SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsAttracting Business to San Luis ObispoSaturday, February 04, 2006The Tribune ran an article today about several companies with international clients who do business in San Luis Obispo. Owners say in the Internet age is isn't important where a firm is located as long as its staff can provide for their customers; another local draw is the region's intrinsic beauty.A number of area businesses are proving that a San Luis Obispo address does not inhibit global reach. These firms could operate anywhere in the world -- and perhaps would be more at home in Silicon Valley or New York City. Yet, they have chosen San Luis Obispo for the quality of life and proximity to Cal Poly. Access to technology also has enabled these service-oriented businesses to reach clients the world over. Physical location, they say, is no longer relevant. Proximity to Cal Poly was also cited as a main attraction to setting up a business in San Luis Obispo. Many companies draw potential employees from the pool of university students. However, while Cal Poly fills a critical need for skilled employees, companies still struggle to attract experienced professionals from outside the county. Potential hires are often hesitant to commit to relocating to an area where there isn't a wide pool of job opportunities. The rising cost of homes is also an issue. In the late 1990s, companies could exploit the cost-of-living gap between San Luis Obispo and Silicon Valley. Now, local companies hoping to attract high-quality talent have to make competitive offers. The lack of spousal employment opportunities and the cost of housing are two of the biggest hurdles in attracting companies to the county. Software and biotechnology companies are two potential industries that could successfully operate out of the county, but currently the county's economy is far too dependent on tourism, agriculture and government. San Luis Obispo needs to grow the number of high-paying jobs here. The companies won't come here unless they know that there's a critical mass. Source: Flying the international skies The Tribune, Ermina Karim To see more of The Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.sanluisobispo.com. (c) 2005, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. Read More
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