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September 2013 - Vol. 5 - Issue #9
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 In this issue...
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Freeway Signage Ordinance Approved
The Elk Grove City Council approved a measure to create special signage zones along Highway 99 and Interstate 5. This new ordinance establishes a Business Center Overlay Zoning District around each highway interchange in Elk Grove and allows for up to two business center signs at each interchange. Areas include Highway 99 at Sheldon Road, Laguna Boulevard/Bond Road, Elk Grove Boulevard, and Kammerer Road/Grant Line Road, and along Interstate 5 at Laguna Boulevard and Elk Grove Boulevard.
According to The Elk Grove Citizen, the zones run about a mile in radius at each exit, although council members extended the zone on Elk Grove Boulevard east of Highway 99 due to the number of nationally recognized restaurant franchises located in that area.
Contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org for more information.
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Cosumnes River College Opens new Elk Grove Center
Cosumnes River College's (CRC) Elk Grove Center--a satellite learning center provided by the Los Rios Community College District--celebrated a ceremonial ribbon cutting earlier this month. According to The Elk Grove Citizen, the two-story $15 million project features more than 400 parking stalls, a quad area, conference room and student lounge. CRC's student newspaper reports that 1,500 students have enrolled. Contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org for more information.
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Elk Grove Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The City of Elk Grove has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and reporting.
The City's Finance Department was recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
"The City of Elk Grove has a strong commitment to transparent and prudent fiscal operations," said Mayor Gary Davis. "The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is yet another example of Elk Grove's proven track record of competent and transparent stewardship of public funds."
The City of Elk Grove's 2011-2012 comprehensive annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the nationally-recognized guidelines of the program, including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story, and motivating others to read the report.
The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit association representing more than 17,500 government finance professionals in Northern America and Canada. For more information about the Government Finance Officers Association, visit www.gfoa.org.
To view the City of Elk Grove's award-winning comprehensive annual financial report, visit www.elkgrovecity.org/finance/accounting-division/cafr.asp. For more information, visit www.elkgrovecity.org/finance or call (916) 691-2489.
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Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza Earns Prestigious Helen Putnam Award
The League of California Cities has selected the City of Elk Grove as a 2013 Helen Putnam award winner for its innovative Rain Garden Plaza. The prestigious award was announced at the League of California Cities Annual Conference in Sacramento.
The statewide Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program recognizes select California cities for outstanding efforts and innovative solutions that deliver the highest quality and level of service in the most effective manner possible.
 The Rain Garden Plaza opened last year and is one of the most comprehensive rain gardens in California. The park was designed to transform a small, unique open space to educate the community about eco-friendly landscaping and water conservation.
"The City of Elk Grove is thrilled to receive the prestigious Helen Putman Award for Planning and Environmental Quality" said Mayor Gary Davis. "The Rain Garden Plaza is truly a marriage of conservation and education. It demonstrates that low-impact development practices can create a place of beauty and relaxation, and that habitat can co-exist with nature- driven storm water management."
 In one year, a one-acre weedy, vacant lot was converted into an innovative, award- winning rain garden plaza. Adjacent to City Hall, this lot is now a local and statewide model for low impact development practices. It features a creatively designed and aesthetically pleasing outdoor area that includes a rain garden, biofiltration swales, pervious paving system and river-friendly landscaping. It also includes a canopied picnic area, exercise equipment and unique artwork.
 The Rain Garden Plaza has also received the California Stormwater Quality Association 2012 Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project Award and the Laguna Creek Watershed Council Green Seal Award. The park was named Sacramento Magazine's 2012 Best New Park and the 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers Sacramento Section Sustainability Project of the Year. The Rain Garden Plaza is located at 9385 Laguna Springs Drive, adjacent to Elk Grove City Hall. For more information, visit www.elkgrovecity.org/rain-garden.
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Business Spotlight: Kirkland's
 Kirkland's--a national specialty retailer of home décor operating approximately 330 stores in 35 states--celebrated the grand opening of its new Elk Grove store earlier this month. Kirkland's joins DSW, Stein Mart and Fresh Market that have all recently opened locations in the bustling Laguna Crossroads shopping center.
Kirkland's was co-founded in 1966 by Carl Kirkland, and the company has grown steadily since opening its first store in Jackson, Tennessee. Kirkland's features a broad selection of home décor merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories, and an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise.
Kirkland's recently donated $1,000 to Elk Grove Artists (EGA), a local non-profit arts organization. According to the Elk Grove Citizen, the group recently lent its artistic talent to help promote the store's grand opening this month.
For more information, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org.
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 Featured Property: Liberty Center II/Turnkey Medical Suite
9381 E. Stockton Blvd. Suite 220, Elk Grove
Offered by PDF Commercial
Liberty Center II is an +/- 80,000sf class A building located at the heart of Elk Grove's business corridor. The exceptional architectural design, the exclusive interior, along with the original bronze sculpture commissioned by Montana' s world renowned wildlife artist Mike Casper, makes Liberty Center II one of the area' s most desirable class A buildings, just 20 minutes south of downtown Sacramento.
Property Highlights:- Medical ready to move in
- Exterior building signage
- Three exam rooms with sinks
- Two windowed offices
- Well appointed reception/waiting area
- 10.5' curved granite reception counter
- X-ray ready
- Glass doors at conference room
For more information on this property, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org.
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Find Available Commercial Property at ElkGroveSiteSearch.com
View Elk Grove's extensive commercial property listings along with size, use, cost and development incentives at ElkGroveSiteSearch.com. Corresponding demographic and statistical reports such as labor force, education levels, community profiles, and consumer spending and age can also be created. Businesses are mapped by industry showing their distribution and concentrations throughout the area. For more information contact the EGEDC at info@elkgroveedc.org.
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News from the EGEDC
New City Policy Supports Economic Development in Industrial Areas
A new City policy was recently adopted to expedite the permitting process and reduce fees for businesses moving into Elk Grove's industrial spaces within in the city limits. Under the new policy, businesses moving into existing industrial spaces will no longer have to obtain a new building permit, as long as the previous owner had the required permits for the space and no additional construction work is required. The policy also allows for a Certificate of Occupancy to be transferred to similar businesses in industrial areas on spaces less than 3,000 square feet. The new policy will reduce fees and ensure an efficient transition into a new space. For more information visit www.elkgrovecity.org/building-permits or contact Sarah Sandoval at ssandoval@elkgrovecity.org or 916-478-3629.
Elk Grove Slashes Homebuilder Fees
The City of Elk Grove has eliminated the 97 cents/sf affordable housing fee that developers of office facilities have had to pay that funded a city program seeking housing for low-income residents. The fee, however, will remain unchanged and still be charged for commercial/retail, hotel, manufacturing and warehouses, and range from 46 cents to $1.36/sf. Residential impact fees for future homes were also reduced. For more information, contact the EGEDC at info@elkgroveedc.org.
Program Expedites Small Business Building Permits
The City of Elk Grove's new personalized service, "T.I. Tuesdays," expedites building permits for small businesses and allows applicants to meet one-on-one with staff to process smaller tenant improvement building permits. In most cases the permit can be issued at the counter the same day. For details call 916-478-2235 or visit: www.elkgrovecity.org/building-permits.
Download EG's Small Business Start-Up Guide
Free Consulting From the Small Business Development Center!
The Small Business Development Center provides free business consultation to Elk Grove's existing and emerging businesses. An SBDC consultant is available at the beginning of each month in the same office space as the Chamber and the EGEDC. Free and low-cost workshops are also available. Send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org for more information.
Business License Report Online--See Who Else Has "Opened Up to Elk Grove"
Click here for the City of Elk Grove's latest online monthly new business license report! Online Plan Reviews StreamlinedA convenient web-based electronic plan submission, review and tracking system is available on the City of Elk Grove's website that allows building permit customers to manage a plan review, upload files and track the status of a project review. For more information on news items, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org. |
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 Elk Grove Quick Facts
Population: 156,958
Labor Force: 82,186
Households: 43,902
Median Household Income: $81,618
Per Capita Income: $33,500
Median Age: 33.5
Educational Attainment: 73% attended or graduated college
Click here for more information!
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Contact the EGEDC
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