The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce announced their intent to relocate their office and visitors center and establish the first co-working space in North San Luis Obispo County. The chamber is relocating across El Camino Real into the Colony Square Plaza at 6907 El Camino Real, the “Creekside Building” and former city hall.
As part of this move, the chamber is proud to announce a formal partnership with Pacific Premier Bank who has pledged $15,000 to the success of the center. The coworking space known as BridgeWork Atascadero by Pacific Premier Bank will serve the community for many years to come and will offer business workshops and financial literacy classes in conjunction with the bank.
“We are honored to have been asked to support such an exciting new venture for the Atascadero Chamber and North County business community. Our investment into BridgeWork will allow us to continue to fulfill our promise to give back to Atascadero’s entrepreneurs and small businesses” said Robert Osterbauer, Market President, Pacific Premier Bank Atascadero.
The Atascadero Chamber board and staff are committed to this new endeavor and are looking to create a space for the community to be proud of. “It is an exciting time for the Atascadero Chamber and the community as a whole,” said Derek Kirk, President & CEO of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, “we take seriously the charge to serve as a catalyst for business growth and a champion for a stronger community and we believe this move and the development of a co-working space are a strong testament to our continued efforts in Atascadero.” In addition to their relocation, the business community can expect to see a fresh new chamber brand introduced at the ribbon cutting of the new offices in late Summer of this year.
Currently, the only co-working space in San Luis Obispo County, The HotHouse, is located in Downtown SLO and operated by the California Polytechnic University SLO. The need for a co-working environment in Atascadero was made clear after a recent survey was conducted by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atascadero.
“This project is a perfect example of the type of innovative approach we are taking to revitalize Downtown Atascadero. I am proud to have been a driving force in the effort to bring co-working to our community and am grateful that the chamber has answered the call in providing a much-needed space for the people of Atascadero” said Heather Moreno, Atascadero City Councilmember and Co-Working Taskforce member.
It was recently announced that a boutique hotel and additional retail are in the planning phase for the center that currently houses Galaxy 10 Theatre amongst other restaurants and retail businesses. The new visitors center, chamber office and co-working space will sit on the South side of the newly constructed Centennial Plaza Bridge, linking the Colony District and Colony Square.
The chamber has been located in their current office at 6904 El Camino Real since 2008. In that time membership has grown, and their programs and services have expanded. This announcement is the first of many steps the chamber will be taking over the next few years to innovate their services and expand opportunities for future business growth.
If you are interested in signing up for a membership with BridgeWork, visit www.BridgeWorkAtascadero.org.
The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce was established in 1922 with the mission to promote business and enhance the economic and civic welfare of Atascadero. The organization currently has 580 members from around the North San Luis Obispo County region.