Good morning, San Luis Obispo.

The Chamber and AAUW named Diane Cassidy, Alexandra Chamberlain and Dawn Smith as 2026 Women of Influence honorees, honoring them Tuesday, Sept.

29 at SpringHill Suites Atascadero. A summit from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and luncheon from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. will benefit scholarships (tickets available).

El Camino Homeless Organization opened the 7,200 sqft Balay Ko Family Resource Center on Aug.

18, adding 30 emergency shelter beds with classrooms, laundry, and case management space to serve local families. The center is part of a $6M capital campaign marking its 25th year in the community.

Four local winemakers have reopened a historic property as Edna (a collaborative wine destination) with a tasting room, market, and plans for a gourmet restaurant and distillery on a 60-acre site 10 minutes southeast of downtown near the airport.

The grand opening is Aug. 27.

A study announced on Wed, Aug.

19 found that local agriculture generated $3.4 billion in 2024 and supports nearly 20,000 jobs (12,015 in production and processing), with daily economic impacts of $9.3 million.

Big Creek Lumber is accepting in-person applications until Friday, Oct.

30 for its 2027 School Garden Grant Program (in its 11th year). The company will award 12 redwood garden bed kits to local schools to support outdoor learning.

SLO County Airport will receive $4.6 million in federal funding for runway, taxiway and wildlife safety projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — the upgrades will modernize safety systems and support increasing travel.

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded PG&E $271 million on Aug.

14 to support extended Diablo Canyon operations + PG&E agreed to pay San Luis Obispo County $16.6 million to restore local community funding.

KSBY partners with Vitalant for the annual Be a Hero Blood Drive on Wednesday, Aug.

26 in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria; community members can donate blood from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., receiving wraps, macaroni salad, and free snow cones in San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly is considering turning 50 acres of prime farmland on the west side of campus into a development with a hotel, senior housing and an events center.

The university will decide details this fall as a petition with over 1,000 signatures calls for preserving hands-on learning opportunities.