FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Dec. 1, 2016 

MEDIA CONTACT: Spencer Critchley
CONTACT TITLE: Acting PIO
EMAIL: [email protected] 
PHONE: (831) 998-3000
PBS NewsHour Features
Salinas AgTech Strategy

Salinas, CA -- The Nov. 30 edition of the national PBS NewsHour program featured an in-depth report on the promise of Salinas' agtech-based economic development strategy, particularly in creating good jobs for local residents.

The story, by correspondent Cat Wise, describes the work of public and private partners to create an agtech ecosystem. The City believes the marriage of agricultural and technology will leverage the region's existing strengths and global trends in a way likely to yield growth, well-paid jobs, and a healthier environment.

Image from PBS News Hour story on Salinas Agtech


Among those highlighted in the PBS piece are agtech startups Heavy Connect and SWIIM System, grower Tanimura & Antle, the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology, Salinas City Manager Ray Corpuz, Hartnell College and CSUMB, and Hartnell/CSUMB computer science graduate Rivka Garcia, who now works for Heavy Connect:

One of those using her past experiences in her new career is HeavyConnect's Rivka Garcia. She was born and raised in Salinas, and worked in a produce processing plant, before graduating earlier year from the CSin3 program.

Garcia is now using all her skills, including coding, to help make the company's app more intuitive for those who will be using it.

The full story can be watched on the web at http://to.pbs.org/2gZRFNU. A transcript can also be found there.

PBS NewsHour reaches an average TV audience of more than a million, with millions more viewing its content on the web, Facebook, and YouTube.

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