As regional leaders from a diversity of public offices and private sectors gathered at UC Santa Barbara for the REACH Ideas + Action Summit 2026, Chancellor Dennis Assanis welcomed them with an invitation. “Our doors are open,” he said.
The university’s role in regional prosperity was one of several topics discussed at the daylong event, spearheaded by REACH Central Coast, a nonprofit focused on economic development and quality of life across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
By way of introduction, REACH President and CEO Melissa James stressed the importance of cross-pollination between public, private and civic institutions to turn good ideas into real projects. Looking ahead to 2030, James laid out REACH’s goals of helping create good-paying jobs, empowering people with accessible career paths and enabling more housing for local workforces…