As a small business owner, I have experienced firsthand how difficult it is to run a business on the Central Coast. But the cost of running a business here is only part of the problem. The other problem is how incredibly expensive it is to live in the Central Coast where few good-paying jobs exist.
Middle class families are leaving San Luis Obispo County at one of the highest rates in the country. The high cost of living, lack of affordable housing, and few good-paying jobs make it hard for families to stay.
Major employers like Weatherby, Really Right Stuff, and Lockheed Martin are moving out because it is too expensive to operate here. We cannot afford to force more companies out of business��”and lose more good-paying jobs.
As a parent, I want my kids to want to come home after college. As a business owner, I need my customers to stay here. The county needs to retain and increase good-paying jobs so that the beautiful place we live, once again, becomes a place of opportunities and hope.
This article appears in Oct 25 – Nov 1, 2018.