2009 Economic Outlook for Santa Barbara County Topic of April 23 UCSB Seminar at the Granada Theater

The prospects for Santa Barbara County's economy in the year ahead will be the topic of a special half-day seminar to be presented by the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project on Thursday, April 23, at the Granada Theater, 1216 State Street, Santa Barbara. Registration and breakfast begin at 7 a.m.; the program begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 11 a.m.

The UCSB Economic Forecast Project is a research unit that provides regional, state, and national economic data, analysis, and forecasts.

The April 23 program will include presentations by these featured speakers:

· Bill Watkins, Ph.D., executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project and a former research economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.: "The Santa Barbara County Economic Review and Forecast"

· Dan Walters, syndicated newspaper columnist: "State of the State"

· Kirk Lesh, real estate economist, UCSB Economic Forecast Project: "Real Estate Outlook for 2009"

In addition, Allan H. Meltzer, a professor of political economy and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, will discuss current economic and political events in an interview with Henry Dubroff, editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times.

Admission to the seminar is $175 per person until April 10 and $200 per person after that date. The registration fee includes a copy of "The 2009 Santa Barbara County Economic Outlook" publication. To register, or for information, visit the UCSB Economic Forecast Project on the Web at www.ucsb-efp.com, or call (805) 893-5159.