Daily Business Report — Sept. 8, 2014
San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, a partnership led by UC San Diego, is developing innovative methods for converting algae into biofuels.
San Diego Hosts World’s Largest Algae Conference
San Diego will play host to the Algae Biomass Summit on Sept. 29, the largest algae conference in the world. This event brings current and future producers of biobased products and energy together with algae crop growers, municipal leaders, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, project developers, investors and policy makers.
Speakers….
Summit events will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina.
Attendees will be able to tour Algae Biomass Organization member companies Earthrise Nutritionals and Hyperlight Energy in the Imperial Valley. The tour is hosted by the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. and San Diego State University’s Brawley campus.
Tours also will be offered of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the La Jolla Biotech Mesa complex, home of Sapphire Energy.
Click here for more details and registration.
California to be First State
To Ban Plastic Grocery Bags
The statewide bag ban that passed the legislature before Labor Day weekend will make California the first state in the country to outlaw plastic grocery bags, the U-T San Diego reports. Gov. Jerry Brown stated Thursday that he expects to sign the new law, which bans disposable plastic grocery bags starting in July 2015 and require stores to charge for paper bags.
The bill, SB 270, has been a long time coming, following a line of similar legislation that failed to pass checkout in Sacramento. This one made the cut partly because local bag bans in California have been working smoothly for years, said state Sen. Alex Padilla, who authored the legislation.
“As time has gone on, there have been more cities and counties that have adopted similar laws at the local level,” said Padilla, D-Los Angeles, who also sponsored an earlier bill that failed to pass. “It’s a matter of public policy trends. For those local jurisdictions, which have had this in place for a couple of years, we can look to success.”
Pacific Ridge Commerce Center Sold
CARLSBAD — Pacific Ridge Commerce Center, a 52,416-square-foot office and industrial park on Camino Vida in Carlsbad, has been sold for $5.8 million to Sunwood Pacific Ridge LLC ofSan Diego. The seller was the Betty Ann Robinson Trust.
The new owner plans renovations to the property and will rename it Sunwood Pacific Ridge. The property consistsw of a two-story office building and a multi-tenant industrial building with suites ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet.
Cassidy Turley, the broker, said the property is designed to serve the entrepreneurial businesses that make up such a large part of the Carlsbad economy.
Escondido Apartments Sell for $10.8 Million
ESCONDIDO — The Tanglewood Apartment Homes, a 96-unit apartment building in Escondido, has been sold for $10.88 million to a Canada-based private investment group. The seller was Chrismark LLC. Apartments at Tanglewood Apartment Homes feature linen closets, private patios and fully equipped kitchens with dishwashers and breakfast bars. Community amenities include a gated swimming pool and spa, a tennis court, a clubhouse with a pool table and kitchen area, abundant covered and open parking, two laundry facilities and spacious courtyard areas. Marcus & Millichap was the broker.
San Diego State Near Top of Best Value List
San Diego State University ranks in the top five of the nation’s “Best Bang for the Buck” national universities, according to Washington Monthly’s national college rankings. SDSU continues to rise to the top of the National Universities category, up two spots to No. 4 from last year, behind only University of Florida, Georgia Institute of Technology and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with Texas A&M University rounding out the top five.
Washington Monthly’s “Bang for the Buck” rankings are based on the economic value students receive per dollar spent.
SDSU ranked No. 12 among all universities — 386 schools — in the Best Bang for the Buck category and No. 87 among 277 schools in the magazine’s overall National Universities rankings. Washington Monthly’s rankings are based on a school’s contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D.’s), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).
UC San Diego to Collaborate with Tijuana University
UC San Diego has entered into an agreement aimed at increasing its collaboration among faculty and students with a Tijuana university, expanding on existing partnerships the La Jolla campus has with Mexican schools. Leaders of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California and the University of California San Diego signed a memorandum of understanding that calls for students from both universities to engage in joint research projects and publications.
“Strategically this initiative is very important to our campus as we are located in an ideal space for cross-border collaborations with large student populations on both sides,” UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said in a statement. “Our unique location allows for the meaningful exchange of ideas and resources between our students and faculty.”
USS America Heads for San Diego
After Finishing Goodwill Tour
The new amphibious assault ship USS America is heading to San Diego after completing it’s “America Visits the Americas” goodwill tour. The 51,000-ton, “big deck” assault ship departed Callao, Peru, on Sept. 3. It was the final port visit on the ship’s maiden transit from Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., to its home port of San Diego.
The crew visited Cartagena, Colombia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Valparaiso, Chile before the stop in Peru.
While in Peru, the ship hosted a reception in the ship’s hangar bay for more than 300 guests. The distinguished guests included Brian A. Nichols, U.S. Ambassador to Peru; Gen. John F. Kelly, commander, U.S. Southern Command; as well as senior Peruvian, U.S. government and military officials.
America is the first ship of its class, replacing the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ships. As the next generation “big-deck” amphibious assault ship, America is optimized for aviation, capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The ship is scheduled to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11.
— Times of San Diego
gap intelligence Acquires Quixel Research
Market research firm gap intelligence of San Diego has acquired market forecasting firm Quixel Research. The terms of the acquisition between the two privately-held companies were not disclosed. “Forecasting is underserved within market research. This acquisition not only enables us to dig deeper into today’s trends, but will influence our clients’ long-term strategies by helping them explain the ‘why,’” said gap intelligence founder and President Gary Peterson.
gap intelligence is focused on the information technology, consumer electronics, imaging and home appliance sectors.
Strategic Global Investments
To Acquire Television 101
CARLSBAD — Strategic Global Investments Inc. of Carlsbad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Television101 for the purchase of the company for a combination of cash and stock. Television 101 consists of a team of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, and editors who develop and produce film, television shows, and commercial spots.
Strategic Global Investments produces Internet content, taped video shows in its studios in San Diego, where the productions can be stored and replayed on demand 24/7 through the company’s Content Management System.
Personnel Moves…
Elevator Hires Erika Ellis as Account Executive
Elevator, a Carlsbad-based creative agency, has hired Erika Ellis as an account executive. Ellis received a bachelor’s degree in communications/marketing from Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., and was a promotions assistant for a radio station and an account executive for the ABC and FOX affiliates.
