Business Services |
Having problems with your building? Click on the Whose Job Is It? link and find out who to contact for help.
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Grants |
El Cajon CDC offers grants for business relocation and recruiting expenses, exterior facade improvements and security enhancements. Grant applications are available on our website www.downtownelcajon.com, under Business Support, Business Success Grants. |
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Loans |
El Cajon CDC and San Diego Bankers Small Business CDC have partnered to assist Downtown El Cajon businesses utilizing the “Business Success” grants administered by El Cajon CDC. For those businesses that receive grant funds for business relocation, expansion or façade improvements, and need additional capital to complete their project, San Diego Bankers Small Business CDC will provide special rate financing |
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Promotion |
El Cajon CDC organizes over 60% of the special events in the City of El Cajon including a summer concert series, the largest weekly car show in Southern California and an outdoor film series. The CDC also offers opportunities to participate in a public relations and advertising program. Your business will automatically be listed on our website, www.downtownelcajon.com, which receives more than 2.5 million hits per year. |
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Experience |
El Cajon CDC offers experience through professional staff and consultants. |
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Education |
El Cajon CDC organizes Good Morning Meetings, which are educational workshops and networking opportunities for Downtown business owners. |
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Image |
El Cajon CDC maintains a clean, safe and inviting Downtown environment with standards for building and signage projects. |
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Ambassadors |
El Cajon CDC Downtown Ambassadors are the eyes and ears on the street for the business community and the El Cajon Police Department. Ambassadors are committed to providing service, guidance and an overall friendly atmosphere to increase safety and pride in Downtown El Cajon. Ambassadors are assisted by maintenance and litter abatement crews who work to keep the sidewalks and public space clean and safe. |
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Community |
El Cajon CDC creates a balanced community through affordable housing. |
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Participation |
El Cajon CDC invites business owners to participate in committees and voice their needs. |
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Business Tips
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Business Tip of the Month: How to make a great customer database!
By Frank Boss Jr.
Every business should have a customer database, whether it is a list from your sales receipts, email lists or a catalog of each of your regular customers.
To start you may opt to purchase a relatively inexpensive database program such as ACT, Goldmine, or even Microsoft's ACCESS. Once you have one of these programs you can begin collecting the names, addresses and emails of your customers each time they buy something from your store. You can also purchase business card readers that scan information automatically into a database. You can also create an email form on your website that automatically sends prospect information to your web server.
Here are some well known tips about databases:
- Private customer database information helps increase regular sales and repeat business
- You can collect scores of information that can help you sell your products or services
- You can save money by creating your own list instead of buying one from a list broker
- You can also sell the information on your list as long as your customer's "OPT IN" and give you permission to let other businesses contact them
- Your profits can go up as long as you use your list wisely and provide value to the customers on the list
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Earn an annual bill credit with SDG&E's Summer Saver Program
What if you could give one of your hardest workers some time off - and earn an annual bill credit from SDG&E®? With SDG&E's Summer Saver program, your business can earn financial incentives for reducing the run-time of your central air conditioner during periods of high electricity demand. That's right, up to 15 days per year from May through October your business can save more, earn more, and help maintain energy reliability region-wide.
Depending on your needs, choose which participation level is right for you:
- Want to save and earn the most? Then choose the Summer Saver 7-day/50 option. Your central A/C run- time will be reduced by 50% based on the amount of time it ran in the hour before the conservation period - earning you a $15/ton annual bill credit plus a $10 weekend bonus.
- If weekends are your busiest time, consider the 5- day/50 option which reduces your A/C run-time by 50%, weekdays only, for a $15/ton annual bill credit.
- Want to help conserve natural resources while keeping cool? With the 7-day/30 option, your business participates Monday - Sunday while only reducing A/C run-time by 30% for an annual bill credit of $9/ton plus a $10 weekend bonus.
- Looking for an easy way to do your part? Sign up for the 5-day/30 option, which reduces your A/C by 30% on weekdays only and earns you an annual bill credit of $9/ton.
Enrollment is free, and you can change your participation at any time.
So why wait? Sign up today.
For more information or to become a Summer Saver, visit www.sdge.com/summersaver or call 1-800-644-6133.
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