The Office of Economic of Development is always searching for ways to expand business opportunities for local businesses and to save businesses money. Check out these free business workshops to be held in the City Council Chambers:

1. How to Do Business with the City of Fremont
October 13, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

2. How to Do Business With Alameda County
October 20, 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.

3. How Recycling Can Save Your Business Money
November 10, 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Since April, the City team, consisting of Fremont's Mayor or a Councilmember, an Economic Development Advisory Commissioner, and top City staff, has met with top corporate management staff at the following businesses to talk about their interests, goals and concerns: ARYx, ASUS Computer International, Biomedix Inc., ClearSight Networks, Genesys Testware, Mattson Technology, Mendocino Software, Santur, Western Digital, and ZNYX Networks.

If you're interested in participating in the Corporate Site Visit Program, contact Economic Development Assistant Kim Marshall or at 510-284-4020.

Participate in the Fremont Police Department's Business Crime Watch program. This program offers:

- Methods to better protect your business.
- Security Assessment Surveys for your business property.
- Help organizing Business Crime Watch groups.
- Insight in how the Police Department is organized.

If you sign-up to be a part of our Business Crime Watch email list, you will receive monthly crime statistics that relate to your business such as commercial burglaries, identity thefts, forgeries and robberies in the area. You will also receive crime prevention tips and crime alerts when needed.

For more information, contact Crime Watch Specialist Tish Marquez via email or at 510-790-6966.

Ready Business, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, offers valuable tips for what you can do to help protect your business investment and your livelihood, as well as support your employees, customers and stakeholders, the community, the local economy and even the country. Check out their website and get prepared!

Congratulations to Mike Accarizzi, whose entry was selected at random for this year's photo contest. He and his family of shoppers (his wife and grandchildren are pictured) will receive a total of $100 in gift cards from Cost Plus World Market, Kohl's, Olive Garden, and Party America Fremont, to continue their shopping spree! Special thanks to these premier Fremont businesses for their generous support of this contest!

Plans are moving ahead for the celebration of Fremont's 50th Anniversary in 2006. Celebrate Fremont is the non-profit volunteer organization that is planning and producing the celebration, which will include a big two-day event at Central Park on September 9-10, 2006.

Sponsorship Opportunities are available by visiting the Celebrate Fremont website.

Over the past few months the City of Fremont has experienced a wave of new restaurant and retail openings:

Pacific Commons, located at the corner of Interstate 880 and AutoMall Parkway, now includes Ritz Camera, Game Stop, T-Mobile, Washington Mutual, 3 Day Blinds, Cold Stone Creamery, In-N-Out Burger, and Tapioca Express. Panera Bread, and Claim Jumper Restaurant are coming soon.

The Hub has some new retailers including Marshall's and Cost Plus World Market. Ulta Cosmetics and PetsMart are coming soon.

The Shops at Washington West has Fremont's first Panera Bread, Chipotle, and Peets Coffee. Strizzi's Restaurant, offering a high-end Italian menu, will be opening in early 2006.

Other new Downtown restaurants include the trendy bistro, Pasta ?, which opened at Fremont Plaza, and L&L Hawaiian Barbeque at Mowry Landing. SFO Pizzeria at Gateway Plaza is coming soon along with an Asian Buffet restaurant at the former El Torito location. Titan's Kingdom, a pet spa, opened at The Benton near the downtown BART station.

In Niles, The Toy Box and La Fajita Mexican Grill are now open. Club 19 Fitness opened in the Irvington District at Connolly's Center. In Centerville, Sea Wolf Trading Company, a pirate store, recently opened. zPizza opened at 46703 Mission Boulevard and provides a fresh twist to your pizza experience. Wal-Mart opened at 3045 Skyway Court (on Osgood Road just south of the intersection with Auto Mall Parkway).

Expect to see some changes in Centerville over the coming year. Several building facades will be getting an updated look thanks to the determination of the property owners and business tenants, and the Fremont Redevelopment Agency's Facade and Commercial Rehabilitation Programs.

Projects scheduled for completion by the end of the year will include extensive remodeling, new windows, new stucco, new landscaping, new signage, and parking lot resurfacing at the following addresses: 3660, 3832, and 3875 Peralta Boulevard; 4050 Alder Avenue, and 37280 Maple Street (see pictures below).

If you have any questions about these projects or are interested in the Facade and Commercial Rehabilitation Programs, please contact Redevelopment Project Manager Jennifer Andersen via email or at 510-494-4518.

Before Renovation at 37280 Maple Street:



After Renovation at 37280 Maple Street:

A new parking lot, complete with 98 new parking spaces nestled in among the trees, is coming soon to Centerville. It is located at 3849 Peralta Boulevard (adjacent to the Bill Ball Plaza and across the tracks from the Train Depot), and will make train commuting, shopping, and dining more convenient. Look for this project to be completed by the end of 2005. For more information contact Engineering Project Manger Connie Louie-Wong via email or at 510-494-4682.

The City of Fremont has brand new 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom homes available for $284,900, $316,400 and $341,950 respectively. How is the City able to offer brand new homes at these prices? Under the City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance all new residential developments of seven or more units must set aside at least 15% of the homes to be sold at below market rate.

How can your employees purchase one of these homes? Encourage your employees to enroll in the City's Homeownership Workshop or call 510-494-4500 to enroll. Participants who have completed our homeownership workshop are selected by lottery to purchase these homes; lottery dates are November 4 and December 9, 2005

Economic Development staff is busy working with several of our biotech and technology firms looking to expand in Fremont. If your firm has any needs in planning for your growth, please let us know. We would be pleased to help you look for a site or assist you through the permitting process. Contact Economic Development Assistant Kim Marshall via email or at 510-284-4020.

The updated "Fremont Biotech Map" is now available. It includes our newest firms: Aryx Pharmaceuticals and RITA Medical Systems. We are pleased to welcome them to Fremont and have them join the 40 biotech companies that call Fremont home. To receive a copy of this map, contact Executive Assistant Kim Marshall via email or at 510-284-4020.