Chamber Offers Artisan Membership Deal
The Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce has introduced a new Artisan Membership level designed for creative individuals who don’t yet have an established art business.
This new membership tier is ideal for home-based artisans, emerging creators, and those without a brick-and-mortar presence who are looking to grow their visibility and connect with the local community.
“Members will enjoy valuable benefits, including access to our weekly members-only e-blast, a listing in both our online and annual printed directory, promotional support through our social media channels, and a stronger voice within the uniquely vibrant Los Osos/Baywood Park business community,” Chamber representatives said.
“The Artisan Membership is our way of supporting and uplifting local talent — helping creatives take the next step in sharing their work and building their presence.”
The annual fee for this new membership level is $75.
Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market Voted a Top 10 in US
Downtown San Luis Obispo’s Thursday Night Farmers’ Market placed ninth in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for “Best Farmers Market.”
The Farmers’ Market was nominated by an expert panel out of over 8,600 registered markets across the country and then voted on by the public.
“Known as one of California’s best outdoor markets, the SLO Thursday extravaganza is designed to make locals come back for more every week and tourists vow to return again soon,” the article says.
Downtown SLO wants to acknowledge that this recognition is a “reflection of the collective efforts that make this weekly street festival a success; including vendors, partners, sponsors, and the community members who show up week after week. Downtown SLO is honored to have the opportunity to provide access to fresh, local food while sustaining a weekly tradition that is deeply woven into the identity and culture of San Luis Obispo.”
For over 40 years, Downtown SLO’s Thursday Night Farmers’ Market has been a Central Coast experience. Every week at 6 p.m., vendors offering fresh produce, delicious food, artisan goods, famous BBQ, and live entertainment fill five blocks of Higuera Street.
The Market hosts over 100 vendors every week, year-round, including more than 20 certified farm stands. Organizers say thousands of locals and visitors from around the world show up every week, making it a farmers’ market experience like no other.
Dignity Health Gives $487,500 in Grant Funding
The Dignity Health Central Coast Market that includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center and Marian Regional Medical Center has awarded $487,500 in funding to six community non-profit partnerships in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
Representatives from each organization attended a breakfast award ceremony this month at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo to acknowledge their service in providing critical health and human services.
Grants are awarded through a Community Health Improvement Grants Program created by the Dignity Health parent company CommonSpirit Health. The intent is to help non-profit organizations with an interest in building healthier communities by improving health and living conditions.
Criteria for this funding cycle were based on the Unmet Vital Conditions which included: transportation, financial assistance, childcare, food insecurity, education, environment, behavioral health and substance use disorder.
This year, the Dignity Health Community Grants were awarded to the following local six Accountable Care Communities:
• K-12 Mental Health Counseling: Reclaiming the Lost Year, Preparing for the Future. This project will address behavioral health needs among
Youth by providing on-campus and virtual services clinical counseling services for students with mild to moderate mental health needs. The project will provide individual and group support and class presentations provide early intervention that prevents mild to moderate conditions from escalating, and reduces the stigma of mental health counseling, creating a more supportive student community. The program will be offered to all schools in the Lucia Mar Unified School District and SLO Coastal Unified School District
• Hearts Aligned Inc. Hearts Aligned will provide comprehensive services to 70 low-income families that have a child classified as critically ill by the referring medical professional. They will provide direct financial assistance up to $2,500 which may include rent, utilities, auto expenses, gas and grocery cards, insurance, lodging and other essentials to help families at their most vulnerable time.
• Transitional Housing and Small Business Financial Education for Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in San Luis Obispo County. The project will address the need for transitional housing and supportive services for unhoused and at-risk sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors in SLO County. The Transitional Housing (TH) Program will partner with the Mission Community Service Corporation Women’s Business Center’s to provide small business workshops, training, and 1-on-1 consulting to survivors in the TH program. TH clients focus on self-sufficiency with Lumina Alliance advocates, including housing and financial stability, and specialized tools like the proposed workshops will improve their outcomes and independence post-trauma.
• Harm Reduction Navigation in Santa Barbara County The project will address the need of harm reduction services among the unhoused. Harm Reduction Navigation Specialists will work with clients reached through their syringe exchange program and referred from partnering agencies, including Hope Village and the FARO Center.
Harm reduction navigation will be offered in both English and Spanish, ensuring that outreach, education, and linkages are culturally sensitive and accessible to clients.
• Senior Home Delivery. The project will address the need for healthy food for homebound, low-income seniors in San Luis Obispo County. Senior Home Delivery will provide seniors who are unable to access Food Bank distribution sites with weekly grocery delivery directly to their homes.
•The Salvation Army San Luis Obispo Corps Street Outreach Program. The project will address housing among the unsheltered. The Salvation Army will work alongside its partners to connect individuals and families to services and eventually to housing.
The Salvation Army case manager will provide basic needs: hygiene kits, food, water, etc., document obtainment assistance, and referrals to other community resources including health information.
Is your business, including non-profits, supporting our community? Maybe you’re launching a new business, or you’re making updates to your current business model, or re-opening. Perhaps you have a job opportunity, or have been doing some volunteer work, or are collaborating with another business or a non-profit.
