Daily Business Report-March 21, 2014
Conceptual rendering of the AleSmith Brewing Company.
AleSmith Brewing Company Planning
On Big Growth in New Leased Building
Anticipating growth in the burgeoning craft beer industry, AleSmith Brewing Company has signed an 11-year, $9.7 million lease for a 105,600-square-foot building on Empire Street in the Miramar area of San Diego, a short distance from its current location on Cabot Drive.
Improvements planned for the new AleSmith building include a state-of-the-art brew house, cellar and bottling line from Krone’s, a leading German packaging and bottling manufacturer.
The brewing company expects to increase capacity from the 15,000 barrels projected in 2014 to 25,000 barrels in 2015. Opening of the new facility is set for January 2015.
“After many years of hard work, I am very excited to guide AleSmith into the future with a facility that will allow our beer to reach more people and maintain our status as one of the world’s great breweries,” said Peter Zien, owner of AleSmith Brewing Company. “AleSmith is an artisan brewery where quality, respect for the brewers’ art and customer service are paramount. We look forward to bringing the AleSmith passion, soul and commitment to excellence to our new location.”
The building is owned by Westcore Properties. Cushman & Wakefield represented Westcore and Cassidy Turley represented the brewing company in the lease transaction.
County Jobless Rate Unchanged at 7 percent
Nonfarm employment up by 9,500 jobs over the month and up 27,700 jobs over the year
The unemployment rate in San Diego County was 7 percent in February, unchanged from a revised 7 percent in January and below the year-ago estimate of 8.1 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported today.
The state’s jobless rate for February was 8.5 percent. The U.S. rate was 7 percent.
Between January 2014 and February 2014:
Total nonfarm employment increased from 1,312,800 to 1,322,300, a gain of 9,500 jobs. Agricultural employment gained 500 jobs, or 5.5 percent.
• Professional and business services reported the greatest month-over gain, adding 3,200 jobs. Professional, scientific, and technical services (up 3,000) accounted for more than 90 percent of the job growth in this sector. Management of companies and enterprises and administrative and support and waste services increased by 100 jobs each.
• Six other nonfarm sectors also added jobs over the month. The most significant job gains came from educational and health services (up 3,000); government (up 2.200); and leisure and hospitality (up 1,300).
• Three industries recorded month-over job losses: Construction (down 1,100); trade, transportation, and utilities (down 500); and financial activities (down 200).
Between February 2013 and February 2014:
Total nonfarm employment increased by 27,700 jobs, or 2.1 percent. Agricultural employment gained 400 jobs, or 4.3 percent.
• Professional and business services posted the greatest year-over gain, adding 6,700 jobs. Professional, scientific, and technical services (up 6,200) contributed to more than 90 percent of the job growth in this sector. Management of companies and enterprises added 900 jobs, while a loss of 400 jobs in administrative and support and waste services offset the overall job growth in this industry.
• Seven other nonfarm sectors also added jobs over the year. The most notable employment growth came from leisure and hospitality (up 4,800); educational and health services (up 4,700); and construction (up 4,300).
• Two sectors recorded year-over job losses: financial activities (down 500) and information (down 300).
Bill Requiring Employee Sick Leave Advances
A bill requiring employers to offer workers at least three paid sick days a year has cleared its first hurdle in the California Assembly, KPBS reports. The bill, which would cover all employers in the state, was approved by an Assembly committee on Wednesday. The measure would apply to all people who work for an employer at least seven days in a calendar year.
Under the measure, workers could use their three paid sick days to care for themselves, or for a family member. Workers would also be allowed to carry over unused sick leave into the next year.
Democratic San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote the bill, said about 40 percent of California’s private sector workers do not earn paid sick time.
“As of today, there are 6 million Californians who don’t have the opportunity to even take an hour off if they’re sick, or if their child is sick and they need to take their child to the doctor,” Gonzalez said. “And so, right now we need to create kind of a minimum standard throughout the state.” Gonzalez points out the vast majority of low-wage workers earn no sick time at all.
A coalition of business groups complains the bill would create a huge burden for employers.
State OKs $1.8 Billion Plan to Boost Power Grid
Authorities overseeing California’s electrical grid are moving forward with an elaborate, $1.83 billion plan to shore up power supplies in response to the early retirement of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, the U-T San Diego reports. The state’s main grid operator, the California Independent System Operator, approved the transmission infrastructure plan at a meeting of its board of governors on Thursday in Folsom.
Upgrades and the addition of transmission lines, substations and other equipment were selected above all to improve the flow of electricity to the San Diego region and Los Angeles basin. Architects of the plan said it would reduce the need for more power resources, including natural gas generators that could interfere with California’s aggressive clean-air and climate-change goals.
San Onofre provided 2,200 megawatts of electricity generating capacity, enough to power 1.4 million homes. San Diego depended on the facility for 20 percent of its power needs.
BOMA to Explore Green Technology Trends
The San Diego Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) will host a discussion on innovative technology trends at the organization’s monthly membership meeting April 8 at 11 a.m. at The Prado in Balboa Park. The event will feature speakers from Lucid, the company that pioneered the concept of real-time feedback on energy and water use, and Measurabl, a local software startup that leverages this type of data access, both of which work collaboratively in real life to ease the burden of reporting energy consumption.
The luncheon is $45 for members and $55 for nonmembers. For more information or to register for this event, visit www.bomasd.org.
UC San Diego Library Receives Papers of Virologist Jonas Salk
The UC San Diego Library has become the official repository for the papers of Jonas Salk, the physician, virologist and humanitarian who developed the world’s first successful polio vaccine and helped make San Diego a center for bio-medical research. The papers, which fill nearly 900 boxes, were recently donated to the library’s Mandeville Special Collections by Salk’s sons, Peter, Darrell and Jonathan.
Salk founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies adjacent to UC San Diego. The institute will celebrate the Jonas Salk Centenary in the fall of 2014 and, as part of this notable milestone, the library will hold a major exhibition of the Salk papers and collaborate with the institute on other celebratory events.
“The UC San Diego Library’s Mandeville Special Collections houses the papers of some of the world’s most prominent and accomplished scientists, including Francis Crick, Stanley Miller, and Leo Szilard, as well as Nobel laureates Harold Urey, Hannes Alfven, and Maria Goeppert Mayer,” said Librarian Brian E. C. Schottlaender.
— Times of San Diego from a UC San Diego news release
Southwest Strategies Promotes Three Staffers
Southwest Strategies, a San Diego public affairs firm, announced the promotion of three staffers — Melissa Cameron, Pedro Anaya and Wesley Jones.
Melissa Cameron was named director of public affairs. The work includes managing the implementation of comprehensive strategic plans, securing entitlements and improving relationships with key stakeholders. Cameron previously managed public relations and outreach campaigns at an agency in Utah. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from the University of Utah.
Pedro Anaya was promoted to manager of public affairs, which includes playing a key role in the development and implementation of strategic plans for clients. He holds a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and a master’s degree from the University of San Diego. Anaya currently serves on the San Diego Padres Hispanic Community Advisory Council and the City of Chula Vista Planning Commission.
Wesley Jones also was named manager of public affairs. The work includes developing comprehensive outreach programs, coordinating large events and ensuring proper implementation of complex work plans. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University. Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, he worked in local politics.
