SOAR, short for SLO Onboarding Assistance Resources, is a SLO Chamber program that aims to increase members’ employee retention, make recruiting easier and give your employees who are new to the area support in making SLO their permanent home.

Appropriate talent for key roles is often found outside of SLO County’s labor market, but out-of-area new hires can find it hard to acclimate to SLO and find their place in the community. A declined offer because your top candidate’s partner wasn’t confident they’d find a job or the dreaded turnover when an employee leaves within the first 18 months because they don’t feel like they belong in the community can leave a business reeling. SOAR can help solve that.

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How SOAR Works

SOAR is designed to make it easier for SLO Chamber business members to recruit and retain employees by taking a broader approach to community connection and support. As a SLO Chamber member, you can send one out-of-area new hire per calendar year through the SOAR program. 

The program goes beyond traditional support to address key challenges faced by new individuals and families by providing resources to: 

• build social connections  
• connect relocating partners in search of work with local employers, and  
• provide customized relocation resources – from real estate and moving to doctors and childcare – for the whole family 

By signing up for SOAR, employers can connect out-of-area new hires with the SOAR Coordinator who will meet with them while planning their move and once in the community. The SOAR participants will then receive personalized support in the areas that matter most to them. From selecting a neighborhood to meeting other people new to the area, SOAR makes the transition much easier for out-of-area new hires and increases the chances of them staying.  

Please contact Rachel Whalen at rachel@slochamber.org if you are interested in sending your one complimentary out-of-area new hire through the SOAR program.

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Recruitment/Resume Sharing

As a SLO Chamber business member, you can also receive resumes for new talent in town. The partners of SOAR participants are often looking for work, and our SOAR Coordinator will send resumes of potential candidates to members who opt in. To opt in and have resumes sent on an ongoing basis to your business, please email rachel@slochamber.org.

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Additional Buy In

If your organization is interested in sending multiple people through the SOAR program, there are paid participation options to suit your organizational needs. Please reach out to rachel@slochamber.org to discuss the paid participation rates and options for businesses sending multiple people through the program.

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