Marketing firm moving up a level

Level Studios, a San Luis Obispo-based company specializing in digital integrated marketing and product development, is expanding its local presence.

The company plans to build a new and larger headquarters here, with the potential to double its existing workforce, a company spokeswoman said.

“We are investing in building a new property in the area,” spokeswoman Alexandra League said, noting that one of the potential locations is near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.

The new building would be 40,000 to 60,000 square feet, League said, and would be able to house a staff of at least 300 people. The current headquarters on Broad Street accommodates a workforce of about 150, she said.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to make a decision very soon,” League said. “We will be able to announce the new location within the calendar year.”

League added that the company, which this spring joined Publicis Groupe, the third largest communications group in the world, is committed to operating in the county and bringing additional head-of-household jobs.

Level now operates as Level, a Rosetta Co., after being acquired last year by Rosetta, one of the nation’s top interactive advertising agencies. Rosetta, along with Level, later joined Publicis Groupe as an autonomous, independent brand.

“(They) will be a broad range of creative, technical and more on the program and project management sides,” she said of the new positions.

League said the ability to attract talent is one reason why the company is based in San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill said the commitment of Level to expand locally falls in line with the county’s economic strategy of retaining and attracting new businesses to the area, businesses that bring high-paying jobs.

The Economic Vitality Corp. of San Luis Obispo County has been managing the county’s first economic strategy project, designed to provide opportunities to improve and strengthen the local economy. Hill is co-chairman on the project with Supervisor Frank Mecham.

“We’re excited to have an opportunity to showcase this as part of what we’re trying to do,” he said. “We see a lot of good companies move. We want to help them stay here and grow here.”