May 4, 2005

Economic Outlook for North Santa Barbara County Topic of May 13 UCSB Seminar in Santa Maria

Stanley Weinstein

The Economic Forecast Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara will present its annual seminar on the outlook for North Santa Barbara County's economy on Friday, May 13.

Speakers at the half-day program will review the performance of the local, state, and national economies in 2004 and offer their views on the outlook for the North County's economy in 2005. The UCSB North Santa Barbara County Economic Forecast Seminar will be held at the Marian Theatre on the campus of Allan Hancock College, 800 South College Drive, Santa Maria. Registration and breakfast begin at 7 a.m. The speaking program begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The UCSB Economic Forecast Project is a research unit that provides regional economic data, analysis, and forecasts to the community. Featured speakers at the seminar include:

· William Watkins, executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project and a former research economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., who will present the North Santa Barbara County economic review and forecast.

· Dan Walters, a syndicated columnist whose work appears in more than 50 California newspapers. His talk is titled:

"Arnie Goes to War."

· Tom Nassif, president and CEO of the Western Growers Association. His talk is titled: "The California Produce Industry: Current and Future Perspectives."

Admission to the seminar is $75 per person and includes a copy of The 2005 North Santa Barbara County Economic Outlook, a book and accompanying CD featuring comprehensive data and analysis. (The volume can be purchased separately for $68.76, including shipping.) To register for the seminar, or for more information, contact the UCSB Economic Forecast Project by phone, (805) 893-5159, or visit its web site at www.ucsb-efp.com.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.