Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Fallbrook Village Association representatives Don McDougal, left, and Vince Ross, right, accept a $2,500 grant from Juanita Hayes, public affairs manager for San Diego Gas & Electric, Sempra Energy Utility.
FALLBROOK – Just in time for the holiday season, the Fallbrook Village Association received word that a grant it had applied for, to help illuminate downtown Main Avenue, had been approved by San Diego Gas & Electric.
Juanita Hayes, public affairs manager for the utility company, brought the $2,500 check to Fallbrook herself on Nov. 17 to help expedite the process.
“I was in the Fallbrook Christmas Parade last year for SDG&E and I gained a much better understanding of this town and its needs,” said Hayes. “I think it will be just fabulous to have LED (light-emitting diode) lights accenting the downtown area.”
Don McDougal of the Fallbrook Village Association explained that the local organization applied to SDG&E for the funds under a program designed to help cross-promote the utility’s new Smart Meter program, and noted it would use quite a bit of the funds to place new lighting in the downtown area.
Hayes said when she saw SDG&E had approved a grant for the Village Association in the amount of $2,500, she “knew it wouldn’t be enough” to adequately provide enough lighting.
“When I rode in the Christmas Parade last year, I noticed how much
That’s when Hayes jumped in and asked that an additional $2,500 be added to the Village Association’s grant so that there would be ample funds to cover both the lighting endeavor and promote the Smart Meter program. Thus, the Village Association will receive a total of $5,000 – with the first half paid last week.
Hayes said she has seen the result of the LED lighting projects using SDG&E grant funds in the town of Julian, at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, and in the city of San Marcos.
“They look just beautiful,” she remarked.
Vince Ross, president of the Fallbrook Village Association, said his organization will work with the Historic Downtown Merchants Association to organize and have the lighting installed so that Fallbrook’s holidays can be a little brighter.
“In probably the worst retail year in history for Fallbrook, this
supports the Christmas spirit,” said Ross. “I don’t believe [the merchants association] would have been able to afford lights this year and this will allow us to support them and make the environment more enjoyable for both residents and visitors.”
Not only is SDG&E providing grant money for the two projects, but they supported the Fallbrook Christmas Parade again with a $1,000 donation to the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce as well. Hayes says she is glad, because she personally saw the enjoyment the parade brought families last year.
“I just love Fallbrook,”
she said.
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