EVC Newsletter

October 2016 A Few Words from EVC President Housing Policy Reforms Advanced by Board of Supervisors





When comparing our housing situation against others nationwide, RealtyTrac, a national real estate firm, released a report earlier this year that analyzed the home affordability index throughout the nation against median incomes. This report found that



Earlier this week, a multi-year endeavor to address the challenges of limited housing in San Luis Obispo County came to a critical juncture at a County Board of Supervisors meeting, culminating in the Board advancing of a suite of 8 policy reforms and 2 financing programs that will positively impact these challenges.



The EVC is proud to partner with the SLO Chamber and the Homebuilders Association of the Central Coast to develop and advocate for many of the policy reforms that were moved forward. These policies, when fully implemented, will help speed up the process time and make the approval process more predictable, remove barriers to building smaller units more affordable to the workforce, and identify and zone more land for housing.



Even with this recent success, we will continue to focus our efforts on the housing challenges within our county as it is critical to fostering economic vitality and the health of our communities. Our sincerest gratitude to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the Home Builders Association for their collaborative spirit and willingness to tackle these tough issues alongside us and to the Board of Supervisors and County staff for their leadership and diligence in working to tackle this challenge.



Listen to the October 4th, County Board of Supervisors meeting recording The lack of housing in our county, specifically housing for those in the local workforce is a longstanding issue that is not solved through one single solution. It is complex, has widespread impact, and affects employees, both current and prospective, who struggle to find housing, making it extremely difficult for businesses to recruit and retain talent.When comparing our housing situation against others nationwide, RealtyTrac, a national real estate firm, released a report earlier this year that analyzed the home affordability index throughout the nation against median incomes. This report found that San Luis Obispo County is the 6th most unaffordable place to live in the United States. The report also found that over 90% of average weekly wages are needed to buy the median home price in SLO County.Earlier this week, a multi-year endeavor to address the challenges of limited housing in San Luis Obispo County came to a critical juncture at a County Board of Supervisors meeting, culminating in the Board advancing of a suite of 8 policy reforms and 2 financing programs that will positively impact these challenges.The EVC is proud to partner with the SLO Chamber and the Homebuilders Association of the Central Coast to develop and advocate for many of the policy reforms that were moved forward. These policies, when fully implemented, will help speed up the process time and make the approval process more predictable, remove barriers to building smaller units more affordable to the workforce, and identify and zone more land for housing.Even with this recent success, we will continue to focus our efforts on the housing challenges within our county as it is critical to fostering economic vitality and the health of our communities. Our sincerest gratitude to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the Home Builders Association for their collaborative spirit and willingness to tackle these tough issues alongside us and to the Board of Supervisors and County staff for their leadership and diligence in working to tackle this challenge.Listen to the October 4th, County Board of Supervisors meeting recording here.



Sincerely,

MICHAEL E. MANCHAK

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Learn More 40 under 40 Awards Congratulations to EVC's Economic Development Director, Melissa James!



View full list This award honors the brightest minds under forty years old in the Tri-County area. The Pacific Coast Business Times held an event on September 12, 2016, honoring these individuals who have a powerful impact on our community. Economic News

6 SLO County Companies Make Inc. Magazine's 5000 Fastest 'Growing-Companies' List

By Joe Johnston, The Tribune, September 1, 2016



Read More Inc. magazine’s 5000 list recognized six local companies for being among “the fastest-growing private companies in America.” One of them, San Luis Obispo-based Land Gorilla, ranked on the Inc's top 500 list.



Work on New SLO County Airport Terminal Nearly Halfway Done

By David Middlecamp, The Tribune, September 13, 2016



Read More A $35.4 million project to replace the decades-old passenger terminal at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is about 40 percent complete, with a new, four-gate terminal anticipated to open in late summer or early fall 2017.



iFixit's Wiens Wants to Help the World Repair Itself

By Phillip Joens, Pacific Coast Business Times, September 16, 2016



Read More “It was just a way to pay our way through school,” Wiens said. “When we graduated, we figured, we’d shut it down and start a real business and our customers talked us out of it. They said ‘you created everything we need to do repairs. You have the tools, information and the parts."



When a Nuclear Plant Closes, a Community Suffers. Here's How We Can Change That.

By John Mullin, Laura Sibilia and Jennifer Stromsten, The Tribune, October 1, 2016



Read More The foreseeable losses from plant closures are substantial enough to merit major planning efforts. Economic impact studies forecast the nature and scale of losses, but it's not clear what to do next to prepare, beyond bracing for the worst and slashing budgets.



'Funk Zone,' More Housing Make City's Wish List for Downtown SLO

By Joe Johnston, The Tribune, October 6, 2016



Read More Looking ahead 25 years at what San Luis Obispo’s downtown core may look like, the City Council and members of its Planning Commission weighed in on a draft of the Downtown Concept Plan that includes adding more infill housing and parking structures.



SLO County Formulating Plan to Encourage Affordable Housing

By Alex Kacik, Pacific Coast Business Times, October 7, 2016



Read More Possibly the biggest challenge facing SLO County employers is being able to attract and retain talented workers, said Melissa James of the Economic Vitality Corp. of San Luis Obispo County, which helped craft the recommendations. Central Coast Events FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES AWARD

October 13th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM



More info Deckers Outdoor Corp. Rotunda, Santa Barbara



TEDx CAL POLY



Currently SOLD OUT - Visit website to join mailing list for upcoming events.

More info October 21stCurrently SOLD OUT - Visit website to join mailing list for upcoming events.



TECH BREW



Moxie Cafe, Santa Maria

More info October 24th, 5:00 - 7:00 PMMoxie Cafe, Santa Maria



MIT ENTERPRISE FORUM

October 26th, 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Ctr., Santa Barbara

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CENTRAL COAST ECONOMIC FORECAST



Madonna Expo Center, SLO

More info November 4th, 8:30 - 11:30 AM (Breakfast served at 7:30 AM)Madonna Expo Center, SLO



SLO HOTHOUSE GRAND OPENING

November 15th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

SLO HotHouse, SLO

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CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT

December 13-14th, 2016

Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento

More info December 13-14th, 2016Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento