Board gets update on Gran Plaza Outlets
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard a presentation regarding the most recent developments of grant applications the county, the city of Calexico and Gran Plaza outlets are currently seeking.
Community and Economic Development Manager Esperanza Colio Warren said county staff and Calexico officials met on May 12 to discuss the plans to apply for funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Colio said the city of Calexico plans to submit their finalized application to the EDA in June in which they seek $3 million in funding.
Those funds are intended for infrastructure improvements along the right of way along west Second Street in Calexico.
The improvements include earthwork, upgrades to its sewer system, storm drain system, improvements to the water system, surfacing improvements and underground utilities. The total cost of the improvements is expected to be more than $6 million with the developer expected to pay the remainder of the amount.
The improvements are expected to help the expansion of the Gran Plaza shopping center and assist with the development if the new Gran Plaza Power Center, which will generate sales tax revenue to the city and expand employment opportunities.
In addition to the update regarding the EDA application update, Colio said the developers are also looking into applying for a Community Development Block Grant - Over the Counter Program in order to enclose the shopping center which sees business take a hit when scorching temperatures drive customers away during the summer months.
“The biggest concern that they have because it is an open mall is that it defeats some of the clients to come to the mall but if it’s enclosed like in El Centro it invites the community to go and do their purchases,” Colio said.
The current estimate for that particular project is between $10 million to $11 million. Through the CDBG Over the counter program the developers may be able to get up to $5 million for the improvements.
Colio said additional presentations will be made to the board regarding the projects between in June and July as developers and city of Calexico finalize the applications for both programs.
WDO/EED partnership
As part of the consent portion of the agenda, the board approved a lease agreement to co-locate Workforce Development Office staff with the State of California Employment Development Department.
Director of the Workforce Development Office Miguel Figueroa said the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity act requires the Workforce Development Office to co-locate with partners such as the EDD.
“It’s a way to streamline and better service the customers that we serve,” Figueroa said.
The agreement will allow ten staff members from the Workforce Development Office to relocate to the EDD facility on Main St. in El Centro to be able to provide business and career employment services within the EDD building facilitating and bringing those services to people who need them.
The Workforce Development Office will pay per month 3,704 to use the space at the EDD facility, of that 88 percent of the monies will come from the WIOA and the remaining 12 percent from a service agreement with the Department of Social Services.
The lease agreement will run from July 1 through June 30, 2020, with the possibility of a two-year extension.