Helping Newcomers Take Flight: How the San Luis Obispo Chamber’s SOAR Program is Building Community and Retaining Talent

​In San Luis Obispo County, finding the right talent for key positions often means looking beyond our local labor pool. But while hiring from outside the region brings in new skills and perspectives, it also presents a challenge: helping these new hires and their families successfully acclimate and feel at home in our community.
That’s where the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce saw both a need and an opportunity. Too often, out-of-area hires have declined offers because their partners were unsure they could find meaningful work. Others have accepted roles, only to leave within 18 months after struggling to make social connections or feel a sense of belonging. The Chamber realized that many of these challenges boiled down to one thing: connection. When you’re new in town and don’t know where to start—or who to call—just finding your footing can be overwhelming.

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To address this gap, the Chamber launched SOAR: SLO Onboarding Assistance Resources, a concierge-style program aimed at helping relocating employees of member businesses feel at home faster. With SOAR, the Chamber is leveraging one of its greatest assets—its deep network of relationships—to help newcomers tap into the community, find housing, make friends, and ultimately stay.

Real Help, Real Results
Since its launch, SOAR has proven to be a meaningful asset for both local businesses and the new residents they’re working hard to attract. Through partnerships with realtors, SOAR participants get hands-on help with their housing search—even when they’re looking for rentals. These realtors serve as a local point person, touring homes on participants’ behalf and advising on how to navigate the competitive SLO market.
Just as important are the SOAR Socials, casual events designed to bring together program participants and their families. These gatherings help foster the kind of connections that can make a new place feel like home. Whether it's a shared story about a cross-country move or a tip about a favorite local hike, the relationships formed at these events are helping people plant roots—and stay.
Businesses have taken notice. Employers are grateful for the extra support SOAR provides in retaining out-of-area hires. And for the Chamber, the program has reinforced its role as a proactive problem solver, willing to invest in creative solutions that serve both the workforce and the wider community.

Advice for Chambers Looking to Launch Something Similar
For other Chambers considering a similar effort, the SLO Chamber offers this advice: build a scalable, repeatable process from the start. SOAR’s demand can be unpredictable, as hiring needs ebb and flow throughout the year. Starting small—with a few key employers who do a high volume of out-of-area hiring—and assigning part-time staff to manage the program can help manage capacity while the program grows.
“It’s all about relationships,” says Rachel Whalen, Government Affairs Coordinator for the SLO Chamber of Commerce. “If we can be the ones to help people make that first connection, we’re not just helping individuals—we’re helping build a stronger, more resilient community.”

Learn more about the San Luis Obispo Chamber's SOAR Program here.

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