matters matters development development Message from Executive Director/City Manager Ruben Duran 1 Message from Executive

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Marylou Fowler
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1 Message from Executive Director/City Manager Ruben Duran The City of El Centro has been preparing for economic growth for many years. As with any business plan, there comes a time to declare the plan ready and open the doors. We now are opening our doors for business. This year we have made sure that the infrastructure and processes in El Centro are in place that encourages strong businesses. Recently, we began the expansion of our water and sewer systems that will not only provide for the construction of more homes but also for the expansion of our manufacturing and commercial businesses. The streamlining of our building permit system and business licensing application are two more examples of our commitment to getting business up and working. In July of this year, we started our business visitation program, where we will be meeting with business owners and managers to hear what is working in the City and where we need to improve. I look forward to the continuing growth of our City and working with the business community. 1 In This Issue 1 Message from Executive Director/City Manager 2 Meet the Team 3 Accomplishments under CDBG Program 4 El Centro Business Incubation Program 5 Business Visitation & Appreciation Program 6 Exciting News economic NEWSLETTER, ISSUE 1 el centro R E D E V E L O P M E N T A G E N C Y Redevelopment Agency Members Sedalia Sanders, Chairperson Rosanna Bayon-Moore, Vice Chairperson Jon Edney, Member Ben Solomon, Member Cheryl Viegas-Walker, Member Ruben Duran, Executive Director Marcela Piedra, Redevelopment Manager James L. Darrow, Legal Counsel Rita M. Noden, Secretary

2 Meet the Team Back row, from left to right: Deborah Harrold, Community Development Specialist II Coming on board in March, 2006, Deborah oversees Business Development for the Redevelopment Agency.

2 2 Meet the Team Back row, from left to right: Deborah Harrold, Community Development Specialist II Coming on board in March, 2006, Deborah oversees Business Development for the Redevelopment Agency. Her extensive knowledge and experience includes federal grants management, workforce development, education, grants consulting, and she is also a small business owner. Teri Sanchez, Community Development Specialist I Teri has been with the City of El Centro Economic Development Department for 25 years and has worked in all aspects of economic development. Her experience includes the Housing Program, Façade Improvement Program, SBA Loans, Revolving Loan Fund Program, and land sales. Javier Villaverde, Community Development Inspector Javier has worked for the City s Housing Department for three years and has over 15 years of experience within the Building Industry. He is a Certified Building Inspector and a graduate from Phoenix Institute of Technology in Architectural Drafting and Design. Stacy Cox, Staff Assistant Stacy is the Staff Assistant for the RDA. She began working with the city in 1988 and has worked as a Public Safety Dispatcher and Community Service Officer for the Police Department, Staff Assistant for Engineering and joined the RDA staff in March of this year. Rachel Guzman, Staff Assistant Rachel has served the City of El Centro since November, She has provided administrative support for the Finance Department, Fire Department, Public Works, City Manager s office, and the Redevelopment Agency. Front row, from left to right: Adriana Castañeda, Financial Specialist Adriana has five years of experience in working for the public and nonprofit sectors. Her background includes budget administration, program coordination, and customer relations. She has also worked in economic development by helping small businesses procure federal and state contracts. Marcela Piedra, Redevelopment Manager Marcela joined the City of El Centro in 2001, and served as RDA Interim Executive Director from December, 2004 until her promotion to Manager of the Department in Her leadership, knowledge and experience guide economic development opportunities in business, and provide affordable housing and increased quality of life for the residents of the City of El Centro. Liz Ceseña, Community Development Specialist I Responsible for administering the City s Housing Rehabilitation and First Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Programs, Liz began working with the City in 1986 as a Customer Service Representative in the Water Department and has over 17 years experience in the Housing Division.

What has the City been doing with its CDBG funding? 3 As of September 2004, the City of El Centro has been receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) due to its Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) designation.

addressing the housing needs in the community, and completing public improvements for the benefit of particularly low to moderate income families.

3 What has the City been doing with its CDBG funding? 3 As of September 2004, the City of El Centro has been receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) due to its Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) designation. Even though the City s CDBG funding has been reduced 10% every year, the City has managed to continue meeting the national objectives of the program by supporting the delivery of public services, addressing the housing needs in the community, and completing public improvements for the benefit of particularly low to moderate income families. Historically, the purpose of the CDBG program is to assist cities and counties in meeting the affordable housing, community and economic development needs of its residents, particularly individuals and families considered to have low or moderate income levels of income. Cities may also utilize CDBG funds to increase the delivery of public services to the homeless, senior citizens, youth, and other special populations within their City. As of June 2006, the City has spent approximately $2.2 million in CDBG funds for the following activities: Approved low-interest loans for housing rehabilitation and lead based paint abatement. Purchased fire safety equipment and a new ladder fire truck for Fire Station No. 2 located within a targeted CDBG area. Offered crime prevention and public safety services not only within a CDBG targeted area but Citywide. Worked with the Police Athletic League and the City s Recreation Department to offer youth programs, which focused on leadership, education, recreation, and community service. Through partnerships with organizations, such as Catholic Debbie Pittman Softball Field New Parking Lot Improvement Project on 1999 Orange Ave. El Centro Charities and Womanhaven provided shelter to homeless individuals. Through partnerships with organizations, such as the Senior Emergency Fund of Imperial County, Imperial County Work Training Center, and Catholic Charities delivered meals and provided emergency assistance to senior citizens. Offered public library services at El Centro Community Center Branch Library, which is located within a CDBG targeted area. Partnered with the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program to offer an income tax preparation course to encourage micro enterprise development. Completed Phase I of the El Centro Community Center Renovation Project. Completed a new parking lot for the Debbie Pittman Softball Field located at 1999 Orange Avenue in El Centro. El Centro s Fire Department was able to purchase a new ladder truck for Fire Station No. 2 located at 900 S. Dogwood Avenue. Fire fighting equipment was also purchased with CDBG funds.

4 4 What projects are under way for 2006/07 CDBG Program Year? For program year 2006/07, the City expects to spend an additional $1.2 million of CDBG funds to continue addressing its housing and community development needs within the City of El Centro. The funding will be used to complete sidewalk improvements within designated neighborhoods, rehabilitating existing homes, delivering a variety of public services, offering a low-interest micro-enterprise program, and completing the renovation efforts at the El Centro Community Center by installing a water splash pad at the Magee Park located next to the El Centro Community Center. All of these projects are expected to be completed by June 30, Proposed Water Splash Pad At El Centro Community Center 375 S. First Street Rendering of Splash Pad is for illustrative purposes only Exciting News Street improvements at El Dorado Colonia moving forward In June 2006, the City of El Centro awarded a $3 million contract to Granite Construction to complete street paving, lighting, sidewalk, curbs, and gutters at the El Dorado Colonia, specifically along Pico Avenue from Imperial Avenue (Highway 86) to 6th Street. These improvements will ensure the safety of both pedestrian and motorists. The work is expected to be completed by December of It is with great enthusiasm that the City is starting the improvements at Pico Avenue. For many years the residents in this area have been anxiously waiting for these public improvements to be completed. The investment in this area started in The first phase of the project initiated at El Dorado Avenue. The City invested approximately $2 million to complete the street improvements on El Dorado Avenue. Phase II, which consist of street improvements to Pico Avenue, will total approximately $3.3 million. All of the funding for the El Dorado Colonia project has been awarded to the City of El Centro from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) under the Colonias Allocation Program. HCD s Colonia Funding is available for designated Colonias within Imperial County. The El Dorado Colonia area contains 3± miles and is comprised of El Dorado, Pico, Lincoln, and Buena Vista Avenues, as well as north 12th, 8th, 7th, and 6th Streets.

economic 5 Local businesses being visited and appreciated by city officials By visiting local businesses, large or small, the City hopes to create a network that will provide more information,

R ecently Mayor Sedalia Sanders, City Manager Ruben Duran, and staff members from the El Centro Redevelopment Agency had the opportunity to meet with two local business owners of award winning family

5 economic 5 Local businesses being visited and appreciated by city officials By visiting local businesses, large or small, the City hopes to create a network that will provide more information, resources, and ongoing assistance that will help its businesses prosper in the City of El Centro. R ecently Mayor Sedalia Sanders, City Manager Ruben Duran, and staff members from the El Centro Redevelopment Agency had the opportunity to meet with two local business owners of award winning family businesses in El Centro that have received statewide recognition. Those local business owners are Mr. Jaime Honold, one of the owners of Burgers & Beer, and Luis and Alma Caballero, owners of Roman s Water. Early this year the U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the 2006 Family-Owned Business of The Year award to Burgers & Beer. The owners of Burgers & Beer have five locations, two of which are in the City of El Centro. I enjoyed meeting with these two businesses. I was very impressed with their enthusiasm and willingness to continue operating in El Centro, stated Mayor Sedalia Sanders. During this site visit these two local business owners were able to share with City officials a history of their business and their thoughts about the City of El Centro. The business visit ended with a presentation of a plaque by Mayor Sanders and City Jaime Honold of Burgers and Beer Restaurants accepts award from Mayor Sedalia Sanders, City Manager Ruben Duran, and Redevelopment Manager Marcela Piedra. Manager Ruben Duran to each business owner, which appreciated their ability to manage their businesses in such a competitive business environment. The City is very excited about the creation of its Business Visitation and Appreciation program. Through the Business Visitation Program, representatives from the City will meet with existing businesses to discuss their business needs, expansion feasibility, and other issues that may impact their business. Luis and Alma Caballero, owners of Roman s Water talk business with Mayor Sedalia Sanders and City Manager Ruben Duran.

The facility is located at 703 Industry Way in El Centro, California.

6 El Centro Business Business Incubation Program Incubation 10,000 sq ft. A big room for big business. Program The Incubator facility consists of approximately 6 The incubator facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet and is known as the El Centro Business/Industrial Incubator Facility. The facility is located at 703 Industry Way in El Centro, California. The facility has seven bays, which provide a combination of office and industrial space of approximately 1,200 square feet per bay. There are currently six private businesses operating at the facility that provide services ranging from air conditioning, computer repair, landscaping, janitorial, construction, and geotechnical services. There is also a vocational training center providing vocational training to individuals interested in opening construction-oriented businesses. In July 2006, the City of El Centro was awarded a $57,800 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Program to establish a training/resource center at the facility that will facilitate the delivery of on-site business counseling and training. The funding will also be used to offer a certificated entrepreneurial program Seven businesses, plus an administrative office occupies the incubator facility. known as the NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training Program. This training program consists of a 12-session, 36-hour business course designed to assist the incubator tenants to expand their business. During this course the incubator tenants will develop a comprehensive business plan that will act as their Cool Breeze Air Conditioning One person with years of air conditioning experience felt it was time to venture out on his own and start his own company. Mr. Augustin Miranda, owner of Cool Breeze Air Conditioning, worked for Locke Air Conditioning from 1979 until 2004, when he felt the entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to venture out on his own and start his own air conditioning company. For most of those twenty-five years, Mr. Miranda was the Locke Air Conditioning shop foreman. Cool Breeze is established in Suite #8 at the incubator facility. road map for their future growth. The City is excited about the USDA grant award since it will provide the much needed business assistance to its incubator tenants and provide a business resource center that will provide immediate access to business information and services to its incubator tenants. He supervised all sheet metal, air conditioner installations and supervised a crew from five to fifteen people at any given time. Shortly after starting out as a home-based business, Mr. Miranda learned of the new City of El Centro Business/Industrial Incubator Program and applied to the program and became the first incubator tenant. Mr. Miranda loves the location because he and his staff have easy access to Interstate 8, and Highway 111 and is close to his suppliers.

City embarks on graffiti abatement Plans to improve the image of the City particularly in areas within the City s redevelopment project area are under way.

This is a joint effort with the Maintenance and Fire Department of the City of El Centro. For further information about the program or to report any graffiti, please call 337-4543.

7 City embarks on graffiti abatement Plans to improve the image of the City particularly in areas within the City s redevelopment project area are under way. Recently, the El Centro City Council approved funding for City staff to address graffiti within the City. Funding for this program is being provided by the City s Redevelopment Agency. This is a joint effort with the Maintenance and Fire Department of the City of El Centro. For further information about the program or to report any graffiti, please call Micro Enterprise Program set in Motion In response to the financial needs of local entrepreneurs, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of El Centro decided to establish a micro enterprise fund program using CDBG funds. The purpose of the program is to provide small business loans ranging from $500 to $5,000 to micro businesses that have less than five employees. The interest is fixed and can range from 2% to 3%. The term of the loan may be up to 36 months. The micro loan can be used for working capital, inventory, furniture and fixtures, and machinery and equipment purchases. City staff is very excited about the establishment of this new program and looks forward to assisting many local micro businesses with their business needs. 7 el centro R E D E V E L O P M E N T A G E N C Y 1249 Main Street El Centro, CA (760) Phone (760) Fax economic NEWSLETTER

Letter from the City Manager

Letter from the City Manager 2 Throughout this unprecedented economic period of time, the City of El Centro continues to move forward with a variety of important projects. The Capital Projects Fund is used for the acquisition and