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Paso Robles unveils 5‑year economic plan; officials highlight 'Landing' redevelopment and spaceport ties
Summary
City economic development manager Paul Sloan presented the city’s five‑year strategic plan, citing tourism’s $450M annual impact, childcare gaps, new economic dashboard, and projects including the 'Landing' redevelopment and ongoing spaceport/airport planning with a special joint meeting set for March 4.
Paul Sloan, Paso Robles' economic development manager, briefed the council Feb. 3 on the city's five‑year Economic Development Strategic Plan, business‑climate survey results and specific projects intended to grow jobs and diversify the local economy.
Sloan said tourists spend about $450 million annually in the city and that visitor spending supports roughly 20% of local jobs and contributes about 37% of the city's general‑fund revenue. He highlighted childcare capacity figures from a local study (65 licensed family‑home providers with 730 slots and 16 licensed centers), a new economic development dashboard that tracks housing and permits, and placemaking initiatives intended to strengthen downtown.
On large projects, Sloan previewed "The Landing," a redevelopment of the former Estrella Youth Correctional Facility into a mixed‑use employment center estimated to support more than 2,600 jobs at full build‑out and generate more than $11 million a year in city tax revenue at maturity (figures presented as estimates). Sloan also discussed ongoing work on the city's spaceport/airport project and announced a dedicated joint session with council, planning commission and airport commission on March 4 to review the project in detail.
Council members asked for presentation materials and links; Sloan said full reports and one‑page infographics are available online and he will provide direct links to council and staff. No council votes were taken on project approvals during the presentation; the briefing was informational.
Sloan also noted updates on downtown improvements — new parking lot resurfacing with EV charging and ADA spaces, banner and lighting programs, and a place‑making pilot — and said the city has applied lessons from recent public‑private partnerships to expedite tenanting of large vacant retail boxes.
