HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/2/2025 Item 6j, Harris
LeBren Harris <lebren@downtownslo.com>
Sent:Wednesday,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:9/2/25 City Council Meeting: Agenda Item 6.j
Attachments:Cal Poly CIE (1).pdf
Hello SLO City Council!
Please see the attached letter voicing Downtown SLO's support for the grant funding for Cal Poly's CIE
project.
Thank-you!
LeBren Harris (She/Her)
To help protect your
privacy, Microsoft Office
Chief Executive Officer, Downtown SLO
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805-234-9677 |DowntownSLO.com |LeBren@DowntownSLO.com
1135 Chorro St, San Luis Obispo CA 93401
1
Dear City Council,
On behalf of Downtown SLO, I am writing to express our strong support for Cal Poly’s efforts to
expand its downtown presence through the new Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE)
and Mustang Shop at 1144 Chorro Street. Upon completion of this project, as you are aware is
already in progress, will present a unique opportunity not just for downtown but for the greater
San Luis Obispo area. The campus’s vision of activating a long time vacant storefront by
creating a dynamic regional hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development
will be the first of its kind in this downtown district.
The CIE has already proven itself to be a catalyst for our region. Its HotHouse location has
supported hundreds of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and students, many of whom have
gone on to launch companies, create jobs, and strengthen our local economy. More than half of
its Small Business Development Center clients are based right here in San Luis Obispo,
demonstrating the direct and ongoing impact on our city.
For Downtown SLO, projects like this go beyond a single building; they enhance the vibrancy of
our district, bring more people into our downtown, and contribute to the overall health of our
business community. The addition of expanded coworking space, event facilities, and
entrepreneurial programming will not only benefit Cal Poly students but also provide new
opportunities for local businesses, professionals, and community members to connect,
collaborate, and thrive. These are opportunities the downtown business community has
expressed to be active participants in.
We see this project as directly aligned with the City’s goals for economic development and
downtown vitality. A strong, visible connection between Cal Poly and the downtown core
benefits our entire community and reinforces San Luis Obispo’s reputation as a center of
innovation.
Downtown SLO supports the City’s investment in this project and encourages your approval of
Cal Poly’s request. With this partnership, we can continue to build on the momentum of a
thriving downtown, ensuring that San Luis Obispo remains a vibrant and welcoming destination
for residents, students, businesses, and visitors alike.
Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to our community’s future.
Thank-you,
LeBren Harris
CEO, Downtown SLO
The mission of Downtown SLO is to foster an economically vibrant downtown. We help people and business grow and thrive; We
foster a feeling of belonging; We create community; We like to bring people together; We celebrate diversity; We practice optimism;
We are resilient; We actively promote a walkable, bike-able, accessible community; We cultivate sustainability; We value the
outdoors and respect our natural environment; We believe that a thriving economy depends on authentic connection.