Paso Robles 2Q Sales Tax Highlights

Paso Robles’ receipts from April through June were 28.2% above the second sales period in 2020. Excluding reporting aberrations, actual sales were up 35.5% compared to the pandemic bottom last year. Overall, revenue was $581,000, or 21.4%, higher compared to two years before, in the second quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 crisis began.  Read the report HERE.

Restaurant Month is Returning!

SLO CAL Restaurant Month is returning this January 2022!  As always, this event is free to all SLO CAL restaurants to participate and gives partners an opportunity for added exposure on their social channels, editorial pushes and advertising. Register now to help Restaurant Month be a success.

November Proclaimed 
National Entrepreneurship Month

Every day, American entrepreneurs combine passion, resilience, and ingenuity to solve hard problems and create products and businesses that improve our lives.  American entrepreneurs create and scale new technologies, products, and services.  They build businesses and, in some cases, entire industries.  Their work helps grow our economy, creates good jobs, and increases our prosperity.  Read the Presidential Proclamation HERE.

November 27 is Small Biz Saturday

Mark your calendars! Get your holiday marketing plan together now for a successful holiday season.  According to Mastercard, Deloitte, and Bain's forecasts, holiday sales this year will grow at least 7% on last year's sales to roughly $800 billion. Discover five strategies to help you maximize your sales revenue this holiday season. 

Business Assistance for
Veteran Entrepreneurs

Veterans make up only 8% of the US population, but they’re twice as likely to own a business as their civilian counterparts. SCORE resources and mentors help veterans starting a small business capitalize on their military experience.

Innovation Ecosystem Summit 2021

Join the SBA for the first Innovation Ecosystem Summit, taking place virtually on November 15-17, 2021. This summit aims to help you learn from and connect with entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) in the STEM/R&D space.

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.

Entrepreneurship: Start-Up and Business Owner Management

Delve into the world of entrepreneurship, from generating an idea to writing a business plan. In this course, you will refine your startup idea as you prepare for the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification. You will learn all business areas of an entrepreneurship venture, such as legal structure and requirements, funding sources, intellectual property law, operations, marketing, advertising, and finances. By course completion, you will create a comprehensive business plan to get your startup idea off the ground and into the market.

Catering Professional

The Catering Professional course at Cuesta College provides the foundational skills needed for a career in the catering and events industry by teaching the elements of catering services, overseeing events and functions and collaborating with other catering services. This course will also demonstrate best practices for marketing a catering business, preparing and executing contracts, human resources, and applying basic accounting principles. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Navigating Your Small Business through Financial Milestones

Small Businesses face different financial challenges throughout each life stage of their business. From initial startup investments to deciding when is the right time to hire employees, business owners are constantly evaluating the impact of financial decisions. Join financial expert from U.S. Bank, Nadine Seivert, as she discusses these topics.  Date: November 18, 2021

Work Smarter Not Harder

Everyone knows they’re supposed to work “smarter” not harder, but how do you actually get yourself to do this with an overfull to-do list that goes on for pages? Join this webinar, presented by Wall Street Journal bestselling author of SCALE David Finkel, to learn tangible ways to implement this strategy into your business and make a difference today. Date: November 30, 2021

Win Customers with Your Website

How do you set your website up to win over customers? Your website has to attract and engage visitors, educate them about your products and services, and convert them into customers. Success begins with a plan! This webinar, presented by Co-Founder of Cardsetter Jessica Baldwin, will show you the key elements your website needs to succeed. Date: December 02, 2021

Cyber Security for Small Business

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, important for any small business that uses technology. Bill Britton, cyber security expert with more than 25 years of IT and cyber security involvement, will explain the most common cyber threats and counter defense tools and how to keep your credentials secure, and reduce risk for your company.

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.