Benicia works on its allure

Benicia works on its allure
By Tony Burchyns/ <%20benicia%20works%20on%20its%20allure>

Posted: 01/31/2010 12:00:51 AM PST

BENICIA -- The city should redesign its tourism Web site to make it more user-friendly and inviting, city officials and the city's tourism consultant say.
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The changes are needed to make it run smoother, look more alluring and to maximize "search engine optimization" -- which means making it easier to "Google," said Jack Wolf.
"If you Google it, it appears on the eighth page of results," said Wolf, who was hired to develop the city's 20-month, $280,000 marketing plan. "That's way too low."
Wolf and Benicia Economic Development Manager Amalia Lorentz recommended revising the city's www.visitbenicia.org Web site at last week's Economic Development Board meeting.
The redesign would likely cost less than $10,000 and be completed in four to six weeks, Wolf said after the meeting.
"The Web site has to be ready before the advertising campaign," Wolf said. "Once we launch this campaign in earnest, what's everybody going to do? They're going to go to online."
Wolf said he's also developing a social media strategy involving a Facebook page tied to a Twitter account.
Currently the page (www.facebook.com/visitbenicia) has 442 "fans" -- or people who have signed up for instant updates, photos, event listings and other posts added about twice a week.
These days, social media is an important part of any marketing plan, Wolf said. But it's not the only part, he added.
"The advertising will be extremely important, and so is the media outreach. But Facebook is important for the younger demographic, although it's becoming increasingly important among older people," he said.
An advertising plan is being formulated and should be ready by the end of February. Radio, print and online options are being considered.
"We want to get our biggest bang for the buck," Wolf said.
The city hopes to appeal to women and couples ages 35 to 54, living in the Bay Area, according to a strategic marketing plan done by another firm.
Contact staff writer Tony Burchyns at tburchyns@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6831.

Solano lawmakers make trip to D.C.

Solano lawmakers make trip to D.C.
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_14284917

County leaders are in the midst of a federal lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., which will continue today as the group meets with staff members in hopes of landing appropriation money for the next fiscal year. Solano County supervisors Mike Reagan, Linda Seifert and Barbara Kondylis along with County Administrator Michael Johnson…. spent Wednesday meeting with Congressmen John Garamendi and George Miller, both D-Solano, along with Dan Lungren, R-Solano, and staff. Included were talks with Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., which centered on the role of the federal government when dealing with Delta water issues. "They are a major player in what goes forward," Reagan said by phone. "We're finding out from her, 'this is what we hear is going on.' She's asking us for some input for some legislation." Reagan said the group is working toward securing: * $1.8 million for a joint radio operability cooperative that would help unify the cities and county emergency response. * $10 million to assist levees north of Rio Vista. * $422,000 to help fund a building to house city and county services to assist domestic violence victims. * $500,000 to help fund the Multijurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team.

Solano awarded $1.4 million for Dixon housing

Solano awarded $1.4 million for Dixon housing
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_14300791

Of the 34 California counties receiving stimulus money to build affordable housing and create jobs, Solano County was among 11 with only one such project. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer this week announced the final distribution of more than $800 million of federal stimulus money for low-income family housing projects statewide. Solano County's $1.4 million portion went toward the construction of Dixon's Moonlight Apartments. This complex will contain 56 units, 55 of them low income…. All told, 25 Bay Area projects got nearly $190 million in funding. Besides Solano's portion, $47.6 million went to Alameda, $7.2 million to Contra Costa and $47 million to Sonoma. Marin got $450,000, San Francisco got $64.4 million and $21.8 million went to Santa Clara. In the Bay Area, Marin was the only other county with just one project. Others with only one project were Stanislaus, Siskiyou, Kings, Imperial, Glenn, El Dorado, Calaveras, Butte and Yuba counties…. more than $800 million was distributed under the federal stimulus program, helping build more than 9,600 housing units…. The cash awards were approved in exchange for previously awarded and unused tax-credits, the announcement notes. Tax-credits can be used for construction or rehabilitation of low-income housing, and developers sell the credits to attract investment capital to help finance their projects….

Rep. Miller, Solano officials trumpet federal funding for new County dental clinic

Rep. Miller, Solano officials trumpet federal funding for new County dental clinic
Clinic will address critical employment, dental needs in Solano County


Supervisor Jim Spering, Dr. Franklin Woo, Supervisor John Vasquez, Marge Carroll,
Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine and Congressman George Miller showcase the $2.2 million
in federal stimulus dollars coming to Solano County.

A ceremonial check presentation on Friday (Jan. 29) officially acknowledged a $2.2 million stimulus grant to build a County dental clinic in Vacaville for Solano County residents.

U. S. Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) presented the check to Supervisor John Vasquez among a small crowd of local officials and dentists. The event also kicks off local National Children's Dental Health Month activities.

"This funding from the federal Recovery Act will create good-paying jobs in Vacaville and represents a solid commitment to ensure our children have healthy smiles and access to the health services they need," said Congressman Miller, who fought hard to pass the Recovery Act into law last year.

“This funding will expand the County’s ability to serve children in our community and insert much needed construction dollars into the local economy to help create jobs. The Recovery Act has always been about accomplishing two goals at once – create jobs to help end the recession and make critical investments in our community. The County’s dental clinic in Vacaville will do just that,” Congressman Miller said.

The County received word in December that the federal Health Resources and Services Administration was awarding the County federal stimulus dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to build the six-chair, 3,000-sqaure-foot clinic as part of the two-story 25,000-sqaure-foot William J. Carroll Government Center being built on Monte Vista Avenue.

The funding for the dental clinic comes out of $1.5 billion made available by the Recovery Act to support health centers nationwide, to expand their capacity and to provide primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations.

The County anticipates breaking ground on the project in December 2010 and opening the clinic in 2012.

“Our partnership with the federal government to serve the people of Solano County has come through once again. This funding will expand the services at this clinic to meet the growing demand in northern Solano County,” said Supervisor John Vasquez.

An estimated 18 percent of the patient visits at the County’s Dental Clinic in Fairfield are from residents in Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista and the unincorporated area. County officials said these numbers under represent the actual need based on statewide estimates that only 26 percent of the people eligible for Medi-Cal dental benefits access treatment.

“A new dental clinic in Vacaville will provide residents of northern Solano County easier access to dental care,” said Dr. Frank Woo, Solano County Dental Clinic manager. “Transportation can be problematic for our clients. These clients will no longer have to come to Fairfield for dental care.”

The dental clinic will provide general dental services and oral surgery, including the use of general anesthesia. The clinic will also screen patients for high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. Dental staff will refer these patients to the County’s primary care clinics for follow-up care.

“Children’s oral health is a significant issue in California and Solano County alike,” Dr. Woo said. “The new clinic will allow a quicker response to dental issues resulting in fewer dental emergencies and less costly procedures.”

Statewide dental statistics reveal that more than 50 percent of children have dental decay by kindergarten and 28 percent them have untreated decay and 19 percent have extensive decay.

According to research by the Pew Center on the States, an estimated 80 percent of dental disease in children nationwide is concentrated in 25 percent of kids, and children from poor families face disproportionately high barriers to getting care.

“Helping our kids maintain healthy teeth will make it possible for them to thrive in school and become healthy, productive adults,” Supervisor Vasquez said.

Posted: Jan. 29, 2010

Local economy OK with Travis' help

Local economy OK with Travis' help
By Danny Bernardini
Posted: 01/29/2010 01:01:39 AM PST

As bad as the local economy has been in the past few years, it could be worse and has been kept afloat with the help of $1.6 billion of impact from Travis Air Force Base.
That was the theme Thursday during the 27th Annual Meeting of the Solano Economic Development Corporation held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield. The event featured a detailed report on factors surrounding the economic downturn, along with short speeches from three colonels from Travis.
Mike Ammann, president of the SEDC, kicked off the event by highlighting the new businesses and major plans passed in each of the county's seven cities. He said Solano County actually entered a recession in 2007, which may mean it could bounce back sooner than other areas.
"We went in earlier than Los Angeles and the Bay Area," he said after the event. "But we didn't go as far down as other people."
Highlighting a mixture of good and bad news, consultant Doug Henton presented the 2009 Index of Economic and Community Progress. As he did last year, Henton showed that although some progress was made throughout the year that strengthened the economy, there were still several areas to improve.
Some of the topics discussed included how some of those laid off end up venturing out on their own to create new businesses. Henton also mentioned that with less people moving to the region due to the lack of new construction, more value has been added rather than simply more jobs.
He said with jobs at a premium, those available are drawing interest of more qualified applicants. Henton also mentioned that Solano County is a leader among green energy, especially wind powered.
"We're trying to go beyond the headlines and see what's underneath," he said of the index. "Even in down times, there are some interesting things happening."
High school graduation rates continue to fall and students are less prepared for state universities and colleges, he said. Henton said there is also a lack of proficiency in math and science, but those trends are seen throughout the state as well.
Also speaking to the crowd was Wing Commander Col. James Vechery of the 60th Air Mobility Wing. He said with more than 1,000 troops currently deployed, it's the largest group since he took over six months ago. That included six crews in Haiti.
Including jobs created by the base and the payroll to airmen, Vechery said $1.6 billion was pumped into the local economy.
Vechery said there is a strong relationship with Solano County businesses and residents. One project Travis is working on with the business community is creating a logo to place in the window that advertises a military discount.
"It will be right there so they don't have to ask that awkward question," he said.
Col. John Lipinski, commander of the 615th Contingency Response Wing, said the coexistence of the base and the surrounding area is commendable.
"What's really special is the support from the civic leaders, the business leaders and the citizens," Lipinski said. "The support you give us makes a significant impact. You can't measure that with dollar signs."
Report shows silver lining to local economy

UC Davis $570,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation

GRANT TO STUDY HOW CELLS SENSE ELECTRIC FIELDS

Learning how living cells can detect and respond to electric fields is the aim of a $570,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to Min Zhao, professor of dermatology and ophthalmology at the UC Davis Health System and Center for Neuroscience.

Living cells are already known to respond to electric fields, as well as being able to sense light, temperature and chemical signals.
Understanding this mechanism would establish a new biological signaling mechanism, with implications for engineering tissues and wound healing as well as in basic science, Zhao said.

Zhao and colleagues will use the grant to generate hundreds of thousands of genetic mutations in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. They will collaborate with Tingrui Pan, professor of biomedical engineering, to develop methods to quickly screen thousands of mutant amoebae for those that do not respond to electric fields. Those defective amoebae will allow the scientists to home in on the genes and molecules responsible.

Dictyostelium was selected for the study because it is the simplest cell to work with that also moves, Zhao said.

In previous work, Zhao and his collaborators found that wounds generate a weak electric field that guides cells moving in to repair the wound.

"The big question is, how do the cells detect the electric field?"
Zhao said. He believes that there is a molecule or set of molecules within cells that respond to electric fields.

Media contact(s):
* Carole Gan, UC Davis Health System Public Affairs, (916) 734-9047, carole.gan@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
* Andy Fell, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu

California should be able to advance more in line with national trends

California has a huge and diverse economy that currently accounts for just over 1/8 of total U. S. GDP. Annual state GDP data show that California has tended to grow moderately faster than the national economy. From 1998 to 2008, California’s economy grew 0.5 percent faster than the nation on average, continuing the same sort of outperformance that was typical in the prior 35 years.

In the last few years, however, the bursting of California’s outsized housing bubble has caused the state to uncharacteristically lag national trends. In 2007 and 2008, real GDP in the state trailed the nation by 0.3 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively. Judging from labor market reports and other data, California almost certainly lagged national growth again in 2009. This year, however, California should be able to advance more in line with national trends, now that its housing sector has begun to recover.

Regards,
Dana Johnson

For the full brief, please

Visit Comerica Economics
http://www.comerica.com/economics

NUMMI Shut Down, Housing Crisis, and State Budget Woes Delay End of Recession Over Much Of Northern California

Contact: Director Jeff Michael, Ph.D.
O: 209.946.7385
C: 209.662.5247
jmichael@pacific.edu
REPORT EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:00 AM, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010
January 6, 2010
CALIFORNIA AND METRO FORECAST: January 2010
NUMMI Shut Down, Housing Crisis, and State Budget Woes Delay End of Recession Over Much Of Northern California
(Stockton, Calif.) January 6, 2010 – California’s two year recession ended in the 4th quarter of 2009 - lagging several months behind the U.S. - according to the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific. Southern California will lead the early stages of a sluggish recovery as many areas of Northern California will not emerge from recession until the spring or summer of 2010.

“Although the recession is technically over, it will feel like a recession in California for another year,” said Jeff Michael, Director of the Business Forecasting Center. “The state’s unemployment rate will stay above 12% for most of 2010.”
Looming over the recovery in Northern California is the April 1, 2010 closing of the NUMMI plant in Fremont, which manufactures cars and trucks for Toyota. The closure will be the largest mass layoff event of California’s recession so far, and the ripple effects will have large impacts on the Northern San Joaquin Valley in addition to the East Bay. “It’s hard to say the recession is over in this region until NUMMI is closed,” said Jeff Michael.

When NUMMI is combined with foreclosures, the construction depression, and a new round of state budget cuts, the recession will continue through the first half of 2010 for the Northern San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento, and portions of the East Bay. While the entire state faces housing and state and local budget challenges, the impacts are most severe in these regions.

The best near term prospects are in San Francisco, San Jose and Fresno. These three metro areas have fewer problems in the housing market, and lower exposure to the state budget crisis and NUMMI. They should benefit from modest improvements in the technology, agriculture, and tourism sectors compared to 2009. Although these areas will start recovering sooner than their neighbors, they will follow the statewide pattern of modest growth and stubbornly high unemployment.

The Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific was founded in 2004. Housed in the Eberhardt School of Business, the Center produces quarterly economic forecasts of California and 9 metropolitan areas from Sacramento to Fresno and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Eberhardt School of Business is one of a handful of Business schools producing comprehensive quarterly forecasts of the California economy, and includes several regions in California's Central Valley not covered by other forecasts. In addition to the Quarterly Forecasts, the Center produces in depth studies of regional issues, and offers custom economic research services to public and private sector clients.

Central Valley Metro Forecast Summary
Metro Area
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (% Change)
Unemployment Rate (%)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2009
2010
2011
2012
Sacramento
-4.9
-1.1
2.1
3.2
11.6
12.3
10.8
9.8
Stockton
-3.3
-1.4
1.7
2.9
15.9
17.2
15.1
13.5
Modesto
-3.4
-1.3
1.8
2.6
16.5
18.0
15.7
13.8
Merced
-3.3
-0.8
1.5
2.8
18.0
19.2
17.6
16.5
Fresno
-3.5
0.0
2.1
3.0
15.8
16.9
15.3
13.5
California
-4.5
-0.7
2.1
2.7
11.7
12.4
10.8
9.7
Sacramento MSA includes Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, and Yolo counties. Stockton, Merced, Fresno and Modesto MSAs correspond to San Joaquin, Merced, Fresno and Stanislaus counties.

San Francisco MSA includes San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties. Oakland MSA includes Contra Costa and Alameda counties. San Jose MSA includes Santa Clara and San Benito counties. Vallejo MSA is Solano county.
Highlights of the January 2010 California Forecast
• The California recession ended this quarter, 3 to 4 months after the end of the U.S. recession. However, the recession is not over in all regions. The recession will extend through the first half of 2010 for the Merced, Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, and Vallejo metro areas.
• California unemployment will peak at 12.8% in winter 2010, remain above 12% for most of 2010, and remain in double digits through all of 2011.
• Nonfarm payrolls will decline by an additional 69,000 in winter 2009 to a trough that is 1,030,000 jobs below the peak in summer 2007.
• Jobs will recover their pre-recession peak in the first half of 2013. During the 5 ½ year period of zero net job growth, the state’s workforce will have grown by more than 1 million people.
• Manufacturing, Construction, and Retail have experienced the greatest decline over the past year. Each of these sectors has shed over 100,000 jobs across the state.
• Manufacturing will lose about 11,000 jobs over the next 12 months, with job growth picking up in fourth quarter of 2010.
• Construction leads job losses in 2010, declining another 7.5% (45,000 jobs) by the end of 2010.
• Retail is the only one of these hard hit sectors expected to add jobs in 2010.
• Professional and Scientific Services did not start losing jobs until the second half of the recession, but these critical, high-paying areas have lost 35,000 jobs in the past year and growth will remain weak in early 2010. We expect strong growth in this area as the recovery gains strength in late 2010 and 2011.
• Healthcare will experience the strongest job growth over the next 12 months, adding nearly 40,000 jobs (2.5%) statewide. Healthcare is the only sector that has not contracted this year, although 1% growth is the slowest growth this decade.
• Real personal income declined 2.8% in 2009 and grows 1.2% in 2010.
• Housing starts bottom in 2009 at a record low 37,300 units. Although housing starts recover to 51,100 units in 2010, this is still the 2nd lowest level in 50 years. By 2013, housing starts will be back to near normal levels - about 148,000 units - as foreclosures finally ebb and existing home prices recover to close the gap with construction costs.
• Retail sales have hit bottom, but will not recover their 2007 level until 2011

UC Davis 'Green Lighting' center gets bigger, smarter

UC Davis 'Green Lighting' center gets bigger, smarter
Published By Daily Democrat
Created: 01/23/2010 02:30:47 AM PST

New energy-saving lighting systems are studied in a test kitchen and bathroom at the California Lighting and Technology Center at UC Davis. (Kain Higgins/Courtesy UC Davis)
At just five years old, the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis has so many projects under way that it has moved into a new facility with twice the space. This week, the center hosted an open house to show off the energy-saving lighting systems ready now and coming soon for homes, offices, businesses, and even parking lots.

"Energy-efficient lighting has never been more important or more achievable," said center director Michael Siminovitch, a professor in the UCD Design Program. "We have innovative products for every lighting need that can cut electricity use by up to 50 percent, which saves consumers money while helping the environment."

Some of the new products on view or in development at the center include:

n Offices: Energy-efficient systems focus light on the task at hand, automatically respond to available daylight, report energy use to the larger office community through Web-based energy-monitoring software, all of which reduce energy use;

n Classrooms: Designed with teachers in mind, the Integrated Classroom Lighting System improves classroom light quality while reducing energy consumption and features occupancy sensors that turn off lights in empty rooms. The lighting center is also working on energy-saving retrofits that will let schools improve upon the common practice of replacing aging T-12 fluorescent light fixtures with more efficient T-8s.

n Kitchens: There are 800 million downlights in use in the United States, and they
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are a design staple in kitchens. The California Lighting Technology Center is demonstrating the benefits of LED downlights that are dimmable and come in a range of color temperatures as well as a variety of traditional and contemporary designs. Currently on the market, and on view in the lighting center LED Kitchen, are the Cree LR-6, Progress EverLume and the Cooper Halo. With an average input power of 10-12 watts, these downlights save more than 75 percent over incandescent lights.

n Home living areas: The center demonstrates LED lighting for the home that takes advantage of the intense bright light offered by LEDs but tempers it for use in a ceiling fan, wall sconce or bathroom vanity. Four next-generation prototypes are on display in a model living room sponsored by Progress Lighting.

n Warehouses and big-box stores: Smart high-intensity-discharge lighting is both dimmable and controllable. Daylighting sensors for skylights can automatically dim electric lights when there is enough daylight.

n Parking lots and garages: Lights with motion sensors use half the energy of conventional lights when the space is unoccupied but provide greater safety, while reducing light pollution and waste. The California Lighting Technology Center is showcasing the diversity of lighting options for exterior use, including systems that use LED, induction, plasma and hybrid light fixtures with bi-level capabilities.

n Streetlights: One product, the BetaLED "Edge" series, reduces light pollution spilling into homes by focusing the light onto the street and sidewalk.

The California Lighting Technology Center at UCD was established in 2004 with funding from the university and the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

The center's key missions are to increase the use of energy-efficient lighting (including daylight) through collaborations with energy utilities, lighting manufacturers, end users, builders, designers, and government agencies; and to educate the next generation of lighting engineers and designers.

Huge automated warehouse nearing completion

Huge automated warehouse nearing completion
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | January 22, 2010 17:50
Kitchenware giant Meyer Corp. has spent the better part of a year building its new storage and distribution facility along Back Avenue and Meyer Way in Fairfield. Photo by Chris Jordan

FAIRFIELD - Construction is nearly complete on the 11-story automated warehouse that towers over much of southern Fairfield.

Kitchenware giant Meyer Corp. has spent the better part of a year building its new storage and distribution facility and about five years working on the plans. Ultimately, it will provide about 165,000 square feet of new warehouse space along Beck Avenue and Meyer Way.

In a statement, Suzanne Murphy, vice president of marketing, said construction on the building should be finished by the end of February.

'We anticipate about two months to load the building with product, becoming operational in May,' she said.

Down the line, there could be more expansion in the works.

For the complete article visit http://www.dailyrepublic.com/

Fairgrounds development pact prepared for OK from Vallejo and county officials

Fairgrounds development pact prepared for OK from Vallejo and county officials
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_14253560?source=rss

Vallejo and county officials have agreed to present a plan next month to develop the Solano County Fairgrounds. The two sides agreed Wednesday to work up an agreement for city council and county supervisor approval. Consultant firm Economics Research Associates/AECOM presented a financial feasibility report showing that the development project, as presented by an approved vision plan for the site, was feasible…. A sports complex, an alternate use proposed for the site, could "end up as a long-term financial drain" if pursued, the consultants said…. The two groups, with Mayor Osby Davis and Councilwoman Stephanie Gomes representing Vallejo, and Supervisors Jim Spering and John Vasquez representing the county, discussed at length the finer points of a memorandum of understanding still in the works. Vallejo wants to include the city's Redevelopment Agency as a third partner in any agreement, as some fairgrounds property falls within the agency's Flosden development area. County officials said that a third partner was premature at best, unnecessary at worst. Spering… shared fears that the agency's obligation to provide a parking facility at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom at or before December 2011 would be shifted to the county. "Why would we want to burden the process with that obligation?" Spering asked…. "We don't need another partner," said Vasquez, representing parts of Vacaville and Fairfield. "We can end all of these conversations right now, if you want. We're the ones writing all the checks."… Assistant City Manager Craig Whittom described the meeting as a "very open exchange in regards to the project." "I'm confident we'll be able to move forward to our respective boards by February," he said. Whittom said city staff members may suggest hiring an outside consultant to determine what the public costs to Vallejo -- like additional emergency services -- versus the net revenue of developing the site. City staff, he said, has been consumed with employee labor negotiations. The issue is next set to go before the Vallejo City Council on Feb. 9.

Golden State's job cuts in '09 worst in years

Golden State's job cuts in '09 worst in years
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_14253568?source=rss

California's job cuts during 2009 were the worst in at least 19 years, as the state's once-golden economy shed 579,400 jobs, a grim milestone that included the loss of 126,000 Bay Area jobs, state officials reported Friday. While the unemployment rate in Solano County fell slightly to below the statewide average in December, the newly released figures show it also rose slightly in Napa County during the same period. But while the new jobless figures might indicate an increase in the number of local people employed, a state Employment Development Department spokeswoman said that's unlikely. Solano County's unemployment rate was 11.9 percent in December, down from 12.2 percent in November and above the year-ago estimate of 8.6 percent…. This compares with a statewide unadjusted unemployment rate of 12.1 percent and a 9.7 percent for the nation during the same period. The job losses represented the latest fallout from a recession that has savaged every part of the state. California employers eliminated nearly 39,000 positions in December…. "The job losses in December were spread across a wide number of industries." Locally, the results were mixed. EDD employment market analyst Ruth Kavanagh said the latest figures indicate a percentage of people locally "have dropped out of the labor force for whatever reason." "Some may have moved, or gone back to school," she said. "Or they may have given up looking for work or it could be from real improvements." According to EDD figures, some 4,800 jobs were lost in Solano County in the past year. Some 400 were lost since November, compared to 300 the month before, according to the figures. The best news in the most recent report is that no jobs were lost -- though none were gained, either -- in several professional sectors, the report shows….

UC Davis creates environmentally friendly winery

UC Davis creates environmentally friendly winery

By: Kelley Rees
The California Aggie
Published on Jan 21, 2010

With the world’s natural resources in desperate need of relief, eco-wineries are emerging to answer the call.

Many such wineries have cropped up across the U.S., with a particular concentration in California. Prestigious recognitions are now given to distinguish eco-wineries from their less environmentally-friendly counterparts. One such organization that recognizes green building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Soon-to-be chief among these eco-wineries will be UC Davis’ new teaching and research winery, which will be part of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. The facility, which will also house the August A. Busch III Brewing and Food Science Laboratory, will be the first platinum LEED-certified winery in the world. The merit is the highest LEED level awarded to buildings by the organization.

Roger Boulton, UC Davis professor and chemical engineer chair in the enology department of viticulture and enology, spearheaded the winery’s development since its conception in 2000.

“Clearly [the winery] sets a standard for all grape and wine programs, as well as educational institutions, worldwide at a time when there is considerable thinking and action related to sustainability,” Boulton said.

Along with the brewery, dairy and food science lab, which are additional components of the UC Davis platinum-certified building, the winery will be fully constructed by July. Some features include solar power as the sole producer of energy for the institute and sequestered rainwater for cleaning needs.

Specific criteria must be met before the UC Davis winery waves the banner of environmental sustainability in its epitome. LEED takes into account categories of points when authorizing a platinum-certification. These include how the site is prepared and maintained during construction, the recycling and reuse of building materials, energy efficiency, onsite renewable energy generation and rainwater capture and use.

The UC Davis winery’s existence hinges entirely on funds from private donors. Two of these benefactors are wine companies that practice the same sustainability they promote.

J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines began their eco-friendly tactics as early as the 1970s with the employment of drip irrigation. Recently, the company installed the largest solar tracking ray of any winery in North America and published a workbook on how to make vineyards and wineries more sustainable.

Steve Lohr, executive vice president, chief of operations officer and head of the sustainability committee for J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, said the company’s donation to the UC Davis winery was only fitting.

“Clearly, UC Davis is one of the world’s leading grape and wine research universities,” Lohr said. “However, it was dealing with a winery that dates back to the ’30s. It was not befitting the faculty and the students at UC Davis.”

This new winery hopes to serve as a shining example to the rest of the world as to what can be accomplished with proper environmental planning, Lohr said.

Yet another California vineyard and winery company took up the mantle of benefactor for the UC Davis winery. Jackson Family Wines, with its famous Kendall-Jackson label, was rated by the Huffington Post among the top 10 eco-friendly wineries in the U.S. – all 10 of which are located in California. The corporation donated funds toward the bidding process, and after the bid was selected the Jackson family bestowed a private contribution as well.

“We have worked in the past and present with UC Davis on a number of projects involved with vineyard and winery technology and processes,” said Robert Boller, vice president of sustainability and production estates for Jackson Family Wines.

Boller said Jackson Family Wines actually worked alongside Boulton on a water-recycling endeavor. The company was also a pioneer of LEED certification, with its Murphy-Goode tasting room, the only LEED Gold-certified tasting room in existence.

Boulton was enthusiastic for the message this new winery will send but also acknowledged the contributions that allowed it to come about.

“[The winery] is a very public demonstration and commitment to [sustainability] and it comes at a time when we were fortunate to have support to build new facilities,” Boulton said.

Tags: California, LEED, wineries

UC Davis Graduate School of Management National Rankings

We maintain a healthy skepticism about the methodologies used in all rankings, each of which can be legitimately criticized. Each ranking places a different weight on opinion surveys of alumni, students, employers, business school deans and MBA program directors as well as on data regarding admissions, student placement and faculty scholarship. The dramatic swings in year-to-year rankings of any business school cannot accurately reflect dramatic swings in the quality of the school. Real improvements in relative quality take time to achieve and cannot be captured in the annual ebb and flow of rankings.

The proliferation of rankings, mainly due to publishers who wish to sell more newspapers, magazines or online subscriptions, is to some degree a good thing because it creates a greater selection of metrics to evaluate business schools. Most business schools, of course, choose which rankings to pay attention to and which to ignore.

The three most often-quoted rankings are BusinessWeek, the Financial Times and U.S.News & World Report. For a young business school of modest size, the GSM has an amazing record of visibility in the rankings. U.S.News & World Report has ranked UC Davis among the top 50 business schools for 14 consecutive years, putting us in the top 8.6% of the 579 business schools accredited by AACSB International.

Since 1996 we have been consistently ranked among the nation's top 35-40 business schools and as high as No. 29. To be included among the top 50 MBA programs in the U.S. for 14 years in a row is quite remarkable given the relative youth and size of the GSM. This consistency reflects the exceptional quality of our students, faculty, alumni and staff as well as the generous support and involvement of our business partners.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to share my views. If you have specific questions about the various ranking methodologies, please contact our Assistant Dean of Student Affairs James Stevens at jrstevens@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-7661.

To learn more about our current rankings, visit our Web site >>

Best regards,

Steven C. Currall

Dean and Professor of Management

UC Davis Graduate School of Management

Nut Tree plan starts to take off

Nut Tree plan starts to take off

By Danny Bernardini

Posted: 01/21/2010 01:01:40 AM PST

A Japan Airlines trainer practices touch and go landings at the Nut Tree in this October 2008 image. A master plan for the airport is in the works and public comment is sought. (Rick Roach / The Reporter)

After years of circling the runway, the Nut Tree Airport master plan has finally been cleared for takeoff.

Those hoping to contribute got a sneak peak at how things will shake out in the next 18 to 24 months as a kickoff meeting was held Wednesday at the Ulatis Cultural Center in Vacaville.

The Nut Tree Airport has not had a master plan update since 1993, and the new plan will help shape the makeup of the airport for the next 20 years. It is run by Solano County, which means the board of supervisors will have the ultimate say in approving the plan.

Included in the plan will be a view of the facility's needs in the future, open land for possible development, a runway analysis and a business and financial plan.

While many in the crowd were hoping to receive concrete information and details at Wednesday's meeting, it centered around how the process of how those in the business community and residents can have their voices heard.

Representatives of Barnard Dunkelberg and Company, a consultant group hired from Tulsa, Okla., were on hand to present. Peter Van Pelt, a planner, said the public will be kept in the loop the entire way.

Along with the public getting a glimpse at the four drafts of the plan that will be presented, about 30 people will make up a stakeholders group. They include businesses at the airport, users, neighbors and the city of Vacaville.

Some in the crowd were vocal in their skepticism that the process would be private and questioned how much input they would be able to add.

"This is an open process. Anything shared with that group will be shared with you," Van Pelt told the crowd. "You the public are an important part of this process."

Van Pelt repeatedly told those in the crowd they may submit any ideas and the comments would be used as suggestions. Four working-group meetings and four public meetings will be held, as each of the drafts are presented.

He also said any projections or predictions about what should be built or added to the airport would only come to fruition if the need is there. There will also be extensive studies to see if some elements of other master plans for airports would be included for the Nut Tree.

"Is there a demand, we don't frankly know," Van Pelt said. "But we are going to find out."

Duncan Miller, well-known for his participation around Nut Tree Airport for decades, said he hoped it received some publicity as part of the master plan. He said far too many people aren't informed about what goes on there.

"I am 100 percent enthusiastic. I've worked for quite a few years to show it to people, but they don't know it's here," said Miller, 88. "I hope they educate people on why it's here and what it offers."

UC Davis gets $2.5M for West Village project

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 2:57pm PST | Modified: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 3:21pm

UC Davis gets $2.5M for West Village project

Sacramento Business Journal - by Kelly Johnson Staff writer

The University of California Davis has received $2.5 million in federal stimulus dollars for its 205-acre West Village project.

West Village, a mixed housing and commercial development under construction at the university, will provide sustainable, affordable on-campus housing for thousands of students, staff and faculty.

U.S. Congress members Doris Matsui and Mike Thompson, who supported the university’s application, announced the federal grant Thursday.

The West Village planned community is a zero-net energy community that will feature a variety of sustainability innovations. It will emphasize walking, bicycling and public transportation as a way to reduce the emissions normally associated with new housing projects. The project is expected to serve as a blueprint for future energy-wise developments nationwide.

“The UC Davis West Village Smart Grid Demonstration Project will provide a wealth of data on the performance of energy saving strategies and technologies in the field, and help bring energy conservation practices and technologies into our daily lives,” Matsui said in a news release. “I applaud UC Davis’ leadership in advancing our region’s commitment to sustainability and clean energy solutions, and believe that the West Village project is an important component of making Sacramento a clean-tech capital.”

“Renewable energy is the way of the future,” Thompson said in the release. “I’m proud to see that once again UC Davis is leading the way in finding new and innovative ways to power our homes and create sustainable communities.”

UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s support of the innovative waste-to-energy project.

“The West Village project will immediately reduce our campus’ environmental impact while showing us the best way to build similar projects in other places,” she said. “Every day, UC Davis is advancing our commitment to sustainability and clean energy solutions.”

Norman Repanich, Solano business pioneer dies

Solano business pioneer dies
By Ben Antonius
December 11th, 2009

Daily Republic

FAIRFIELD — Norman Repanich, who led the Solano Economic Development Corp. though its early years and to some of its greatest victories, has died.

Repanich was 75. He died Thursday at the Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo from complications related to his treatments for cancer. No public service is planned.

“It was most unexpected and very sad news,” said Solano EDC Vice President Sandy Person, who worked with Repanich during his nine years with the group. “Norm was a huge part of the success we share in today.”

For the complete story visit http://www.dailyrepublic.com/

Reach Ben Antonius at 427-6977 or bantonius@dailyrepublic.net.

Repanich fueled Solano's economic growth

By Reporter Staff

Posted: 12/12/2009 01:02:28 AM PST

A longtime champion for economic vitality in Solano County, Norman Repanich, died Thursday in Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo from complications of his treatment for leukemia.

A 75-year-old Sacramento native, Repanich was president of Solano Economic Development Corporation from 1986 to 1995, its formative years. He later took the post of economic development director of the city of Rio Vista, where he lived until his death.

He is credited with being instrumental in luring biotech giant Genentech to Vacaville and later China-based Meyer Corp. cookware to Vallejo. In Rio Vista, he helped Rich Collins establish California Vegetable Specialties, an internationally renowned grower of endive, in an industrial park he guided near the city airport.

During his tenure, Repanich pushed his vision of enhancing the workforce, improving education and nurturing cultural development to attract the best companies and jobs to Solano County cities. He forged collaborations with nearby University of California, Davis, and Solano Community College to produce top-notch candidates for the 21st-century workforce.

He was one of the first to recognize agriculture as one of Solano's top industries, no different than other manufacturers, and worked to bring food companies that complemented the local farm economy.

"Norman made it clear there was more to economic development than just strip malls and housing tracts," said former Reporter Business Editor Cynthia Roberts. "He showed the local business community how to beat the bushes for companies in all sectors which would bring sustainable economic growth and employment to the cities and county."

Repanich came to take the helm of Solano EDC after holding a similar post for the Greater Niles Economic Development Foundation in Michigan. Before moving to Rio Vista, he had lived in Vacaville and Fairfield with his wife, Janet, a schoolteacher, and his children, Peter and Aynn.

A graduate of California State University, Fresno, Repanich started his career with the Greater Tulare Chamber of Commerce, going on to work in business development for the city of Greenville, S.C., and as director of the Fairmont Industrial Credit Corp. in West Virginia prior to his post in Michigan.

Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering was saddened to hear of Repanich's death, recalling how Repanich had helped Suisun City with its redevelopment efforts during the time Spering served as mayor of that city.

"He was so helpful with ideas for different ways to find funding. He was a great resource," Spering said. "I think his greatest strength was that he understood the needs of small cities and that's why he was so effective in Solano."

Former Reporter publisher Richard Rico noted Repanich's work in laying the groundwork for Solano EDC.

"Much of what is happening in Solano County industry today can be credited to his work," he said. "He has left us a lasting legacy."

http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_13983788

Solano County Airport Land Use Commission OKs wind turbine project

The Solano County Airport Land Use Commission on Wednesday followed the lead of Travis Air Force Base and gave its blessings to 50 wind turbines proposed by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Travis officials had said since late 2006 that the 850 existing electricity-generating turbines in the Montezuma Hills make it hard for base radar to detect small, civilian aircraft. On Tuesday, they dropped their objections to the SMUD project and two other proposed projects. Airport Land Use Commission Chairman Ray Schoch attended the Tuesday meeting in which the U.S. Air Force announced its conclusions. 'I came away feeling very comfortable with the way this was handled and the results,' he told the other commissioners. The commission decided the SMUD project is compatible with Travis Air Force Base. SMUD and two private wind companies worked with the Air Force on overcoming the radar issues. They found a way to simulate how additional turbines would affect the base radar.

For the complete story visit: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/story.php?id=101.5

UC DAVIS 'GREEN' LIGHTING CENTER GETS BIGGER, SMARTER AND $10M IN NEW GRANTS

University of California, Davis

January 20, 2010

UC DAVIS 'GREEN' LIGHTING CENTER GETS BIGGER, SMARTER AND $10M IN NEW GRANTS

At just five years old, the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis has so many successful projects under way that it has moved into a new facility with twice the space. Today the center hosts an open house to show off the energy-saving lighting systems ready now and coming soon for homes, offices, businesses, and even parking lots.

"Energy-efficient lighting has never been more important or more achievable," said center director Michael Siminovitch, a professor in the UC Davis Design Program. "We have innovative products for every lighting need that can cut electricity use by up to 50 percent, which saves consumers money while helping the environment."

Some of the new products on view or in development at the center

include:

* Offices: Energy-efficient systems focus light on the task at hand, automatically respond to available daylight, report energy use to the larger office community through Web-based energy-monitoring software, all of which reduce energy use;

* Classrooms: Designed with teachers in mind, the Integrated Classroom Lighting System improves classroom light quality while reducing energy consumption and features occupancy sensors that turn off lights in empty rooms. The lighting center is also working on energy-saving retrofits that will let schools improve upon the common practice of replacing aging T-12 fluorescent light fixtures with more efficient T-8s.

* Kitchens: There are 800 million downlights in use in the United States, and they are a design staple in kitchens. The California Lighting Technology Center is demonstrating the benefits of LED downlights that are dimmable and come in a range of color temperatures as well as a variety of traditional and contemporary designs. Currently on the market, and on view in the lighting center LED Kitchen, are the Cree LR-6, Progress EverLume and the Cooper Halo. With an average input power of 10-12 watts, these downlights save more than 75 percent over incandescent lights. The lighting center also is showcasing a next-generation product prototype that shines light up into the can fixture and then down into the room. Up to 10 of these downlights can be linked to one wall switch on low-voltage cable. Installation with this system requires less labor than the traditional housings. The lights are called Lighting California's Future Advanced LED Downlights.

* Home living areas: The center demonstrates LED lighting for the home that takes advantage of the intense bright light offered by LEDs but tempers it for use in a ceiling fan, wall sconce or bathroom vanity. Four next-generation prototypes are on display in a model living room sponsored by Progress Lighting.

* Stairwells: Bi-level stairwell lighting gets bright when people are on the stairs, and then dims when they're gone. Modernizing this often-overlooked area can reduce annual stairwell energy use by 40 percent to 80 percent.

* Warehouses and big-box stores: Smart high-intensity-discharge

(HID) lighting is both dimmable and controllable. Daylighting sensors for skylights can automatically dim electric lights when there is enough daylight.

* Parking lots and garages: Lights with motion sensors use half the energy of conventional lights when the space is unoccupied but provide greater safety, while reducing light pollution and waste. The California Lighting Technology Center is showcasing the diversity of lighting options for exterior use, including systems that use LED, induction, plasma and hybrid light fixtures with bi-level capabilities.

* Streetlights: One product, the BetaLED "Edge" series, reduces light pollution spilling into homes by focusing the light onto the street and sidewalk.

The California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis was established in 2004 with funding from the university and the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

The center's key missions are to increase the use of energy-efficient lighting (including daylight) through collaborations with energy utilities, lighting manufacturers, end users, builders, designers, and government agencies; and to educate the next generation of lighting engineers and designers.

Today the center has total funding of about $2.5 million per year from utilities, government agencies and the university. The center also boasts an affiliate partnership program with more than 50 manufacturers and large end-users. It has more than 30 employees, including professors, full-time staff members, graduate-student researchers and student interns.

In recent weeks, the center received three major new grants:

* $5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to the center and the National Electrical Contractors Association for training on advanced lighting systems controls;

* $3.2 million from the California Energy Commission for lighting research; and

* $2 million, also from the California Energy Commission, for commercial lighting retrofits in collaboration with the Energy Efficiency Center and the Western Cooling Efficiency Center, both at UC Davis.

The move into the new, 14,000-square-foot facility gives the Lighting Technology Center more room for demonstrating new products, as well as education, training and research.

"Education continues to be at the core of our mission," said Siminovitch. "New lighting and lighting-control technologies will save energy only after they are installed. The next generation of lighting designers, architects, contractors and facility managers need to know about them to make that happen."

The center's public open house today, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., will include opening remarks from UC Davis leaders and a delegate from the California Energy Commission, followed by tours and demonstrations.

The guest list for the open house includes many of the most prominent names in lighting-technology research and development as well as representatives from the energy commission, California utilities, architectural firms and lighting design companies.

About UC Davis

For more than 100 years, UC Davis has engaged in teaching, research and public service that matter to California and transform the world.

Located close to the state capital, UC Davis has 32,000 students, an annual research budget that exceeds $600 million, a comprehensive health system and 13 specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges -- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science. It also houses six professional schools -- Education, Law, Management, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.

Additional information:

* California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis <http://cltc.ucdavis.edu>

Media contact(s):

* Sylvia Wright, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.edu

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Our full UC Davis directory of media services and 24-hour contact information is available at <http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/services>.

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UC Davis News Service

One Shields Avenue

Davis, California 95616-8687

newsservice@ucdavis.edu

Phone: (530) 752-1930; Fax: (530) 752-4068

Solano road maintenance about average

Solano County has some of the better-maintained roads in the Bay Area and some of the worse, according to a Metropolitan Transportation Commission report. The MTC report released Tuesday rates roads in the nine-county region on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the best. It measures pavement condition using a three-year average. Vacaville had the best local roads with a score of 77, followed by Dixon with 76, Fairfield with 73, Benicia with 66, the rural county with 64, Suisun City with 55, Vallejo with 53 and Rio Vista with 45. The Bay Area average is 66. Helping in the battle against potholes is $122 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal stimulus money that went to Bay Area roads. 'But that's a one-shot deal,' MTC spokesman John Goodwin said. 'It's not an ongoing commitment to pavement maintenance.' Much of the money for local road maintenance comes from the state gas tax of 18 cents. For the complete story visit http://www.dailyrepublic.com./

Biotech strong but faces challenges in state

Tom Abate, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

California's biotech and medical device industries are selling more products and employing more people despite the recession, but industry leaders said the state needs to invest in education and get more competitive on taxes to keep its lead in a field that was born here.

"The state has been taking our industry for granted," said Gail Maderis, acting chief executive of the BayBio trade association that released its fifth annual report Tuesday providing an overview of these allied life sciences fields.

Biotechnology firms are primarily engaged in the development and sale of medicines, while medical device companies produce hardware ranging from blood test kits to systems for open-heart surgery.

BayBio issued its report as more than 6,500 life sciences executives, scientists and financiers gather in San Francisco for the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

The report sketched the medical innovation landscape in California and the challenges the state faces from other regions bent on replicating its success.

BayBio says the state is home to about 8,236 life sciences companies, with 4,348 based in Southern California and 3,888 in the north.

Despite the recession, total industry employment grew from 278,158 in 2008 to 280,508 in 2009. BayBio says southern industrial clusters such as San Diego and Orange County employ 151,098 people, while companies based in or near the Bay Area employ 129,410 people.

California companies marketed 1,754 medical products in 2009, up from 1,294 the prior year, the report said.

The state continues to attract the lion's share of the venture capital flowing into the life sciences. As of Sept. 30, BayBio estimates, California companies had attracted $1.9 billion, 45 percent of the $4.24 billion generated by biotech and medical device firms nationwide at that point.

But other states and countries are aggressively pursuing life sciences companies and in a briefing on the report's findings, Bay Area biotech executives said the state must invest in the University of California system, the state colleges and the community colleges to keep up the flow of medical inventions and skilled labor that helped spawn the industry.

Maderis said California also puts biomedical companies at a disadvantage by taxing the equipment and many of the supplies they use to manufacture or develop experimental products, while most states exempt such purchases from sales taxes.

That makes it more expensive for companies to locate in the state, and even if they put their headquarters here, this policy may push companies to build their manufacturing plants outside California and deny the state good-paying technical positions that don't require doctorates, Maderis said.

E-mail Tom Abate at tabate@sfchronicle.com.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/13/BUPH1BH61O.DTL

This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Vallejo's new quarters for county services draw dedication crowd

Vallejo's new quarters for county services draw dedication crowd

By Sarah Rohrs/

Posted: 01/13/2010 01:00:17 AM PST

At a time when more people need social services to get by, the county has completed a new Vallejo building to provide mental health, child welfare and other services.

The new Solano County Health and Social Services building at 365 Tuolumne St. is open for business, and nearly 100 officials were on hand for Tuesday's dedication.

"These are challenging times and it's important for the public (agencies) to join together so the public does not suffer from lack of services," Mayor Osby Davis said at the ribbon-cutting event.

The city of Vallejo was a key player in completing the project, several county administrators said.

The facility expands the ability of the county's Health and Social Services Department to help needy children, adults and families in the Vallejo-Benicia area, officials said.

The $38 million, three-story building is adjacent to the existing county social services building behind the Solano County Justice Center in the 300 block of Tuolumne Street.

Health and Social Services Executive Director Patrick Duterte said the building says to needy people "you matter, and that says a lot to people here in Solano County."

The building allows the county to provide services in one location rather than requiring people to seek services in several settings, Duterte said.

Services offered in the new setting include the following -- primary care, mental health, public health, substance abuse, child welfare, employment, Medi-Cal, food stamps and older & disabled adult services.

In the declining economy, demand for health and social services has increased 10 percent, according to the county

The bulk of the funding to pay for the new building stems from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, a 1998 pact involving the nation's four largest tobacco companies.

Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6832.

Bonds may aid Dixon, Benicia

By Melissa Murphy/

Posted: 01/18/2010 01:02:16 AM PST

Bonds from Solano County could help two cities boost their local economies.

More than $1.25 million of Recovery Zone Economic Development bonds could be directed to Dixon. The Dixon City Council on Jan. 26 will consider the option of borrowing the money to fund two major projects in the city.

Another $700,000 could go to Benicia.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors designated the entire county in September as a recovery zone, given the county's double-digit unemployment and high foreclosure rate.

Solano County has a direct allocation of $1.95 million in Recovery Zone Economic Development bonds that may be directed to public entities within the recovery zone.

The designated funds, according to a staff report, are an attempt to spur economic activity by directing favorable bonding opportunities to public and private entities.

Three projects were submitted for consideration, as supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday and agreed to divide the money among all three.

Of the money, $500,000 has been earmarked for building a water system in the northeast quadrant of the city. Another $750,000 has been allotted for drainage improvements in Dixon's downtown area, which have been a problem for a considerable time.

The city of Benicia also has been allotted $700,000 to replace street structural sections and build drainage systems in the industrial neighborhood next to Interstate 680 and Suisun Bay.

Dixon City Manager Nancy Huston emphasized that the allocation would be to take out low-interest bonds that would be paid back over time.

"This is not a grant," she said. "The council needs to decide if it should accept the bonds and create a debt for the city. This is an opportunity for them (councilmembers) to consider."

Huston added that they wouldn't use redevelopment funds.

"Both of these projects are really important and are both top priorities," she said. "But, if I had to pick, I would try to fix an already-existing problem."

Huston did acknowledge that, right now, the northeast quadrant doesn't have a water system. Having access to water out there would jump-start economic development.

Solano's Public Information Officer Steve Pierce explained that all three projects are worthwhile, but Dixon's projects were given the money because of the "long-term impact on creating jobs."

Benicia, he explained, can apply to the state for the remainder of the money when the state redistributes unused Recovery Zone Economic Development bonds this year.

Friday, January 15, 2010, 12:11pm PST

Port of Oakland sees first upsurge of year

San Francisco Business Times - by Eric Young

Oakland’s port ended a punishing 2009 with an upsurge of imports during December, breaking a streak of monthly declines.

The port, the nation’s fifth largest, said it handled 17.9 percent more imported cargo containers last December than the same month a year ago. That contrasts with 11 consecutive months of declines in imported cargo shipments.

The overall number of cargo containers handled at Oakland’s port in 2009 were 2,051,172. That is an 8.2 percent decrease in overall volume compared to 2008.

The port set a record for cargo shipments in 2006 with 2,391,745 containers handled that year.

Hit hard by the global recession, the port has had to cut back on expenses as revenues declined the past two years. Port officials laid off workers and slowed capital expenditures in 2009 for the second straight year. Port officials said they needed to cut operating expenses by $10 million to balance its estimated $280 million budget, which covers the Port of Oakland’s maritime, aviation and commercial real estate divisions.

Email Eric Young at eyoung@bizjournals.com / (415) 288-4969

Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 1:06pm PST

UC Davis breaks ground on telehealth building

Sacramento Business Journal - by Kathy Robertson Staff writer

Construction work on a California Telehealth Resource Center on the UC Davis Health System campus in Sacramento will begin Friday.

The four-story, 52,000-square-foot building will be linked to the $46 million medical education building at 4610 S St. The $36.75 million addition, including equipment, is expected to be completed in the fall of 2011.

The center will serve as a communications hub between Sacramento and remote areas of the state, allowing rural doctors far from specialty care to consult with specialists on difficult cases via video. It will also be a resource for telehealth efforts among the five UC medical schools.

The program got its start in 1996 and includes telemedicine consultations, distance education, critical care and emergency services and health care training.

Since its inception, the program has performed more than 22,000 video consultations linked to more than 100 clinics and hospitals in and outside California. Services have been provided for 40 specialties and more than 1,500 professionals have received training, according to UC Davis spokesman Charles Casey.

About 2,775 video consultations were performed in fiscal 2008-2009 alone.

All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 9:54am PST | Modified: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 2:52pm

Northern California exports outpace Southern California

Sacramento Business Journal - by Kelly Johnson Staff writer

California’s export trade is “peeking around an important corner here, (but is) not fully turning it,” a local international trade adviser reported Tuesday after analyzing the latest trade data.

The value of the Golden State’s exports in November declined slightly from a month earlier, but November’s total ended a streak — barely — that since October 2008 had seen monthly totals fall below that of the same time a year earlier. That’s according to Jock O’Connell, international trade and economics adviser at the University of California Center Sacramento. In a news release Tuesday, he provided an analysis of California global trade results based on data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

California shipped abroad in November some $10.95 billion in goods, a decrease of 1.2 percent from a month earlier but still more than the $10.75 billion shipped in November 2008, O’Connell reported. Even considering inflation, that’s a gain.

California’s exports of manufactured goods fell by 2.1 percent from November 2008. However, exports of agricultural goods and other non-manufactured products increased by 29.8 percent over the same period. Re-exports of goods previously imported into the state, meanwhile, showed no real gain, O’Connell said.

Data continues to indicate that Northern California’s export trade is recovering more briskly than Southern California’s, he said.

Loaded containers sailing from the Port of Oakland saw a gain of 39.7 percent over November 2008. The number of loaded shipping containers leaving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach grew by 11.4 percent.

Likewise, export tonnage in November increased by 11.7 percent at San Francisco International, and only 4.6 percent at Los Angeles International, O’Connell said. The two airports are California’s primary international trade gateway airports, accounting for about half of the state’s overall export trade.

O’Connell also noted that the value of U.S. exports shipped through the San Francisco Customs District in November rose 14.1 percent from a year earlier. In contrast, exports shipped through the Los Angeles Customs District in November fell by 1.1 percent, and the San Diego Customs District was down by 3.2 percent.

California’s exports between January and November totaled $108.5 billion, a decline of 19.3 percent compared to the first eleven months of 2008, when the state’s exports tallied $134.4 billion, O’Connell said in the release.

As for imports, the decline continued in November. Some $25.1 billion in foreign goods entered the United States through the Golden State in November, posting a 8.2 percent decline from the $27.4 billion in November 2008.

All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.