UCSB Economic Forecast

According to the recent UCSB Economic Forecast Project, the economic picture for the Santa Ynez Valley area is looking great with growth at or above 3 percent through 2009.

“We expect the valley’s average economic growth rate to dramatically exceed that of the United States, California and Santa Barbara County,” said Bill Watkins, the project’s executive director, in his forecast.

While tourism is expected to lead the area’s growth, the Chumash Casino and the burgeoning wine industry are expected to make major contributions, according to the forecast.

Watkins also noted that, “There is no trend of increasing crime in the Santa Ynez Valley and the valley has very low crime rates, the lowest in Santa Barbara County”.

Hmmm… I can just picture all the blinders and earplugs being put into place by the Tribal opponents.