Update to Economic Development Strategic Plan Begins

On June 7, 2022, the Paso Robles City Council approved the agreement with Willdan Financial Services for preparation of a 5-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan. The major objective of this project is to build from the City’s Economic Strategy document from 2006 to reflect current and long-term economic development strategies, opportunities, and challenges. The updated Economic Development Strategic Plan will provide the City and community stakeholders with a framework to budget resources and utilize staff capacity to achieve the recommendations of the strategy.

Phase 2 of Spaceport License Application Process Approved

On June 7, 2022, the Paso Robles City Council approved the next phase of the FAA Spaceport license application process with Tartaglia Engineering. A Preliminary Technical Review conducted by Tartaglia Engineering earlier this year found that establishing a licensed Spaceport operation at the Paso Robles Airport is feasible. The efforts identified in this next phase of work are considered essential for the continued forward progress of the Paso Robles Spaceport project. 

Rural Innovation Initiative Kicks-Off

The City of Paso Robles, in partnership with the Hispanic Business Association, was selected to receive fully funded technical assistance through the Center on Rural Innovation's Rural Innovation Initiative.  The project for 2022 has kicked off and will run through the summer. 
The program assists in developing digital economy ecosystems that support scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation for rural communities of color.

REACH Launches CEDS Process

The Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH) has launched the process for creating the central coast's first
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
This process will produce documentation required by the federal government for municipalities to access grants and funding opportunities across a wide range of federal agencies. The REACH 2030 plan is designated to serve as the region’s temporary CEDS until the 18-month CEDS process is complete.  The City of Paso Robles will serve on the steering committee for this project.

Adopted Council Goals 2022-2024

The Paso Robles City Council recently adopted goals for fiscal years 2022-2024, and is in the process of developing a two-year budget to align with those goals. Goal areas come in six categories: Economic Development and Vitality, Infrastructure, Housing and Homelessness, Public Safety, Quality of Life Amenities; and Governance. The proposed budget will come forward to the City Council for adoption in June. View the Adopted Goals for 2022-2024. 

National HVAC Tech Day

With the days heating up, June 22nd is a perfect day for National HVAC Tech Day!  And there's no better time to enter the HVAC field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of HVAC technicians is expected to grow 13% during the next few years, which equals 46,300 new jobs! Check out Cuesta College's  
Online Certified HVAC Technician Training Course.  This course will prepare you to earn NATE or HVAC Excellence certification in under 12 months! 

National Rosé Day

June 11th highlights yet another tasty way to support our local economy!  Vintners in Paso Robles Wine Country produce over 70 wine types, including rosé, perfect for sunny days and summer evenings around a fire with friends. Check out the local Paso Robles wineries that create wonderful rosé wines!  And if you still have any questions, see what the Paso Wine Man has to say! 

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.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps many low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices.

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 Rank High On Google Local Search Results

An important first step in any local SEO strategy is to claim and verify your business’s Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business. The name isn't the only change Google made to this service. In this session you will learn how to manage your Google Business Profile, optimization strategies as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

The 5 Stages of Delegation to Energize Your Business Growth

Owning a business can be rough. With so many ideas and tasks, you could work every night and weekend and still not get everything done. It is so easy to let your personal life, family life, and goals suffer as the demands of your business increase. In this webinar, you will learn how to regain work balance, create freedom and grow your business by delegating your workload and focusing on key tasks.

Small Business Budgeting Made Easy

Having a business budget is key to working effectively as a small business owner and especially if you're running a business with a business partner. In this webinar you will learn why an annual budget is necessary for running and maintaining a small business.

How to Complete a SWOT Analysis - A Step by Step Demonstration

Understanding your business as a whole using a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis will allow you to identify the critical factors of your business and help you create a strategic plan for your business. This webinar will provide a brief overview of a SWOT analysis along with an interactive live demonstration of an actual SWOT analysis.

The Basics of TikTok Digital Marketing

TikTok is just one tool in every smart marketer’s arsenal, but to begin your TikTok journey on the right foot you need to understand TikTok SEO, hashtags, influencers, and how to optimize your profile. In this webinar, you will learn the essentials of TikTok digital marketing such as reputation management, website SEO and paid ads.