism assets.
Supervisors and commission chairs discussed timing around major regional events and suggested interim steps—such as an interactive event map and coordinated promotion—while longer‑term land‑use and rural zoning changes proceed. Hernandez emphasized avoiding a regulator‑heavy advisory council and instead creating an open, inclusive advisory table; she also noted a $20,000 contribution to a UC Cooperative Extension branding consultant and $50,000 ongoing administrative support already allocated to the effort.
Committee members asked for quarterly reporting and an assessment of existing departmental efforts to identify gaps and avoid duplication. The committee moved the work plan forward and asked staff to coordinate with planning, roads and other departments before implementation.
