On Friday, the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo served as the venue for the 2025 Central Coast Economic Forecast, an annual gathering aimed at offering insights into regional economic conditions. The event brought together over 600 local leaders, policymakers, and business representatives to discuss challenges and opportunities shaping the area’s financial future. A key focus of the discussions was the persistent shortage of housing, identified by Dr. Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics as the most pressing obstacle to sustainable growth. He emphasized the need for diverse residential development, including both single-family and multi-family units, and criticized existing regulatory barriers such as zoning laws, permit costs, and lengthy approval procedures. Thornberg argued that while communities possess the capacity to expand housing supply, political and social will often falls short. Streamlining development processes, he suggested, could unlock significant progress if local governments choose to act.
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San Luis Obispo hosts 2025 Central Coast Economic Forecast
The 2025 Central Coast Economic Forecast event was held on Friday at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. n nThe purpose of the event is to provide data and information to help people understand the local economy and plan for its future. n nAccording to CCEF organizers, more than 600 community leaders attended the event. They heard presentations about the struggles facing the local economy and the solutions that could be implemented. n nSo what ‘s the biggest issue facing our area? n n”Housing,” said Dr. Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics. “We need to build more housing, and I mean all kinds of housing. You need single-family, but you need multi-family as well. These communities have the ability to build the housing that ‘s necessary if they choose. The zoning, the permit fees, the planning processes, all the things that hold up the construction process can be pushed aside. The region can build if it wants to. The biggest problem is it doesn ‘t seem to want to.”