Read updates from your County government, including important projects and events in your community.

Dear Inquirer,

I hope this email finds you well. I had the opportunity to visit Welcome Home Village in San Luis Obispo this week, and I’m proud to share that this important project is nearing completion. What’s taking shape is a beautiful, thoughtfully designed community that will begin housing homeless individuals as soon as next month.

Welcome Home Village will provide 54 units of permanent and transitional supportive housing, offering a safe and stable place to live along with wrap around services. This project was made possible through a $13 million state grant the County secured in 2023, shortly after I joined the Board. It’s been a heavy lift to bring it to this point, but the regional benefit makes it an incredibly worthwhile investment.

This development represents a critical addition to our county’s continuum of care and builds on the real progress we’ve made—progress demonstrated by a 42% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2022. This has only been possible because the County has made tackling homelessness an official Board Priority and built strong partnerships with our cities and nonprofit service providers.

The County's Homeless Services Division has been methodically carrying out our Countywide Plan to Address Homelessness. Thanks to their hard work, the County is on track to meet or exceed nearly every goal in our five-year plan, including the top-line objective of reducing homelessness by 50%.

The incredible efforts of our staff and partners is an example of regionalism at its finest. I want to thank our tenacious leader of the Homeless Services Division Linda Belch as well as Margaret Shepard-Moore for her outstanding work managing the Welcome Home Village project. Their dedication is helping turn vision into real, lasting impact.

As the saying goes, it takes a village—and I’m excited to see the difference Welcome Home will make for years to come.

Yours in service, 

Jimmy Paulding 
District 4 Supervisor

With that, here’s what you’ll find in this month’s newsletter:

• It's Display Day at Oceano Airport tomorrow
• You're invited to the ribbon cutting of the new playground at Oceano Memorial Park
• Safer crosswalks coming to Olde Towne Nipomo next month
• Upgrades to Pier Avenue in Oceano are nearly complete
• And more!

Tomorrow! May 16 – Oceano Airport Display Day, 10am-2pm, 561 Air Park Dr. More details below.

May 18 – South County Advisory Council Meeting, 6:30pm, Dana Adobe Cultural Center. This is a great opportunity for you to weigh in on land use decisions in the AG Mesa/Nipomo area. Learn more at scac.ca.gov. Please note that the May meeting has been moved to the third Monday of the month due to the Memorial Day holiday.

May 19 – Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9am, Katcho Achadjian Government Center Board Chambers. Key agenda items include a third quarter fiscal update and the introduction of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 County Budget. The agenda is available here.

May 25 – Memorial Day. County offices are closed as we honor those who gave their lives serving our country. Please join me and the American Legion Post 136 at the Arroyo Grande Cemetery at 11am. This year I have the honor and pleasure of being the keynote speaker. 

May 26 – Oceano Memorial Park Playground Ribbon Cutting, 9am. More details below.

June 2 – Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9am, Katcho Achadjian Government Center Board Chambers. Key agenda items include a presentation from KPMG with efficiency recommendations for our Department of Social Services, an update on workforce development programs, and more.

June 8-10 – County Budget Hearings, 9am, Katcho Achadjian Government Center Board Chambers. Come participate in the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 County Budget which begins July 1. Please note that the hearings will only continue into Tuesday and Wednesday if necessary. In most years, the budget hearings conclude at the end of the first day.

June 16 – Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9am, Katcho Achadjian Government Center Board Chambers.

Please note that anticipated Board agenda items are subject to change. Always be sure to check the posted agenda at slocounty.ca.gov to confirm if an item will be discussed at the next meeting. Agendas are usually published the Wednesday prior to each Board meeting.

Tomorrow, I encourage you to stop by Oceano Airport for a great community event—Display Day, happening Saturday, May 16 from 10AM to 2PM.

This free, family-friendly event is a chance to get up close with aircraft, meet local pilots, and learn more about the role aviation plays here in SLO County. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or just looking for something fun to do with the family, there will be something for everyone.

Oceano Airport is an important part of our community, and events like this really bring that connection to life. They also help spark interest in aviation among young people, which is more important than ever as we work to create pathways into good-paying, high-skill careers right here on the Central Coast.

There will also be a cash only BBQ with hot dogs, chips, and a drink for just $5. All proceeds will go to support Lucia Mar Unified School District’s Career Technical Education Aviation Program, so it’s a great opportunity to enjoy a meal while supporting local students.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been working to turn Oceano Airport into a stronger asset for the community.

In 2024, I brought forward a discussion at the Board of Supervisors about the airport’s future at a time when there were real questions about whether it should continue operating. After considering all the relevant factors, the Board voted unanimously to support keeping the airport open. But just as importantly, I pushed for a clear direction: if the airport is going to remain, it needs to deliver greater value to the people of Oceano.

Since then, we’ve been working to turn that vision into action.

You’ve started to see that through events that open the airport up to the community. We had a wonderful Aviation and Aerospace Career Fair in 2024, and last year’s Girls in Aviation Day was a smashing hit with hundreds of people turning out. It was great getting to introduce young people, especially girls, to careers in aviation and STEM in a hands-on, inspiring way. I’m excited that this event is coming back again this year on September 19, and I hope even more local families will take part.

Display Day this weekend is another step in that direction. These events might seem simple on the surface, but they represent a larger shift—making the airport more accessible, more relevant, and more connected to the community it serves.

We’re also continuing to move forward on the bigger picture that came out of that 2024 Board meeting: partnerships with local schools, exploring aviation career pathways, and positioning Oceano Airport as a place where education, innovation, and opportunity come together.

I’ve always believed that Oceano deserves more investment and attention, and that absolutely includes making sure the airport is working for the community. We’re making real progress, and there’s more to come.

The wait is almost over! I’m excited to invite you and your family to the grand opening of the newly transformed playground at Oceano Memorial Park. Join us for a ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, May 26 at 9AM as we officially open this vibrant new space to the community.

This project has been a long time coming. Over the years, I’ve heard from so many local families about the need for updated, modern playground equipment. It’s incredibly rewarding to see those conversations turn into reality. This new playground is designed to be a place where kids can play, explore, and just be kids.

The reimagined space features ocean-inspired play structures, bright colors, and activities for all ages and abilities. With inclusive, ground-level elements and improved drainage for year-round use (that’s right, no more flooding!). It’s a park built for everyone to enjoy together.

This playground is just one part of a broader effort to invest in Oceano and enhance quality of life for local residents. From the beautiful Oceano Plaza and Pier Avenue enhancements to the new walking track at Oceano Elementary and the upcoming safe routes to school project that will be under construction next year, there are significant investments being made in this community.

I hope you’ll join us to celebrate this exciting milestone and be among the first to experience this new community space.

Check out the video above or you can read more about this project in my March Newsletter.

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County Public Works has prepared a multi-phase improvement plan for Pier Avenue in Oceano, with the first phase wrapping up construction within a matter of days. These initial improvements include safer crosswalks with rapid flashing beacons, dedicated bike lanes, improved lane configurations and parking, and of course fresh pavement. You can review the full plan here and some background about the project in my prior newsletter.

It was a great morning celebrating National Bike to School Day last week alongside Grover Beach Mayor Kassi Dee, local students, and community partners. It was fantastic seeing 52 students ride their bikes to school. When the students arrived on campus, they were welcomed with frozen treats and fun giveaways from CHP officers and SLOCOG’s Rideshare Division. It was also an honor to recognize Jim DeCecco, a true leader in advocating for safer streets for pedestrians and bicyclists not just in Oceano but across our county. A big thank you to Jim, Safe Routes to School leader Wanda Monson, and everyone who helped make this fun and meaningful event possible.

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