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Placing a greater emphasis on economic development, beautifying downtown and becoming a center of sustainable business leadership are the recommendations from the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce as the city develops priorities that will guide the development of the 2009-2011 city budget.
The Chamber submitted the recommended priorities in writing, participated in a forum to gather public input Jan. 15 and will continue to push for the adoption of the goals as the budget process progresses throughout the spring. Read details on the recommendations below, see the letter submitted to the city and watch an abbreviated slideshow on downtown beautification that was presented to numerous city boards, including the City Council.
The recommendations represent long-term investments in our quality of life, which the Chamber believes is critical at a time when the City is facing economic uncertainty, declining revenues and likely state takeaways. We believe that with city leadership this current economic crisis presents an opportunity for us to move toward a true 21st-century local economy.
- Greater emphasis on Economic Development
Why
- The new economic realities make it even more critical to prioritize strengthening our city’s base of revenues
- Retain and grow head of household jobs, with greater emphasis on "base level" jobs
- Send a message that we are "open for business"
- Assist the business community to navigate the current economic challenges
| How
- Update information on existing industry clusters and targeted industry groups
- Create a business incentive program to encourage primary employers that are
environmentally and socially sustainable
- Develop a stronger City economic development brand in cooperation with the Chamber
- Add resources to help form new collaborative economic development relationships
- Prioritize projects in the entitlement process based on the project’s potential for immediate general economic benefit and job growth.
- Enhance data collection to better understand our business community and its needs
- mprove online presence
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- Downtown beautification
Why
- It is critical to our city’s economic development and tourism brand
- Attracts residents and visitors to bring in needed sales tax and TOT revenues
- Enhances the image of San Luis Obispo as a unique destination
- Core to the city’s sense of place and community pride
| How
- Redo the downtown design manual
- Develop a budget plan to finance public improvements
- Begin work in a demonstration area in the core of downtown
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- Become a center for sustainable business leadership
Why
- Save environmental resources
- An environmentally oriented city will enhance our economic development brand
- Attract the entrepreneurial/creative class
- Attract and nurture businesses aligned with this goal
| How
- Implement climate action plan that strives to have a carbon neutral city
- Improve web presence on the City’s sustainability efforts and inventory local assets and resources
- Enhance bike access and bike education
- Promote clean fuel vehicles, including in the public transportation system, and use of alternative transportation
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