Wake Up Paso!

The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce will be holding their next Wake Up Paso event 8:30-9:30AM October 27.

"Paso Robles: The Nation's Next Spaceport?"
The next decade will be transformative for U.S. commercial and defense space capabilities. This presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on the growing commercial space industry activities and bring awareness to our region. Hear from Mayor Steve Martin, and Paso Robles Airport Commissioner, Bill Britton, as they delve into a possible future for the Paso Robles Airport: the space industry!

"What's on the Drawing Board?"
Our community continues to grow and thrive despite changes and challenges. Exciting projects are on the horizon and Warren Frace, Community Development Director for the City of Paso Robles, will share what's on the drawing board for our city.

Find more Wake Up Paso event details and register to attend HERE.

Mayor Martin Visits Camp Roberts

Mayor Steve Martin recently participated in a site visit to Camp Roberts along with representatives from the offices of Congressman Salud Carbajal and Senator John Laird.
Included in the visit were tours of the base's waste treatment facilities, SATCOM, Naval Postgraduate School, and the upgraded barracks facilities. Mayor Martin also had the opportunity to tour the Cal Guard Air Traffic Control Center and discuss potential areas of collaboration related to a potential Paso Spaceport.

Paso Chamber Letter of Support

President and CEO of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Gina Fitzpatrick, presented a Letter of Support to City of Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin on behalf of the Chamber Board of Directors in support of the City’s application and proposal to the FAA for the Paso Robles Airport to become a licensed U.S. Air & Spaceport. 

First Michelin Star in Paso Robles

Paso's notoriety as a food and wine destination takes a giant leap forward with Six Test Kitchen being awarded a highly desirable Michelin Star rating, becoming the first restaurant in SLO County to earn this exclusive international distinction.  "A multiple-course tasting menu is on the books, evolving with and inspired by the seasons of the Central Coast. Diners will be riveted from start to finish..." notes the guide.  

Skilled Labor Training in SLO County

Economic Development Manager, Paul Sloan, recently visited the training facilities of Local 403 in San Luis Obispo to discuss professional workforce development opportunities offered by the Local. Since 1941 Local 403 has continuously represented Plumbers, Steam Fitters, Pipefitters, Welders and  HVACR Service Technicians in SLO County and offers apprenticeships, Journeyman upgrade training, competitive wages and benefits that set the standard in the industry.

Women's Small Business Month

Did you know that October is National Women's Small Business Month?  The SBA has resources to help women entrepreneurs start, grow, expand and recover businesses. 

North County Job Boards

Looking for work or looking to hire staff? 
Here are two North County Job Boards listing a wide range of available positions:

• Visit SLO CAL North County Job Board
  
  
• Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Job Board

The "Pipeline" Report

Check out the numerous projects in process in our community.  The City of Paso Robles Community Development Department publishes The "Pipeline" Report with the status of Planning Entitlements and Building permits throughout the City. Click here to learn more.

Cal Poly Extension Tech Bootcamps

Powered by award-winning Fullstack Academy, the Cal Poly Extended Education Tech Bootcamps provide condensed, immersive programs taught by industry experts in convenient 100% live, online formats.
Bootcamp graduates leave ready for lucrative high-tech careers.  There’s no experience required to apply, be accepted, or succeed.

Choose Your Next Career

New skills bring new opportunities, and SLO Partners offers professional training programs in high demand areas including:

• Digital Marketing
• Web Development
• Precision Manufacturing
• Cyber Security

Professional Bookkeeping

This online course bundle covers all the essential areas of bookkeeping and payroll management.  Once you complete this course, you will understand how to get your finances in order and be prepared for the QuickBooks Certified User Exam. You will also be ready to pass the Fundamental Payroll Certification exam, developed by the American Payroll Association.  This course is designed to prepare you for an entry-level position as a full-charge bookkeeper.

Commercial Driver Training

The Commercial Driver Training course will teach you the skills you need to start a career as a commercial truck driver. You will learn about transporting cargo, operating commercial vehicles, and handling hazardous materials. You will also gain workplace preparedness soft skills, which increase your employability to prospect employers. When you finish this course, you will be prepared to sit for and pass your state's Commercial Drivers' License written exam.

Manual Machinist

Manufacturers are looking for highly skilled workers to create increasingly complex and important products. If you're looking for a stable career in a growing industry, becoming a manual machinist could be the best option for you. This online Manual Machinist course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to prove competency and begin your new career quickly. You will learn workholding, math, inspection, safety, machining, materials, quality, grinding, and assembly to work as a Manual Machinist.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Program

The Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Program with Local Union #403 is a five (5) year training program. Apprentices earn while they learn, working on the job with Journeymen.  The beginning apprentice wage starts at $21.10 per hour with a package rate (benefits included) of $25.81 per hour. As of September 1, 2018, the Journeyman wage is $46.88 per hour with a package rate (benefits included) of $74.30 per hour.  
For information on additional programs visit https://www.pipecareers.com/

Workforce Development Support

JobNow and VetNow programs offer learning, career, and veteran support tools, such as resume and writing labs and an extensive list of resources, in addition to in-person support, such as live job coaching, live veteran benefits eligibility, and live tutoring.  An Unemployment Benefits Navigator has recently been added to JobNow to assist patrons struggling to file for unemployment benefits. Find out more at the Paso Robles City Library.

Southland EDC

The Southland Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit Certified Development Company chartered to assist the small business community of California since 1980. Their mission is to be a resource to local small businesses in an effort to foster job creation and retention through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program.

Small Business Tax Credit Programs

The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to $7,000 per employee per quarter. This credit of up to $28,000 per employee for 2021 is available to small businesses who have seen their revenues decline due to COVID.

Loan Guarantee Program

The Small Business Loan Guarantee program helps businesses create and retain jobs, and encourages investment in low- to moderate-income communities. The program promotes statewide economic development by increasing opportunities for entrepreneurs, the self-employed, microbusiness and small business owners to have better access to capital and other technical resources.

Emergency Broadband Benefit

Low-income households who qualify can apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit program to get online. The program provides $3.2 billion to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide a $50 monthly discount on in-home broadband service for eligible households, as well as a one-time $100 discount on a laptop, desktop, or tablet computer for those same qualifying households. 

SBA COVID-19 Relief Options

Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.  COVID-19 portal

How To Apply for a Business License

Find out how to apply for a business license, including fees, taxes, and other required permits and forms.  The Department of Administrative Services is responsible for providing service to the general public, business license applicants and each existing licensee. Our objective is to assist each business in obtaining the proper business license and/or permit and to ensure proper compliance to the business license code for all businesses transacting business within the city.  

City Website Business Tools  

The City has recently updated the Economic Development section on the City website.  Details on related programs along with specialized business development tools can be found in this section, including tools for Business Data, Smart Mapping, Demographic Data, Talent Pool, Opportunity Zone, Community Profile, and links for researching commercial property listings.

THE SANDBOX Paso Robles

THE SANDBOX Paso Robles is a co-working, shared office & event space offering a variety of dedicated and private desks and offices as well as meeting spaces that are perfect for remote workers, entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, freelancers and more.

Showcase Your Business and Products to Shoppers Online

To help your business stand out this holiday season, this workshop offers strategies for building your online presence to reach new customers, optimizing your e-commerce site, and shows you how to list your products on Google. Plus, we’ll walk through how to set up an ad campaign just in time for the holiday shopping season.*
*This webinar is a viewing party for a Google hosted workshop, presented by the Cal Poly CIE SBDC. 
Date: October 20, 2021

Starting an E-Commerce Business from Scratch on Shopify

Let's get started on your business! Whether you are just starting off, or looking to get started, this webinar is for you. Join E-Commerce Expert, Steve Kesselring, who will cover tips and tricks for building your business on the Shopify platform. Date: October 21, 2021

2021 Year-End Tax Planning

In the final quarter of this challenging year, there is still time to take actions that can favorably impact your bottom line and your tax bill for 2021. Whether you work with a CPA or go it alone, learn which tax breaks apply to you and how to nail them down now before times runs out.
Date: November 04, 2021

How to Ace Your Customer Service During the Holiday Rush

Naturally, acing customer service during this coming holiday season is crucial for many businesses, as providing good service can keep loyal customers coming back. So, to help you enhance your customer service during this year's holiday rush, we'll share five tips to nail customer expectations

How to Create a Mission Statement and Why Startups Need One

So, does your business have a mission statement? It’s okay if the answer is “no” or “it’s a draft in progress.” Creating a mission statement for your startup takes a bit of time and thought. Let’s help take this draft and turn it into a mission statement that clearly communicates the purpose of your startup and what your organization brings to the table.