Spaceport Project Completes Preliminary Technical Review

Tartaglia Engineering has completed the Preliminary Technical Review of the proposed Spaceport project currently under consideration in Paso Robles.  This phase included airfield analysis and capabilities of existing runway and taxiway geometry, integrity, and structural strength, as well as air corridor review for compatibility. 
The report states, "Adding a space port designation (to the airport) should not disrupt current operations, but instead, augment reasonable regional economic growth as a future player within the growing commercial space industry." Many technical steps are still to be completed and the Proposed Licensing Schedule estimates that a site license could potentially be issued by June, 2024.

Cal Poly ‘CubeSats’ inducted into Space Technology Hall of Fame 

CubeSats, the mini satellite technology co-created at Cal Poly, will be inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame during the 37th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs April 4-7. "Prior to the CubeSat, satellites were massive creations that were expensive to launch. As a result, only a few space organizations could create them. Since then, CubeSats have become a regular feature of important space missions and developments, including the recent Mars Insight rover and the Planetary Society’s LightSail projects. CubeSats are also regularly launched from the International Space Station. And it all began with Cal Poly."  It is CubeSat technology that is driving demand for spaceports and may lead to a spaceport designation at the Paso Robles airport.

Women's Business Summit 2022

In celebration of Women’s History Month, join the SBA's Office of Women’s Business Ownership and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center for the virtual Women’s Business Summit on March 29-30, 2022. The free event will include power-packed panels, inspirational fireside chats, and 'Ask an Expert' workshops to help you build, scale, and grow your business.

Paso Leaders Attend JIFX at Camp Roberts Naval Postgraduate School

Mayor Martin and Councilmember Hamon attended JIFX (Joint Interagency Field Experimentation) as part of a delegation organized by REACH (Regional Economic Action Coalition) along with a number of tech company executives exploring potential tech opportunities for Paso Robles. JIFX is held quarterly at the Naval Postgraduate School located at Camp Roberts and serves as a testing ground and showcase for next generation technologies.  "More than 300 leading technology experts from private industry, top universities, military and government agencies converged at NPS’ Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) to explore new ways to adapt rapidly changing technologies to a host of DOD-relevant domains, including defense support to civil authorities, autonomous systems, geospatial intelligence and cybersecurity."

Paso Commons Business Park Releases New Promotional Video

Paso Commons has released a new promotional video highlighting advantages and benefits for businesses considering relocating to Paso Robles, including transportation, quality of life, and cost of living compared to urban areas of the state.  The video features cameo appearances by several local businesses including Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Trust Automation, Inspired Flight Technologies, and Booker Winery, among others. Paso Commons is a master-planned industrial campus proposed for Wisteria Lane, stretching across 22 acres with a focus on attracting headquarters for industrial companies, high-tech manufacturing/R&D, wine-related businesses, and e-commerce.  

RFP: Economic Development 5-Year Strategic Plan

The City of Paso Robles is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms to provide professional services to the City to facilitate a comprehensive public process and prepare a 5-year Economic Development Strategic Plan. This strategic plan is expected to identify and recommend specific implementation actions that the City should take to achieve long-term growth of head-of-household jobs, leverage the strengths of the tourism industry, and promote economic diversification within the community. The successful bidder will work closely with Economic Development staff and community partners to develop goals and objectives with achievable strategies.

Interested parties are invited to submit a proposal via email to Paul Sloan (psloan@prcity.com) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022.

March 29th is National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day!

"Our economy couldn’t run without small mom and pop businesses. They create economic growth and provide almost 70% of all new jobs in the country. That’s why every year on March 29 we acknowledge the more than 27 million small businesses in this country by celebrating National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day!" Make a commitment to shop local and support small businesses in our community!

The City of Paso is Hiring!

You can now apply online by clicking on the job title you are interested in and clicking on the "Apply" link.  After viewing the Job Description, click the 'Apply' tab.  After your account has been established, you can import your resume from LinkedIn, upload it from a saved document on your computer, or manually enter your personal information.  Visit the City Career Pages to learn more!

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:

• Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Classifieds
  
  
• 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.

Career Training Programs

Online courses and career training programs prepare you for a new career, or help you advance within your current occupation. Learn new skills and prepare for industry-recognized certifications.

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/

New Tools Added to Library’s Employment Resources

With funding from the California State Library, the Paso Robles City Library is pleased to make available several new tools from some of the top online learning companies to help library users with job training, skill building, test preparations and professional development.

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.

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 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.

Public Mapping Applications

The City IT department has been hard at work developing and implementing the City’s new ArcGIS Enterprise system. This new platform will replace ArcReader and has allowed for the development of both public and staff GIS desktop and mobile applications. There are a number of applications already being utilized with additional functionality and layer content on the way.  Visit the City website and take the new mapping tools for a spin!

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.

How To Begin Your Business

READY? SET. GO!  Starting a business of your own is exciting but we bet you have lots of questions. If you are thinking of starting a business, or have just started one, this workshop is a perfect fit. Topics covered will include the fundamentals of getting started, business operation basics, business plans, and how to use and understand financial reports.  Date:  March 17, 2022

3 Tax Saving Secrets Every Company Needs to Know Today!

In this webinar, we'll cover how to check if you qualify for the Employee Retention Tax Credit BEFORE it expires at the end of the year, without doing a ton of research yourself.  We’ll even show you insider secrets on how to select the ideal tax credit & incentive expert for your unique situation!  Date:  March 17, 2022

A Roadmap to Making Your Big Business Decisions

The average adult makes approximately 35,000 decisions per day. While not all of those decisions are earth-shattering, we all face difficult decisions at some point in our lives. Making those decisions can be agonizing, especially when the stakes are high and the outcome is uncertain.  If you’ve ever struggled to make a tough decision, this presentation will show you how you can use the science of decision-making to end your struggle and make better decisions.  Date:  March 21, 2022

How Pickup and Drop-Off Make a Difference to Your Bottom Line

You’ve given careful planning and consideration to every part of your online shopping experience and the costs associated with each one, from driving customers to your website to using a seamless checkout process, fulfilling orders efficiently and offering affordable shipping options. But your control over costs doesn’t end there – the way you package and tender each shipment can also make a difference to your bottom line.  Date:  March 24, 2022

How to Get an Investor to Chase You - Understanding the Investing Game

Building your business sometimes takes more than just smarts and hard work - it takes money. What do investors look for? Where do I find them? What are the do's and don'ts when approaching investors? What are the upsides and downsides of taking on investment?  This informative webinar will break down how the investor game is played and won.  Date:  Apr 5, 2022

Be Your Own Boss: How Women Can Climb the Entrepreneurship Ladder

Starting a business is stressful and challenging for many business owners, and women entrepreneurs face challenges their male counterparts don’t. However, that doesn’t mean women shouldn’t start businesses—far from it!  This guide discusses the history of women business owners, tips for success, and unique obstacles women entrepreneurs face.