PG&E Continues Its Strong Support Of Economic Vitality For Local Communities

PG&E Continues Its Strong Support Of Economic Vitality For Local Communities
Thu, 11 Oct 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continuing its long-standing commitment to support the economic vitality of the communities it serves, Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced the granting of $400,000 to 75 local governments and community-based organizations for local economic and community development projects throughout northern and central California. This marks the sixth year of funding for the company's Economic Development Grants Program, which has provided over $1.7 million to 325 worthy projects during that time.

Governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations throughout PG&E's service area were eligible to apply for grants up to $10,000. Applications were judged in two categories: economic development and community development.

"PG&E is committed to supporting the economic health of communities in which we live and work. It's clear that there is a great need for these types of grants -- this year alone we have received over $2.4 million of requests from 243 organizations," said Helen Burt, senior vice president and chief customer officer for PG&E. "We know our grants can really help supplement the budgets of economic development organizations, so choosing among the many worthwhile projects was challenging. We believe the selected projects will be the most effective in making a positive difference in dozens of communities throughout northern and central California for years to come."

The grants are funding various types of projects, including business retention, business recruitment, downtown improvement, training, websites, marketing materials, and green business development.

In addition to the Economic Development Grant Program, PG&E has worked directly with over 100 local, state and regional economic development organizations to promote business development and job creation in northern and central California. Since 1996, PG&E's economic development team has provided vital assistance to successfully attract and/or retain 178 businesses totaling over 30,000 jobs in communities the utility serves.

PG&E's support of economic development programs is part of the utility's long history of making charitable grants tailored to the needs of the wide variety of communities it serves. The company's broader program of support to communities includes cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community-based nonprofit organizations, and for schools and other governmental programs throughout northern and central California. This year, PG&E is increasing its support to charitable nonprofit organizations by 25 percent to $18.3 million -- the largest charitable commitment in the company's history. All charitable contributions are entirely funded by the company's shareholders and the level of charitable giving does not affect gas and electric rates.

Following is the list of the organizations receiving grants, the name of the project and the grant amount:

ORGANIZATION PROJECT AMOUNT

TeamCalifornia Economic TeamCalifornia Marketing Campaign
Development Corporation -- Trade Show Booth Re-design $10,000

Glide Foundation Glide YouthBuild $10,000

Center for Young Sisters Rising 9-Month
Women's Development Employment Training Program $2,000

Jewish Vocational and The Technology
Career Counseling Service Access Center $2,500

Mission Economic Business Development Program
Development Association $2,500

South of Market Greening San Francisco's
Foundation in partnership Small Businesses
with Urban Solutions $5,000

City of East Palo Alto East Palo Alto Business Needs
and Capacity Assessment Update $5,000

Economic Vitality Research Economic Growth and Vitality
and Education Foundation through Start-up Business
Opportunities in San Mateo County $5,000

Human Investment Project Self-Sufficiency Program
in partnership with
HIP Housing $7,500

Sustainable Sustainable Business Workshops
San Mateo County $7,800

City of San Leandro City of San Leandro and San Leandro
Chamber of Commerce Business
Assistance Program $5,000

Inner City Advisors Business Growth Workshops $2,500

Locally Wrapped Inc. Sustainable Local Shopping in Oakland $5,000

City of Pleasant Hill Taking Care of Business $1,500

City of Richmond Richmond YouthWORKS Year-Round
Employment and Training Youth Employment Program
Department, YouthWORKS
Division $7,500

El Campanil Theatre Family Programming, Marketing
Preservation Foundation and Theatrical Lighting Upgrade $10,000

City of Gonzales Downtown Retail Sales
Expansion Program $2,500

City of King City King City Economic Development
and Business Recruitment $4,000

City of Soledad Business Marketing Plan $2,000

Regional Analysis and CD-Rom Promotion Project
Planning Services, Inc. for Central Coast Regional
in partnership with Marketing Team
Central Coast Marketing
Team $2,500

Economic Development New Industrial
Corporation of Marketing Tools
San Benito County $2,000

City of Cupertino Cupertino Economic Development
Marketing Program $2,500

City of Mountain View Mountain View --
in partnership with Your Success is Our Business
Mountain View Chamber
of Commerce $3,500

Gilroy Economic Moving Gilroy Forward
Development Corporation $2,500

Joint Venture Silicon Valley Prospector
Silicon Valley $10,000

Movimiento De Arte William Street Business Directory
Y Cultura Latino Americana
De San Jose, Incorporated $7,500

San Jose Redevelopment Story Road Business Association
Agency Operating and Marketing $3,500

City of Santa Cruz in Energy Efficiency through Green
partnership with Tourism Promotion and Education
Santa Cruz County
Conference & Visitors
Council $7,500

City of Watsonville Government and Local Sponsors
Team-Up to Assist Local Businesses
in Saving Both Time and Money $2,000

Madera County Economic Direct E-Mail-E-Communication
Development Commission Newsletter $2,500

California Central Valley Central California Regional
Economic Development Investment Guide
Corporation $7,500

City of Fresno in Mayor's Job Initiative
partnership with Parks, Spring Job Fair
Recreation and Community
Services Department $5,000

City of Huron Marketing for the Huron Industrial
Business Park $5,000

Fresno Regional Foundation Fresno County Economic Profile Grant $2,500

West Fresno Coalition for West Fresno Asset Map
Economic Development $5,000

Kings County Economic Website Overhaul
Development Corporation $10,000

Alliance Against Violence General Education Development
Program $6,200

Arts Council of Kern Dressing Up Chester $7,500

Bakersfield Association
for Retarded Citizens, Inc. Industrial Training $10,000

Bethany Services dba Job Creation through Enhanced
Bakersfield Homeless Preparation
Center $8,000

City of Wasco Site Location Consultants' Tour $3,750

Kern Community Foundation Site Location Consultants' Tour
in partnership with Kern
Economic Development
Corporation $3,750

Goodwill Industries of Project ME: Feasibility Study for
South Central California Microenterprise Development Program
for Low Income and Disabled
Residents of Kern County $2,500

County of San Luis Shandon Cluster Strategy
Obispo $2,500

Economic Vitality Economic Impact Study of the
Corporation of San Luis Tourism Industry in San Luis Obispo
Obispo County County $10,000

San Miguel Resource Community Economic Development
Connection and Marketing Project $2,500

California Space and California Space Center
Education and Workforce
Institute, Inc. $7,500

Santa Maria Valley Economic Development
Community Foundation in
partnership with Santa
Maria Valley Chamber of
Commerce $2,500

Pine Grove Civic Neighborhood Commercial District
Improvement Club Sign Revitalization Program $2,000

Mariposa County Mariposa County Recreation Guide $5,000

Growing Merced Foundation Regional Advantage for
in partnership with Manufacturing Wealth
Merced County Economic
Development Corporation $10,000

City of Tracy -- Economic Marketing and Outreach Trade
Development Department Show/Marketing Event Display $4,000

City of Manteca in Manteca/San Joaquin DVD Showcase
partnership with Manteca
Chamber of Commerce $5,000

San Joaquin 2008 Virtual Aerial DVD Tour
Foundation, Inc. of San Joaquin County $10,000

California Academy for Strengthening Central Sierra
Economic Development in Business Assistance Programs
partnership with Tuolumne
County, Amador County and
Calaveras County Economic
Development Corporations $1,500

Solano Economic Team Solano Cooperative Branding
Development Corporation Campaign $5,000

City of Oroville South Oroville Commercial
Revitalization Study $5,000

The CSU Chico Research 2008 Economic Forecast Conference
Foundation in partnership
with Center for Economic
Development $5,000

Tri-County Economic Business Loan Marketing Campaign
Development Corporation $2,500

North Central Rural Job Development and Business
Training and Employment Recruitment Outreach
Private Industry Council
in partnership with
North Central Counties
Consortium $9,800

Tehama Local Development Tehama County Business Outreach
Corporation Plan $4,000

Upstate California Trade Shows and Booth Enhancement
Economic Development
Council $10,000

Camptonville Community Camptonville Community Center
Partnership and Economic Revitalization
Planning Grant $2,000

Nevada County Economic 2008 Nevada County Economic
Resource Council Forecast Conference
Foundation, Inc. $5,000

Rocklin Historical St. Mary's Restoration:
Society A Community Project Sponsored
by the Rocklin Historical Society $2,000

Sacramento Area Clean Energy Technology:
Regional Technology Regional Development Barrier
Alliance (SARTA) Identification and Economic
Development Resource Matrix
Development $10,000

Valley Vision, Inc. Addressing the Needs of Existing
Clean Energy Technology
Businesses in the Sacramento Region $10,000

World Trade Center Northern California International
Sacramento in partnership Business Leadership Certificate
with Northern California Program
World Trade Center $2,500

Capay Valley Vision, Inc. Streetscape Design for Esparto $5,000

Woodland Access Visual Visit Woodland and Yolo
Enterprises in partnership County Attractions
with The Wave TV 21 $8,000

North Coast Small Low-income Green Business
Business Resource Center Development Project $3,200

City of Santa Rosa Neighborhood Revitalization
Program Self-Sufficiency Project $9,000

Sonoma County Economic North Bay Business Development
Development Foundation Conference $7,000

Napa Valley Economic Economic Impact of the Business
Development Corporation Parks in South Napa County $10,000

Benicia First Corporation First Street Business Improvement
in partnership with Seminar Series
Benicia Main Street $2,500

For more information about Pacific Gas and Electric Company, please visit our website at http://www.pge.com/
Pacific Gas and Electric Company