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Message from the City’sDirector of EconomicDevelopmentFrom an economic standpoint, this is a very challenging time for businesses, not only in El Centro, but in all parts of the country. The economic prosperity of a community depends on healthy business. Here at the City, we know that listening to the needs of our business community provides us with the best information about economic and future growth needs.

Through our Business Visitation Program, the Mayor, City Manager and I have learned ways in which we can improve the method in which we deliver services to members of our community.

We recently sent out a business survey to all the businesses in El Centro and are currently tabulating the results. The goal of the survey is to ascertain the priorities of business, the challenges, possible expansion plans, and their workforce needs. As we analyze the data and discuss the results, we will work with the workforce and educational communities to strengthen our resolve to providing the best service possible to the businesses in El Centro.

This has been a tremendous year of economic development for the City of El Centro as we continue our mission to better serve our business community, and we wanted to give special recognition to those businesses which represented the acronym IMAGINE which stands for Innovators, Motivators, Architects of Change, & Genius, Industrious, Noble Entrepreneurs. More of IMAGINE 2008 is showcased on page two of this newsletter.

Other exciting community and housing development activities have taken place such as the City being awarded $5 million dollars from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development to construct a 72 unit family apartment complex and $1.6 million dollars to construct a 20 unit senior apartment completed. The First Time Home Buyer (FTHB) Program is a wonderful program designed to help qualified families. To be eligible for the FTHB Program, assistance, the first-time homebuyer must be an income eligible household which has not owned real property within three years; must be able to qualify for a permanent 30 year, fixed rate CalHFA or FHA mortgage; must inject 2% of the purchase price as their share of the downpayment; must be the principal place of resident for the buyer.

The Redevelopment Agency is also serving as the primary liaison of the U.S. Census 2010 project. Planning and engineering efforts for the street improvements for the El Dorado Colonia have been ongoing. The exciting renovation of the Old Post Office Pavilion is completed and as we all must agree, it is one of our most treasured historic buildings in El Centro.

At the 8th Annual Regional Housing Summit held in Riverside on May 21, 2008, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Compass Blueprint Program recognized 14 communities in the Southern California area with achievement awards. The City of El Centro was awarded a Prosperity Achievement Award for “forward-thinking planning by the City and the community-at-large to define a downtown vision and set a strategic path to enhance and reassert the area’s economic vitality.” The recognition also represented the City’s “infill development that preserves the downtown’s historic character and creates a people-oriented economic hub for a rapidly growing part of our region.”

As we look back at our 100 year anniversary and what it all represents, we continue to focus on our community’s bright future.

1 Message from the Director of Economic Development

2 Business Growth and Expansion Assisted by Façade Improvement Program

3 IMAGINE �008 Business Recognition Awards

4 IMAGINE �008 Business Recognition Awards

5 A Small Part of What We Do; A Big Impact on the Way We do Business

6 Fair Housing Comes to El Centro

7 City Showcases Graffiti Removal Program at National League of Cities

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Redevelopment Agency MembersJon A. Edney, Chairperson

Ben Solomon, Vice Chairperson

Sedalia Sanders, Member

Cheryl Viegas-Walker, Member

Efrain Silva, Member

Ruben Duran, Executive Director

Marcela Piedra, Director of Economic Development

Luis Hernandez, Legal Counsel

L. Diane Caldwell, Secretary

In This Issue

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Willie’s Donut located at 1404 S. 4th Street in El Centro is a testament of commitment, perseverance, and tenacity when it comes to opening a new business. Mr. William Thong participated in two of the City of El Centro business development programs. The Façade Improvement Rebate Program is a public/private

partnership that is intended to improve the appearance of commercial buildings located in the Redevelopment Project Area through the use of rebates for costs associated with improvements to building exteriors. Property owners or tenants of commercial buildings are eligible to apply to the program.

Each participating property is entitled to a 50% rebate with a $10,000 maximum rebate including, but not limited to the following types of work: new paint, sign removal, plaster repair, new windows and doors, architectural lighting, professional services, new awnings, new signs, masonry/tile work, new exterior lighting, landscaping, and building permit fees for the façade portion only.

Mr. Thong stated, “participating in the Façade Improvement Program helped me to use the savings (rebate) toward another part of the project, and I am grateful to the City for having this type of program in order to help businesses grow.”

Applications for the Façade Improvement Rebate Program are available at the City’s Redevelopment Agency located at 1249 Main Street. For more information, please call (760) 337-4543.

Before and After Pictures of Willie’s Donut

Before and After Pictures of Willie’s Donut

Business Growth and ExpansionAssisted by Façade Improvement Program

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On Thursday, March 20, 2008 the City of El Centro celebrated the success of businesses during the IMAGINE 2008 Business Recognition Awards Dinner. The IMAGINE event hosted a distinctive audience of business owners, executives, community development leaders, and members of the El Centro community.

This past year has been a tremendous year of economic development for the City of El Centro as the City continues its mission to better serve the business community and as such, desired to give special recognition to those businesses that truly exemplified the meaning of the award acronym IMAGINE – Innovators, Motivators, Architects of Change, & Genius, Industrious, Noble, Entrepreneurs.

IMAGINE 2008 Business Recognition Awards Dinner

As the City of El Centro celebrates its 100th anniversary, we wanted

to honor four businesses that shared in the centennial. Imperial

Hardware Company, Imperial Valley Press, Imperial Printers, and Office

Supply Company not only invested in the City’s economic growth, but

also in the service to members of our community.

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A nominating committee comprised of individuals from the public and private sector reviewed the IMAGINE nomination applications and determined which businesses best represented the IMAGINE award categories.

Jon Edney, Mayor for the City of El Centro stated, “the highly competitive criteria for selection included the attribute of each of the individual categories, but they also contained a blend of each of the IMAGINE characteristics. Those criteria created the prestigious IMAGINE award that showcases the highest accolade for business acumen and talent for the City of El Centro.”

AWA R D S2008

Innovator Border Tactical Associates Bill & Margo DuBoisMotivator LW Consulting Lori WysockiArchitect of Change Burgers & Beer Kurt & Jaime HonoldGenius Spectrum Advertising Rob & Mary ZimmerIndustrious Office Supply Company Paul & Cate McManusNoble Valliant David & Angie HansenEntrepreneurs Willie’s Donuts William & Saveth Thong

“Imagination Leads to Great Opportunities”

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The economic prosperity of a community depends on healthy business.Listening to the needs of our business community provides us with the best information about economic and future growth needs.

Transforming the way we do businessBusiness VisitationA small part of what we do; a big impact on the way we do business.

1 Dollar Tree“Our customers discover new treasures every week.” -Bill Caldwell

2 Fairfield Inn“We have a high occupancy rate which is good for business.” -Donna Walker

3 Hour Photo“For 25 years we have offered personalized service to our customers.” -Milt & Shirley McShan

4 Union Bank“We have been in the downtown for 50 years.” -Liz Villalobos

5 Kinder Castle Learning Academy“We are the valley’s first web cam accessible childcare center.” -Nora Elias

6 La Hacienda“Our customers are the best!”-Rosa Caro

7 Starbucks“Starbucks is a leader in environmental principles.”-Michael Callahan

8 Kinder Castle Learning Academy“We welcome parents to come visit our academy.”-Nora Elias

9 Imperial Printers“Our professional designers take your ideas and make them a reality.”-Frank Limon

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You might be curious as to who IFHMB is, exactly what type of services they provide and the cost for these services to El Centro residents?

Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board (IFHMB) is a private, non-profit fair housing agency with more than 27 years of experience in providing fair housing, landlord/tenant and other housing related services to the entire County of San Bernardino and parts of Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.

IFHMB provides a Fair Housing Program that covers Education, Outreach and Enforcement of fair housing rights and responsibilities. IFHMB conducts Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant workshops to increase awareness of fair housing

rights and responsibilities as they relate to the City and throughout the region.

Mediation services are offered to all willing participants in an effort to resolve disputes between tenants and property owners/managers. Mediation is a voluntary process requiring both sides to take part in this relatively simple process. It should be noted that the information divulged in a mediation is confidential thus allowing both parties to speak freely maximizing their ability to resolve the issues.

It is important to note that IFHMB is neither a tenant advocate nor a landlord advocate. Our agency helps a landlord with their problem just as quickly as we help a tenant. IFHMB advocates the adherence

to fair housing laws, both federal and state. We strive to increase communication between landlord and tenant in an effort to create a healthier community.

How much do these services cost the public? El Centro residents will be glad to hear that there is no charge for our services. The only thing that is required is that we are able to gather demographic data for HUD reporting purposes. You do not have to have a complaint to call IFHMB, you can also call just to receive information about the housing issues important to you. The information you provide will be treated confidentially and a landlord or tenant will not be contacted unless you request it.

IFHMB looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the City of El Centro and all of its inhabitants. You can reach us by calling (800) 321-0911 or by email at HYPERLINK “mailto:inmedbd@aol.com” inmedbd@aol.com. Our website, HYPERLINK “http://www.inmedbd.com” www.inmedbd.com has been linked to the City of El Centro’s website for your convenience.

Jess Torres, Assistant DirectorInland Fair Housing and Mediation Board60 E 9th StreetUpland, CA 91786

(800) 321-0911

Fair Housing Comes to El Centro

The City of El Centro has contracted with Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board (IFHMB) to provide Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant services for El Centro residents. The City of El Centro is now required to establish and maintain a Fair Housing Program to meet both State and Federal guidelines.

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1249 Main StreetEl Centro, CA 92243(760) 337-4543 Phone(760) 352-4867 Fax

N E W S L E T T E R

In September 2006, the City of El Centro Redevelopment Agency embarked on an aggressive effort to enhance areas within the City by offering a Graffiti Removal Program. The National League of Cities recently recognized the City’s outstanding efforts at the annual Congress of Cities and Exposition in New Orleans. The City Showcase celebrated innovative city programs, and offered officials from across the country an opportunity to discuss innovative ideas with more than 5,000 participants.

Public finance, community and economic development, sustainability,

public safety, recreation, and youth programs were among the wide variety of municipal programs that were featured in the Showcase. Exhibitors included representatives from 40 municipalities of all size and type, as well as from various geographic areas.

El Centro Graffiti Removal Program

Upcoming Events

City of El Centro Graffiti Removal Program at the 2007 National League of Cities in New Orleans.

Save the date:

Project SHAPE Community Meeting

September 18, 2008The Spot, 719 W. Main Street, El Centro

IMAGINE �009 Business Recognition Awards

February 12, 2009

Details will be coming soon!