February 5, 2021 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. After months of waiting for much-needed relief, small businesses are finally getting renewed support from the federal government. The new stimulus package approved by Congress comprises $900 billion in virus relief funds, including $284.5 billion to reopen and strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for first time and second time borrowers. Join us in this webinar,...

Based on the threat of COVID-19 as reflected in the Proclamations of Emergency issued by both the Governor of the State of California, the San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services Director and the Investment Oversight Committee of the City of San Luis Obispo as well as the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20 issued on March 17, 2020, relating to the convening of public meetings in response...

Over the years, Jamie took advantage of many Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad field trips, led mostly by Kevin O'Roark, that, as his wife pointed out, ventured forth "to see stuff that wasn't there any more." Exactly! Join us for Jamie's photos and commentary from these various field trips covering stretches of the Pacific Coast Railway (PCRy) and the Santa Maria Valley Railroad (SMVRR)...

With stay-at-home orders, 2020 became a boon for podcasters. As demand continues to expand, what are advertisers looking for?   Back in 2019, Heather’s talk on podcasting was a favorite. I’m extremely happy to bring her back this month for an update and see just how far she has come. No question, being homebound for most of 2020 has been a boon to podcasters. So...

Don't miss this big two-day virtual event! Caltrans is proud to offer a virtual Contractor’s Bootcamp Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily via Cisco WebEx. This event will provide educational information for construction contractors and insight into the Caltrans contracting process.  Topics on Feb 9: Welcome by Caltrans Leadership Bonding Webinar Meet the Primes Topics on Feb...

Don't miss this big two-day virtual event! Caltrans is proud to offer a virtual Contractor’s Bootcamp Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily via Cisco WebEx. This event will provide educational information for construction contractors and insight into the Caltrans contracting process. Topics on Feb 9: Welcome by Caltrans Leadership Bonding Webinar Meet the Primes Topics on Feb...

HOW TO BEGIN YOUR BUSINESS February 10, 2021 | 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Study the basics every entrepreneur or new business owner must first know: Your all-important Feasibility Study. Why are you forming a Business? Are you in the right Business? Who are your Target Customers? Who are your Competitors? The importance of a Business Plan. How to understand and use Financial Reports ...and...

TOP 10 TIPS FOR IMPROVING CASH FLOW February 12, 2021 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. When a company provides a product or service, it has a right to expect to be paid on a timely basis. However, anyone who’s been in business a month or more has learned that prompt payment is not always the case. Often, accounts get seriously past due, or when...

Featured speakers:  Karen Ross, Secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture; Mike Santorelli, Director of Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute, New York Law School; and Steve Blum, President of Teulis Venture Associates. Free to all participants.  Contact [email protected] for more information.  

Economic Vitality Corporation Hosting Broadband Summit for San Luis Obispo County COVID Impacts highlight challenges of broadband coverage in our rural County The Economic Vitality Corporation, in partnership with the Pacific Coast Broadband Consortium (PCBC), are hosting a SLO County Broadband Summit, free to all registrants on Thursday February 18 and Thursday February 25, from 10:00AM to 11:30AM both mornings.  Featured speakers, include Karen Ross,...

February 20 & 21, 2021 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (both days) Turn those dream home projects into a reality! The Paso Robles Home and Gourmet Expo exhibitors include general contractors, flooring, landscapers, kitchen and bath cabinets closet organizers, landscape designers, painters, countertops, tile, granite, appliances, solar energy, fireplaces, local restaurants, wineries and much more. Admission & Parking are FREE.

HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS PLUS February 20, 2021 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Use the 21st Century Business Planning Roadmap to: Attract new Customers Improve your Products or Services Become more Efficient Grow your Revenues and Profits Business Model Canvas Plus is a unique way to identify the action steps necessary to achieve new heights for your business. This is...

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden is excited to welcome Cal Poly botanist, Dr. Jenn Yost, for a discussion on how California’s plants are shifting their flowering times in response to a warmer or drier world. See how natural history collections allow us to look into the past to see what plants were up to 100 years ago. Find out how you can get involved...

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (both days) Turn those dream home projects into a reality! The Paso Robles Home and Gourmet Expo exhibitors include general contractors, flooring, landscapers, kitchen and bath cabinets closet organizers, landscape designers, painters, countertops, tile, granite, appliances, solar energy, fireplaces, local restaurants, wineries and much more. Admission & Parking are FREE.

Fostering Understanding in Our Community: Celebrating Black History Month: A Dialog on Triumphs and Trials Please join us on Zoom for an evening of Celebrating Black History Month: A Dialog on Triumphs and Trials as part of our Fostering Understanding in Our Community Outreach. When: February 23, 2021 at 6:00pm Our Distinguished Panelists: Dr. Camille O'Bryant - Professor and Associate Dean at Cal Poly Dr....

Featured speakers:  Sunne McPeak, President and CEO of California Emerging Technology; and Barbara Hayes, Chief Economic Development Officer of the RCRC Free to all participants.  Contact [email protected] for more information.

Live Virtual Tasting   Thursday, FEBRUARY 25 at 5:30PM PST It's almost time to join us LIVE for our next Paris Valley Road Thursday Virtual Tasting! Winemaker Doug Hidinger will taste with you while answering your questions live! Meet us online Thursday, February 25 at 5:30pm PST. Whether you have the wines or not we'd love to see you. And don't forget to grab something...

WORK SMARTER THIS YEAR WITH GOOGLE PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS February 26, 2021 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Google Workspace apps are used to run businesses and nonprofits.   Beyond these day-to-day uses, these tools can help organize emails into tasks, use voice-to-text typing in Docs, create Calendar work blocks to manage time, and so much more.  Google's Executive Productivity Advisor Laura Mae Martin, will be hosting...

HOW TO PREPARE AND USE A BUSINESS PLAN February 27, 2021 | 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Your Business Plan is Your Roadmap to Success! Study the basics of a traditional Business Plan, describing how your business operates. Then, learn how to use the Business Model Canvas, defining who and what your business success really depends upon! Plus, details of the two most important elements...

So You Want to Start a Nonprofit? 03/02/2021 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM PT Admission $25.00 Fee: Free for Spokes 2020 Members* – $25 others Location: Spokes Zoom Room You're passionate about a cause and you want to do something about it! In fact, you're thinking about forming your own nonprofit organization. This class is for you. Join us and learn: What a nonprofit is and isn't How nonprofits...

This meeting is open to the public and topic experts alike and focuses on the Built Environment (e.g., buildings, infrastructure, utility systems). The meeting will focus on providing an overview of the Resilient SLO project and how the Built Environment plays in to the project as well as gaining feedback from participants on what parts of the Built Environment should be prioritized for the Resilient...

Date: 3/3/21 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (PST) Registration Deadline: 3/3/21 1:00 PM (PST) Fee: No Fee Point of Contact: Barbara Burgess (805) 595-1357 Training Topics: Managing a Business, Marketing/Sales, Social Media, Technology Description: Is your website hidden in plain sight? Would you like more traffic visiting your site? Are you wondering how to turn visitors into buying customers? This webinar focuses on content creation for SEO. Find out how Google...

This free webinar is tailored for certified firms who are looking to expand business opportunities and work with the State. Topics include: • How to make the state your next customer • How to find contract opportunities on Cal eProcure • How to find and pursue contracting opportunities with Caltrans • Supplier and subcontractor opportunities • How to locate subcontractors

This meeting is open to the public and topic experts alike and focuses on the Community Resilience (e.g., emergency services, social cohesion, business community). The meeting will focus on providing an overview of the Resilient SLO project and how the Community Resilience plays in to the project as well as gaining feedback from participants on what parts of the Community Resilience should be prioritized for...

Parlor Car Chat presented by Jamie Foster During 2008 - 2010, the Motor Car Operators West (MOW) ran excursions in the Santa Maria Valley.  Join Jamie as he shares photos and stories from those events.

virtual chardonnay workshop 6 mar March 6th, 3pm PST The Center of Effort winemaking team will host an in-depth virtual tasting and discussion on our Estate Chardonnay. Join the team and taste through a variety of COE Chardonnay, new and old, to learn the impact that time, barreling and growing season can have on each vintage. Included in the Workshop v.2015 Chardonnay, COE v.2012 Chardonnay,...