December 21, 2023 | ISSUE #32

NEWS & UPDATES

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." - Anne Bradstreet

Visit Our Website

ECD 2024 | YEAR IN REVIEW

Alameda County's ECD team has been proud to serve businesses and entrepreneurs located in our unincorporated areas. ECD looks forward to continuing to provide resources, education, and opportunities for collaboration to new and existing business owners throughout 2024 and beyond.

Visit ECD's Website for More Info

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES

SHOP LOCAL BILLBOARDS

This holiday season, it's so important to support the Unincorporated Area's small businesses by shopping local. In that spirit, ECD is proud to introduce its Shop Local billboard campaign! Look out for our ad (and mascot Pip!) on billboards throughout the County and don't forget to support local businesses by buying some gifts for your loved ones!

Facade Improvement Program

Newly Completed Project

BEFORE

AFTER

PURPLE ORCHID RESORT & SPA

4549 Cross Road, Livermore

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

HOLIDAY BANNERS

ASHLAND

E 14TH

SAN LORENZO/ASHLAND

LEWELLING BLVD

SAN LORENZO HESPERIAN BLVD

CASTRO VALLEY

CASTRO VALLEY BLVD

ECD has helped provide our communities with festive holiday banners, which will be hanging throughout commercial corridors of the County's unincorporated area during the holiday season! Make sure to look out for these banners when traveling through Ashland, Castro Valley, and San Lorenzo up through the New Year!

Food Business Training

2024 FETA Workshops

The Food Entrepreneurship Training Academy – or FETA – is a free series on food business entrepreneurship sponsored by ECD and the East Bay Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The next Fundamental FETA series will run from February 6 to March 7, with a Spanish Fundamental FETA running from March 11 to April 8th.

Learn More About The FETA Program

Business Spotlight | Mark's Hallmark Shop

LOCATION

3340 Village Drive

Castro Valley, CA 94546

CALL

(510) 274-5535

HOURS

Tues-Sat: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Monday: CLOSED

WEBSITE https://stores.hallmark.com/ca/castrovalley/

Make sure to visit Mark's Hallmark Shop this holiday season for your gift and greeting card needs!

Business Resources | Small Business Workshops

Click Here To Register

Upcoming Public Meetings | Civic Participation

Ensure that your voice is heard by taking part in these upcoming Alameda County community meetings!

CASTRO VALLEY MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Land Use Meeting: Monday, January 8 - Virtual

General Purpose Meeting: Monday, January 15 - Castro Valley Library

Land Use Meeting: Monday, January 22 - Virtual

EDEN AREA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Regular Meeting: Tuesday, January 9 - San Lorenzo Library

FAIRVIEW MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Regular Meeting: Tuesday, January 2 - Castro Valley Library

SUNOL CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL

Regular Meeting: Wednesday, January 17 - Sunol Glen School Cafeteria

UNINCORPORATED SERVICES COMMITTEE

Regular Meeting: Wednesday, January 24 - San Lorenzo Library

Click Here for Agendas & More Info!

Community Events & Resources

Join the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce for two important events early in 2024! On Wednesday, January 10th, the Chamber will collaborate with Assemblymember Liz Ortega to provide information and resources on how to protect your business from cyber crimes. And on Thursday, January 18th, join the Chamber for a mixer and installation event for their 2024 Board of Directors!

Alameda County’s Administrative Minor Use Permit program – or AiMUP – has streamlined certain permitting for eligible businesses in the Unincorporated Area and assists in COVID recovery efforts. This allows for the approval of business permits for uses such as:

Outdoor dining, retail, and personal services
Community facilities
Pop-up spaces
Mobile food/retail
Musical performances

It only takes 5-10 days for most businesses to receive their permits through this program!

Click For More Information

Click To Apply For An AiMUP

MOBILE CITIZEN APP

Alameda County utilizes a Mobile Citizen app that allows the public to report potholes, graffiti, and illegal dumping to the County's Public Works Agency. The app can be downloaded by searching "mobile citizen" in your phone's app store.