Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo Campus
P.O. Box 8106
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
(805) 546-3188

The Business & Entrepreneurship Center (BEC) at Cuesta College works with private, public, and nonprofit resources to build strong, sustainable and successful businesses. The BEC program supports local and regional economic development corporations, chambers of commerce, community-based business outreach centers, and other community-based organizations whose primary mission is to assist small businesses. The results are wealth creation, job creation and retention, and better economic health in California.

Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
872 Higuera St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 756-5171
cie@calpoly.edu

The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) helps students and community members acquire the tools, develop the skills and cultivate the mindset of an entrepreneur. The CIE offers programs that are open to community members at the HotHouse, which is located in downtown San Luis Obispo. The coworking and incubator programs are designed to provide emerging enterprises with a strategic path; a wide array of vital business development services and resources; ongoing guidance, motivation, and support to help ventures succeed. 

Downtown SLO 
1135 Chorro St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 541-0286
reachus@downtownslo.com

Downtown SLO (formerly the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association) is a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit founded in 1975 whose mission is to foster an economically vibrant downtown. Downtown SLO serves its members within the business district in the areas of parking, promotions, design, cultural arts, safety, advocacy, economic activities, the weekly Thursday Night Farmers’ Market, seasonal Concerts in the Plaza series and the annual Holiday Parade.

Institute for Professional Development
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo Campus
P.O. Box 8106
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
(805) 546-3180

The Institute for Professional Development at Cuesta College provides customized training for business and organizations throughout SLO County. Staff and trainers meet with business clients to conduct up-front analysis to determine training objectives and course content including methodology, blending theory and other practices relevant to today's work environments.

Mission Community Services Corporation
71 Zaca Lane, Ste 130
San Luis Obispo CA, 93401
(805) 595-1357
info@mcscorp.org

Mission Community Services Corporation (MCSC) is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for potential entrepreneurs and small business owners to become self-sustaining, successful contributors to their communities, with special assistance for women, low-income, minority, veterans, and non-profit businesses in San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Monterey Counties. Through monthly business workshops, entrepreneurial training courses and no-cost business consulting, MCSC is a resource for business creation, growth and development.

Ready.gov/Business
FEMA/DHS
500 C St., SW
Washington, DC 20472
(800) 621-3362

There is much that a business can do to prepare his or her organization for the most likely hazards, including earthquakes, flooding and power outages, . A program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Ready Business program helps business leaders make a preparedness plan and offers a series of toolkits to identify risk, develop response plans and take action. 

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
895 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 781-2777
slochamber@slochamber.org

For more than 114 years, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce has been dedicated to serving its membership through work to enhance the economic prosperity and community well-being of San Luis Obispo County. Their focus is on creating the best possible environment for people to live, raise their families and pursue their passions in the place they love. The Chamber is the oldest and largest voluntary organization in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. As an independent nonprofit corporation (not affiliated with government or any other agency), they uniquely serve the needs of 1,400 + members and the more than 38,000 individuals they collectively employ.

San Luis Obispo Library
995 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401(805) 781-5989

The San Luis Obispo Library is located in the heart of the beautiful downtown historic district, directly across from City Hall. The library hosts a Reference Section which includes over 100 business and trade journals and newspapers, a Career Action Center that specializes in small businesses and an Investment Business Reference Section that includes import/export literature. A block away in the lower level of the County Courthouse, the SLO County Law Library provides current legal materials that serve all members of the community and county government.

SCORE
1228 Broad St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 547-0779info@sloscore.org

SCORE is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. The local SCORE chapter serves San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Maria Valley with 28 volunteer members who work to help and advise owners who are already in business and people that want to start a business. They provide confidential face-to-face mentoring sessions including follow-up sessions, monthly workshops, e-mail and phone mentoring. All mentoring services and local workshops are free.

Small Business Administration
801 R St., Ste. 201
Fresno, CA
(559) 487-5636

The Small Business Administration helps start, build and grow businesses by delivering loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small business owners. The regional office located in Fresno provides educational opportunities, business mentoring and counseling to small businesses in Central and Coastal California.

Small Business Development Center
872 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 756-5171

The Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) promotes the development of technology-focused ventures by providing high-quality business assistance to start-ups and established companies. The SBDC helps entrepreneurs launch companies, create and retain jobs, and attract capital investment in San Luis Obispo County

Softec
1241 Johnson Ave., PMB 130
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
president@softec.org

Softec is a non­profit organization with over 2,000 members committed to creating and promoting technology events for enthusiasts of all ages throughout the community to connect, network, educate and learn. Their goal is to cultivate relationships, advocacy, and economic development for the software and technology industries here on the Central Coast by aligning local businesses, individuals and educational resources in our community to produce a thriving hub of innovation. Softec hosts monthly Tech Brews in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria spotlighting the community’s latest technologies, an annual Robotics Expo, Women In Technology monthly events, an annual dinner and open houses.

REACH

REACH is a Regional Economic Action Coalition uniting public, private and civic leaders across the Central Coast of California with the goal iof embodying a spirit of regionalism that is essential to creating a more prosperous, inclusive economy. Our private sector-led coalition partners with public, private, civic and educational institutions across the Central Coast — a region of about 700,000 people in dozens of cities and towns in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.