Resources
Business Resources Network
San Luis Obispo County is a great place for business. The EVC believes that the creation of a vibrant, balanced, and diversified economy should benefit all individuals and businesses. To help achieve this, the EVC, through is its Business Outreach Services Program (BOSP), provides an inventory of programs and services that make up the broader economic development system in San Luis Obispo County.
Our goal is to provide or list a range of services that businesses and entrepreneurs can use.
A services key legend has been provided to assist you in easily identifying the scope of services provided by each support organization.
The legend is divided into three categories:
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Employer Services
(Job Placement, Recruitment and Retention, and Workforce Training)
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Business Services
(Technical Assistance and/or Business Counseling/Training)
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Business Development (Start-ups/Students/Entrepreneurs)
(Networking, Student Career Counseling, Access to Capital, Workshops, Start-up Counseling and Mentoring)
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Economic Vitality Corporation
The EVC mission is to stimulate the economic vitality of San Luis Obispo County, generate jobs, increase investment in the community and promote the start-up, growth and attraction of businesses."
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Contact: |
(805) 788-2012
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Location: |
735 Tank Farm Road, Suite 264
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 |
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With such resources as the Central Coast Capital Network, EVC helps entrepreneurs with access to capital from venture capitalists and angel investors.
EVC has two business loan programs for micro loans and loan guarantees to help businesses start and expand. Our in-house expertise can also help guide clients to determine options for bank loans. For more information call Michael Manchak at (805) 788-2012 or info@sloevc.org.
EVC serves as an advocate to business with contacts and resources. Thanks to involvement by local elected officials from the County and each city on its Board of Directors, EVC has a close and positive working relationship with local government.
International Trade consultation and training courses are one of many resources that help businesses with importing and exporting in an increasingly competitive and integrated world.
The EVC works closely with its partners to provide businesses with key information about the local economy.
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Business & Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College
The mission of the Business & Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College is to assist businesses and industry sectors in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, North Los Angeles Counties and surrounding areas to retain, or expand their businesses, thus strengthening the local economy, increasing wealth and quality of life.
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Contact: |
Israel Dominguez, Director
(805) 546-3100
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Business and Career One-Stop Centers of SLO County
The Business and Career One-Stop Center system provides services for residents of San Luis Obispo County by meeting the needs of employers and those seeking jobs, education, and training.
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Kathy Marcove, Employment Services Manager
(805) 903-1400
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California Central Coast Research Partnership, Cal Poly
The mission of the California Central Coast Research Partnership (C3RP) is to facilitate collaboration between Cal Poly and business/industry by acting as the interface between the university and interested collaborators.
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Contact: |
Jim Dunning, Program Manager
(805) 756-5551
jdunning@calpoly.edu www.c3rp.org |
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Career Connection, Cuesta CollegeThe mission of the Career Connections department at Cuesta College is to provide both students and the general public the tools and the skills necessary to find appropriate work placements. To this end, Career Connections provides Cuesta College students with job search portfolio assistance, a Job Search database of local jobs, internships, and Work Study positions, workshops and opportunities to earn credit for working. |
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Hunter Perry
(805) 546-3204
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Career Services, Cal PolyCareer Services empowers Cal Poly students to achieve a lifetime of meaningful career success. |
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Martin Shibata, Director
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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cal PolyThe Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship seeks to transform motivated students into resourceful, entrepreneurial and innovative leaders through classroom and hands-on experiences |
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Thea Chase, Managing Director
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HotHouse
Attract and support the most vibrant talent and promising innovators and entrepreneurs in an effort to build a unique and passionate startup culture in San Luis Obispo.
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Mary Kelting
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Institute for Professional Development
Institute for Professional Development (IPD), Cuesta College, provides training, consulting and facilitation to local businesses, agencies both private and public. The Institute specializes in designing industry specific curriculum for companies that is directly targeted to provide solutions and results.
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Contact: |
Matthew Green, Director
(805) 546-3100
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Mission Community Services Corporation
Mission Community Services Corporation is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for potential entrepreneurs and small business owners to become self-sustaining, successful contributors to their communities.
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Contact: |
David Ryal, Interim Executive Director
(805) 595-1357
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North County Business Resource Center
Combine and unify the private and public sector efforts toward the economic development and vitality of North San Luis Obispo County. Leverage and maximize existing resources for educating and training entrepreneurs and small business owners, to ensure a strong business community.
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| Contact: |
Pam Avila, Director
(805) 238-0506
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1225 Park Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
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PathPointPathPoint’s mission is to provide comprehensive training and support services that empower people with disabilities and disadvantages to live and work as valued members of our communities. |
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Aline Graham, Director
(805) 782-8890
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Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE)
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. Working and retired executives and business owners donate their time and expertise to provide confidential counseling and mentoring free of charge to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.
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Contact: |
Lorna Whiteaker, Workshop Facilitator
(805) 547-0779
info@sloscore.org www.sloscore.org |
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Slow Money San Luis Obispo
As a part of the national, non-profit Slow Money mission to encourage local investment in small food and farm enterprises, the Slow Money SLO chapter connects local agripreneurs in need of support to individuals who are interested in knowing where their money is invested and building the availability of quality food. Investors, business owners and supporters attend Slow Money gatherings and meet organic and sustainable food business owners, All financial arrangements are between the borrower and the individuals who choose to support them.
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Jeff Wade
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SLO Seed VenturesSLO Seed Ventures provides needed resources for start-ups. Resources for start-ups consist of more than seed funding with experience teaching that relationships, business advice and mentoring are often just as critical as money in the early stages of a start-up. |
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Jo Anne H. Miller
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Small Business Development Center, Cal Poly
The Cal Poly SBDC for Innovation provides technology entrepreneurs and small businesses with high quality education, consulting, support for innovation, access to information, and tools necessary to build successful, sustainable businesses.
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Thea Chase, Director (805) 756-5171 info-sbdc@calpoly.edu www.sbdc.calpoly.edu |
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Shoreline Workforce Development Services a division of Goodwill IndustriesShoreline provides workforce development services designed to assist people with barriers to employment. Services include evaluation, situational assessment, vocational exploration, classroom and on-the-job training programs, placement assistance and supported employment. Shoreline is the operator of the Business and Career One-Stop centers in San Luis Obispo County. |
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Kathy Marcove, Employment Services Manager
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Spokes
Building on 15 years of service and support for nonprofit organizations throughout the Central Coast, Spokes is inspired by a vision where our local nonprofit sector has the skills and organizational capacity it needs to dramatically improve the health and vitality of our shared community. Spokes offers several workshops, roundtables and certificate series throughout the year. Each is designed to help participants develop their professional and leadership skills. Workshop topics address key management functions including Fund Development, Budgeting, Board Management, Program Implementation, Marketing and Public Relations, and Risk Management.
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| Contact: |
Lesley Santos Dierks, CEO
(805) 547-2244
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3765 S. Higuera, Suite 140
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 |
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Workforce Investment BoardTo implement the Workforce Investment Act by leveraging community resources and being a catalyst for workforce development contributing to a healthy economy in San Luis Obispo County. |
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Sandra Hernandez, Administrative Assistant
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880 Industrial Way San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 MAP |
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| * The Business Outreach Services Program is funded by the Workforce Investment Board of San Luis Obispo County. The WIB is an advisory body to the County Board of Supervisors. The WIB does not provide any direct services. |
Business Outreach
Connecting with the County’s businesses is an important part of the EVC’s Business Outreach Services Program. One of the ways we make those connections is through meetings with individual business leaders to learn more about their companies and the issues they face.
During the meeting, we will ask questions to help us better understand the company's products or services, as well as their needs or challenges. This will help us to provide information on supportive resources and to better understand the county’s economic needs and assets overall. Meetings have varied in length from about 45 minutes to an hour or so.
To schedule a business outreach visit, contact Andrew Moreno, Project Manager, at (805) 788-2028 or amoreno@sloevc.org.
