“The state of our city is good,” City Manager of Goleta Michelle Greene told prominent business and community leaders at the 9th Annual State of the City address. “Our dedicated and professional staff is managing a multitude of projects and initiatives to serve our community better. Not only am I proud to lead those efforts, but I’m proud to live in Goleta and to be raising my family here, as well,” said Greene, who was joined by Goleta Mayor Jim Farr on Thursday, May 5, at the Bacara Resort & Spa to update community members about Goleta’s goings-on.
Notable highlights of a thriving economy in Goleta include hundreds of new housing units in Hollister Village; new businesses including Smart & Final, Pascucci, and Nothing Bundt Cakes; and the opening of the Ice in Paradise skating facility and brand-new Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.
“More people are visiting Goleta than ever before,” Greene said of tourism. Hotels in Goleta had a 83 percent occupancy rate in 2015, higher than that of Santa Barbara. “If you build hotels in Goleta, people will come,” Greene said, channeling her best Field of Dreams impression.