PSCDC, Chelsea, and Calexico City Officials Celebrate Grand Opening of Cielo Grande

CALEXICO, CA - November 1, 2023 - Pacific Southwest Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) joined together with residential development partners Chelsea Investment Corporation (Chelsea), Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Calexico Mayor Raul Ureña, and City officials to celebrate another successful project in Imperial Valley.

The 60-unit development totaling $22.52 million, is now the 28th affordable housing project developed by Chelsea in Imperial Valley, and was built specifically for farmworkers and their families in mind.

"This is a quality-of-life type of project that we are building to create opportunities for the families and children that will grow up here," said Assemblymember Garcia. "This is beyond just a roof over someone's head. This is creating a pathway to a successful human being."

The Cielo Grande community boasts five two-story residential buildings with 44 2-bedroom, 854 square-foot units; and 16 3-bedroom, 1,087 square-foot units. Other amenities include a tot-lot, basketball courts, an open play area, and a 2,284 square-foot community room equipped with a kitchen, property management offices, a computer room, laundry facilities, and a covered patio.

As the non-profit partner of Chelsea, PSCDC will be offering on-site and free residential services for the Cielo Grande community. Adult educational and skill-building classes that includes computer literacy, ESL, job counseling, financial literacy, health and wellness workshops, and a food distribution program will be offered and managed by the community's PSCDC Resident Coordinator, Martha Ayala.

Furthermore, school-age children are invited to participated in an after-school program that offers hands-on tutoring, mentoring, and educational activities intended to help residents succeed in school.

"Our mission is not only to develop affordable housing, but also to develop careers within that housing," said Executive Vice President Juan Arroyo, of PSCDC. "We provide services that promote self-sufficiency, social, and economic stability."

To celebrate the start of PSCDC residential services, Cielo Grande residents were invited to a book reading event from award-winning children's book author, Marta Arroyo, after the grand opening ceremony. Nearby PSCDC residents from Las Praderas, Villa Dorada, Villa Primavera, Villa del Sol, and Calexico Family were also invited to visit the new community and meet their neighbors.

Over 45 PSCDC residents of all ages were eager to listen to Marta read-aloud Polvorones and Jorge and the Lost Cookie Jar. Goodies given out to residents included a bag of polvorones, snacks, and a writing pad to help inspire residents to write their own stories. PSCDC donated two copies of her books to add to the community's library, with three more copies raffled away to lucky residents. The event drew attention, and excitement, towards PSCDC residential services from the Cielo Grande community and adjacent PSCDC properties.

Residents are excited, and thankful, to call Cielo Grande their new home. With signs of an engaged community through the success and attendance of the grand opening event, PSCDC is excited to offer more services and opportunities for the Cielo Grande community. The community will not have to wait long for the next community event. A carnival with games and prizes, planned by PSCDC staff including Layla Perez, Veronica Iribe, and Martha Ayala, is scheduled for next month, giving residents another reason to be excited for future PSCDC hosted community events.