In the second session of the Legislative Council's "Lunch with an Elected" program, District 3 Supervisor Hill discussed the budding economic development strategy currently being formulated, the proposed one-stop homeless shelter in the city of San Luis Obispo, and the county's growing pension liabilities. 

The Board of Supervisors has been pursuing a "fairly ambitious agenda" to create an economic development strategy for the county. Hill and fellow Supervisor Frank Mecham have made this one of their top priorities.  
 
"We really want to work toward a long-term vision - this is not any kind of response to the current recession," Hill said. "We need to create more jobs, better paying jobs and more competition between companies."

For the first time ever, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce is opening its websites up to businesses looking for new promotional opportunities. 

With direction from the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and the Technology Advocacy Committee, the Chamber’s new advertising program allows for its members to place static advertisements in three different spots on three of the SLO Chamber’s highly trafficked websites (visitslo.com, slochamber.org, and slo-business.com). 

"Studies show that when businesses are associated with Chambers of Commerce, people are more likely to think favorably of that business," said SLO Chamber President Dave Garth. "So this is a great opportunity for our members to not only gain exposure by advertising online, but to also further associate themselves with one of the most trusted brands in the country."

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Advocacy Committee (TAC) released its bi-annual, online Technology Survey on June 8 to gauge current trends, needs and issues facing the Central Coast technology community.

The TAC encourages anyone who uses technology in the workplace to take the survey and provide thoughtful feedback. The online survey can be taken at slochamber.org or by clicking here, and should only take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous.

Year after year, the survey results have proved to play a key role in shaping public policy and enacting change that enhances the Central Coast’s technology industry. The SLO Chamber and other organizations use the survey results to better understand and provide solutions for the challenges faced by local tech companies.

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery Solutions are launching a new website to help small businesses develop an emergency preparedness plan before disaster hits, and reminding homeowners and renters to plan ahead as well.  

"Regardless of where you live, it's a good idea to be ready for any kind of crisis," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "Every threat, from wind storms, floods, wildfires and earthquakes, to power outages and computer system failures, reminds us to be proactive when it comes to building strategies to survive a disaster and recover quickly. Recent disaster events demonstrate the need for preparedness to reduce the risk to life and property."

In an effort to encourage businesses to plan ahead, the SBA has teamed with Agility Recovery Solutions, a firm that has provided business continuity and disaster recovery tools to small companies for 21 years. Today the SBA and Agility launched the Prepare My Business website.

After more than a year of planning, a San Luis Obispo-based business angel capital organization that mentors and funds early-stage technology companies has launched.

SLO Seed Ventures is partnering with Innovation Quest to host its first invitational boot camp starting on June 25.

Up to nine early-stage companies will be selected to participate based on applications submitted on the SLO Seed Ventures website by June 10.

Upon completion of the boot camp, SLO Seed Ventures will evaluate the companies for first-year funding in the $5,000-15,000 range and continue mentoring the selected companies.

With ridership steadily dropping and funding drying up, the city council last night decided to temporarily suspend the four-day-a-week trolley service that connects downtown with the Monterey Street motels.

It costs the city about $30,000 annually to run the service and there are now only about 20,000 riders per year who use it. After fare-box income, it loses about $23,000 per year.

The council asked staff to see if alternative sources of funding could be found. Until then, beginning Sept. 1 of this year, the trolley will stop running Fridays through Sundays, but will continue to run on Thursdays from 3:30 - 9 p.m.

Where did the Measure Y money go? How has San Luis Obispo really changed in the last 15 years? How can businesses prepare for the summer season, which brings with it a rise in transients?

SLO Chamber members can get all these answers and more at May's Good Morning San Luis Obispo on Thursday at Grace Church, on the corner of Pismo and Osos streets in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Something new this month: Doors open at 7 a.m. for networking and mingling, while the program begins at 7:30 a.m.

To register and pay with Visa, MasterCard and American Express, please click here.