SAVE THE DATE - April 16, 2010!
You are invited to attend!
2nd Annual "It’s Five O’clock Somewhere" Party
on Friday, April 16, 2010
4:47 - 8:00 pm
237 East Main Street
Downtown El Cajon
The vacant space on East Main Street will be transformed into a tropical beach resort setting featuring great food and beverages from local restaurants and pubs, accompanied by live musical entertainment. This unique, after-work FUNdraiser will provide a delightful and informal way to celebrate Downtown El Cajon while mingling with East County leaders, business professionals, community organizers, and neighbors.
Early bird ticket price is only $25 per person, or $30 at the door (Big Kahunas welcome!) Admission price includes unlimited food and beverages, live music, and lots of fun chances to win prizes!
Tickets can be purchased by calling the El Cajon CDC at (619) 401-8858 or you can email Kellye Buchanan, Resource Development Associate, at Kellye@downtownelcajon.com.
Presented by the El Cajon CDC with participation from the San Diego East Visitors Bureau, and the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, all proceeds will support the ongoing revitalization efforts in Downtown El Cajon and your generous support is appreciated.
If you are interested in being a sponsor, or would like to participate as a food or beverage vendor, please contact the El Cajon CDC at (619) 401-8858.
What Is the El Cajon CDC?
 El Cajon CDC is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit community development corporation that was established in 1996 through a grassroots effort by local government, business owners, and residents. El Cajon CDC takes part in, and proactively works toward the many revitalization efforts in Downtown El Cajon. These strategies include the Downtown El Cajon Specific Plan 182 which provides developers with recommendations for land uses and development standards that encourage mixed-use development. The El Cajon CDC Design Review Commission, assigned by City of El Cajon, reviews and approves all renovation and new construction projects to ensure that pedestrians find a safe, clean and inviting atmosphere in Downtown El Cajon. Our corporation also proactively encourages the redevelopment of Brownfield sites. All our development efforts incorporate feedback from local residents and businesses gained through community surveys, forums, committees, and partnerships with other community agencies.
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Career Opportunity: President & CEO
For an individual with demonstrated entrepreneurial, executive level, and long range planning experience. Click here for complete position announcement and application instructions.
Gear Up for Lend A Hand’s Neighborhood Enhancement Projects
Volunteers, materials, and skilled-labor are still needed for this exciting neighborhood event!
Join in the fun as we bring the community together in a big way to landscape, restore tired fencing, paint vibrant murals, and enhance a neighborhood in Downtown El Cajon over two event days this spring.
Click here to learn more about Lend A Hand events.
Wells Fargo Foundation Awards El Cajon CDC with a $7,500 Contribution!
 El Cajon CDC would like to thank Wells Fargo Foundation for their $7,500 contribution to the El Cajon CDC. Wells Fargo's investment in the El Cajon CDC's community development programs will help further our mission of revitalizing the Downtown El Cajon community through Neighborhood Enhancement projects, Clean & Safe program, Saturday Morning Clean-Ups, and more. Wells Fargo has been a supporter of the El Cajon CDC for many years. We applaud their ongoing endeavors in giving back to the community and appreciate their dedicated partnership.
Sycuan Casino donates $5,000 to El Cajon CDC!
 El Cajon CDC would like to extend a gracious THANK YOU to Sycuan Casino for their generous $5,000 contribution to the El Cajon CDC. Sycuan Casino sponsored the El Cajon CDC Open House this year. The El Cajon CDC officially unveiled our new office location at 131 East Main Street, Suite 201 on October 22 with a Ribbon Cutting & Open House. Approximately 75 of our friends and supporters toured our new office location, enjoyed delicious appetizers and desserts, and visited with our dedicated staff. Sycuan Casino also graciously donated prizes for our golf putting contest / raffle (including a one night stay & golf package for two at Sycuan Resort, and a Sycuan picnic set filled with goodies).
Sycuan Casino - thank you for your contribution and for your continuous partnership!
JPMorgan Chase Foundation Awards El Cajon CDC with a $25,000 Grant!
 El Cajon CDC would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for their generous $25,000 grant to the El Cajon Community Development Corporation. These funds will support the El Cajon CDC’s efforts in economic revitalization in Downtown El Cajon. El Cajon CDC programs directly benefit Downtown El Cajon businesses and residents through our Clean & Safe program, Lend A Hand Days, Saturday Morning Clean-Ups, downtown events, and business recruitment and retention programs.
Thank you JPMorgan Chase Foundation for your generous contribution and for supporting the El Cajon CDC!
Gafcon, Inc. donates $5,000 to El Cajon CDC!
 The El Cajon CDC would like to thank Gafcon, Inc. for their generous contribution. Gafcon is a woman-owned program and construction management firm providing professional construction consulting, construction program management, real estate economics consulting, design management and construction-related claims support. They employ more than 150 at their San Diego corporate headquarters and branch offices in Irvine and Los Angeles. With their $5,000 contribution, the El Cajon CDC welcomes them as a lead donor of the Lend A Hand program. Gafcon’s investment in Lend A Hand will help to revitalize the Downtown El Cajon community through supporting neighborhood enhancement projects and Saturday Morning Clean-ups.
Thank you Gafcon, Inc. for investing in the revitalization of Downtown El Cajon and for supporting the El Cajon CDC!
FEATURED BUSINESS OF THE MONTH March 2010: Babylon International Market
 Take a trip around the world without leaving El Cajon and visit the Babylon International Market, 524 East Main Street (just west of Roanoke Road,) where an amazing variety of food can be found. Owner Imad Antwan has carefully selected items ranging from flours and grains, legumes, dried and fresh fruits, fresh produce, canned goods, sweet treats, coffees and teas, and their special tandoori and Iraqi breads, which are baked right on the premises.
Imad and his wife, Azhar, immigrated to San Diego in 1999. With experience gained from starting his own small box manufacturing company at age 19, managing an oil refinery for several years, and working in and managing several San Diego area markets, Imad seized the opportunity to open his own market. Imad was familiar with El Cajon, and the location was perfect for the type of market he had envisioned. The name was selected because, as Imad says, “most Middle Easterners know the name ‘Babylon’ and ‘International’ indicates the variety of foods available.”
Shoppers may come in for the freshly-baked tandoori and Iraqi bread, but they are quickly tempted by the huge variety of items available. “Nobody makes the bread like we do,” Imad told me proudly. Asked what his favorite part of the business was, he quickly replied: “My customers. They’re very friendly, like family,” and confessed that he even comes in on his days off because his customers expect to see him there all the time.
“Downtown El Cajon is nice and clean” he said, giving a lot of the credit to the El Cajon Community Development Corp. (ECCDC) and their Ambassdors from the Clean & Safe team. He also praised the number of restaurants offering outdoor dining, and events such as the Concerts on the Green and Cajon Classic Cruise, for bringing people to Downtown El Cajon. Imad and his family (wife, Azhar and children Danielle and David) enjoy all that the area has to offer.
Babylon International Market, located at 524 East Main Street, is open seven days a week from
8:00 am to 9:00 pm, and can be reached by phone at (619) 442-4779 or fax at (619) 442-4739. With its large parking lot at the rear of the building, the market is readily accessible. Visit Imad during April and mention this article and where you saw it, and he will give you a tasty food sample.
(Photo: Imad Antwan in front of Babylon Market on East Main Street)
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Click on the Whose Job Is It? link and find out who to contact for help.
What's new in Downtown El Cajon?
Census!
What: The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States.
Who: All U.S. residents must be counted – both citizens and non citizens.
When: You will receive your questionnaire in March 2010 either by U.S. mail or hand delivery. Some people in remote areas will be counted in person.
Why: The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years to count the population and determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representative.
How: Households should complete and mail back their questionnaires upon receipt. Households that do not respond may receive a replacement questionnaire in early April. Census takers will visit households that do not return questionnaires to take a count in person. With one of the shortest questionnaires in history, the 2010 Census is only 10 questions and takes only 10 minutes to complete.
The Importance of Census Data
Every year, the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data. Census data are also used to determine locations for retail stores, schools, hospitals, new housing developments, and other community facilities and improvements. Moreover, census data determine boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts. The U.S. Census Bureau does not ask about the legal status of respondents in any of its surveys and census programs. To help ensure the nation’s increasingly diverse population can answer the questionnaire accurately and completely, the language guides will be available in 59 languages.
2010 Census Timeline
February – March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
March – April 2010: Census questionnaires are available at select public sites for individuals who did not receive one by mail.
April 1, 2010: Census Day
May – July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
December 31, 2010: By law, the Census Bureau delivers population counts to the president.
March 2011: By law, the Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.
It is important for everyone to participate in the 2010 Census ~ exercise your right to be counted.
For more information about the 2010 Census, visit http://2010census.gov/
Sycuan Casino is a valuable partner of the El Cajon CDC and our events.
Find out what's happening at Sycuan Casino by visiting www.sycuancasino.com. |
