Daily Business Report-May 22, 2017
Labor market highlights
San Diego Couny Jobless Rate Drops to 3.8 Percent
The unemployment rate in the San Diego County dropped to 3.8 percent in April, down from a revised 4.2 percent in March and below the year-ago estimate of 4.6 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported. That compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.5 percent for California and 4.1 percent for the nation during the same period.
Between March and April, total nonfarm employment increased from 1,435,300 to 1,436,400, a gain of 1,100 jobs. Agricultural employment increased by 300 jobs, or 3.3 percent.
Between April 2016 and April 2017, total nonfarm employment increased by 18,200 jobs, or 1.3 percent. Agricultural employment remained unchanged.
Construction registered the largest year-over expansion, adding 6,300 jobs.
“San Diego’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since the Great Recession started in 2007. This means that employers are going to have even more difficulty in finding quality workers since they may be employed elsewhere. It’s time to invest more in upskilling the unemployed and underemployed to fill in the gaps,” said Phil Blair, executive officer of Manpower Staffing/San Diego.
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Get Your Nominations In
Nominations are still open for SD METRO’s 2017 40 Under 40 Awards. Visit www.sandiegometro.com and click on “Nominate.”
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Mayor Backs SoccerCity Plan
for Qualcomm Over SDSU Objections
Times of San Diego
Mayor Kevin Faulconer on Friday backed an investor group’s plan for the Qualcomm Stadium site, saying there is something for all parties — including San Diego State University — and expressing urgency in moving ahead.
“I support this plan as an Aztec alum,” he said at a press conference. “If we don’t move forward now, it’s likely nothing will happen at Qualcomm for years and years.”
The mayor’s support drew quick criticism from San Diego State University, which issued a statement saying the plan is “not in the best interests of the City of San Diego or of San Diego State University.”
The SoccerCity plan by La Jolla-based FS Investors calls for building a new stadium for both a major-league soccer team and SDSU football, along with 4,000 housing units, 800 student apartments, 60 acres of parkland, office and retail space, and two hotels.
No taxpayer money would be involved. The land would be leased at a fair market value determined by the city, and FS Investors has committed to additional annual payments equal to 10 percent of that amount.
Michael Stone, founder of FS Investors, said he believed the plan meets all of SDSU’s requirments and he hoped the university, which ended discussions Tuesday, would return to the table. He said recent changes to the plan include:
A commitment to increase the stadium from an initial 33,500 seats to 40,000 seats to accommodate future SDSU football games, provided the university agrees to the plan by Dec. 1.
47 acres of land for university expansion under a variety of options
Steve Altman, a member of the development group and a longtime SDSU booster, said he was disappointed in the school’s stance.
“We provide what I believe is a great solution to a real and immediate problem that is being faced by the university’s football program,” Altman said. “I hope that as time goes on, they will get behind this and support it because I think it is a very positive outcome for them.”
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Retirement Celebration June 17
for San Diego Rescue Mission CEO
The San Diego Rescue Mission will hold a retirement celebration for long-time president and CEO Herb Johnson. The “Blues” event will take place on Saturday, June 17, at the San Diego Natural History Museum from 6 to 10 p.m. The black-tie optional evening includes a rooftop reception, dinner, silent auction and live music, and will benefit the Rescue Mission’s educational programs and licensed preschool. Individual tickets are priced at $100 and valet parking is available.
Johnson will retire on June 30. He will continue for an additional six months as a part-time consultant for the organization.
Under Johnson’s 11-year leadership, and 15 years of service to the Rescue Mission, the organization has grown to meet the expanding needs of San Diego’s homeless population. Each month, the Rescue Mission provides nearly 12,500 nights of shelter to San Diego’s homeless, serves more than 37,000 hot, nutritious meals and provides more than 82,000 hours of education, work training, rehabilitation and Christian care to the residents through long-term care programs.
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Sudberry Properties Purchases Chula Vista
Acreage for Large Retail Center
Sudberry Properties has purchased 12.5 acres from Stratford Land for the development of Millenia Commons, a 131,800-square-foot lifestyle destination center at the gateway to Millenia. It will be located directly south of Otay Ranch Town Center bordering Birch Road. Terms of the transaction were not released.
Preleasing efforts by Flocke & Avoyer have resulted in leases with HomeGoods, Cost Plus World Market, Ross Dress for Less, buybuy Baby, Mattress Firm, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Papagayos Grill & Cantina, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Great Clips, Jamba Juice, McDonald’s and Pacific Dental Services.
Sudberry Properties’ development team includes Andrew Hull Stevenson Architects, and GroundLevel Landscape Architecture.
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San Diego Fourth in Startup Rankings
In the new Kaufmann Foundation ranking on startup activity, San Diego comes in fourth, moving up seven spots from last year. The rankings look at startup density, entrepreneurship rates and other factors. San Diego is ahead of New York, Silicon Valley, San Francisco and other metro areas.
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One San Diego Skills for Success
to Support Youth Employment
San Diego Mayor Faulconer is joining forces with EDC, San Diego Workforce Partnership and nearly 40 agencies across the region to create internships and career readiness opportunities. The collaborative effort — called One San Diego Skills for Success — will connect opportunity youth as well as high school and community college students to San Diego businesses. Get involved at onesandiego100.com.
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BIO, New Study Spotlight Life Sciences Strengths
For the fourth time, the world’s largest life sciences convention returns to San Diego. Setting the stage for the June BIO International Convention, event representatives were joined by San Diego Mayor Faulconer and others to outline the convention’s impact on the region’s life sciences cluster. In a new study released by Biocom, the life sciences cluster directly employs almost 50,000 people and has a $33.6 billion annual economic impact. EDC will release an economic impact study on the genomics cluster at BIO, making San Diego the first US region to conduct a full scale analysis of its genomics industry. Read more…
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Block D to break ground in Makers Quarter
Downtown San Diego is about to welcome its first multi-tenant office building in nearly a decade. “Block D” will break ground on May 30 as part of Makers Quarter, a creative neighborhood within Downtown San Diego’s East Village.
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Veteran’s Transition Workshop
On June 14, ViaSat will host a free Veteran’s Transition Workshop for veterans and their spouses to support the shift from military service to civilian workforce. Sessions will cover compensation and benefits, LinkedIn tutorials, resume building, interview skills and more. Register here.
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Hundreds Celebrate Naval Medical
Center San Diego’s 100th Birthday
Hundreds from throughout the San Diego community assembled Friday at Naval Medical Center San Diego to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
After an invocation offered by Cmdr. Barry A. Metzger, chaplain for NMCSD, Capt. Joel A. Roos, commanding officer of the center, presided over the ceremony honoring the hospital’s century-long legacy, which began May 20, 1917, when the U.S. Navy established its first permanent medical facility in San Diego at Balboa Park.
Sailors clad in dress white uniforms were visible throughout the midday ceremony, which took place under a clear blue sky accompanied by music, compliments of Navy Band Southwest.
“I am truly humbled and proud to lead you today as we celebrate this truly remarkable event,” said Roos, addressing an audience drawn from various sectors of San Diego’s society with current and past ties to the hospital.
City council staff, congressional staff, and retired naval officers who previously commanded the hospital, along with current hospital staff and families, were among an audience of about 300 seated in white chairs under a large white canopy facing a stage trimmed with star-laden red, white and blue bunting.
In July 1919, congress authorized the Navy to accept a tract of land on Inspiration Point in Balboa Park where a new hospital was built Aug. 22, 1922. The hospital, affectionately known as the “Pink Palace” for its pink hue, stands today as home to the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department.
Staff members at Naval Medical Center San Diego line the walkways to watch the centennial ceremony. (Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Elizabeth Merriam)
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SDSU South Campus Plaza
Certified LEED Silver
By Gina Jacobs | SDSU NewsCenter
San Diego State University’s new residence hall at South Campus Plaza has been certified as LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council. The designation recognizes the building for its sustainable operating practices. The two resident towers of South Campus Plaza opened in January 2017, and include water and energy efficiency features that reduce the building’s impact on the environment.
Among the features are a sophisticated lighting control system with occupancy sensors, photo-sensors for daylight harvesting and 100 percent LED lighting. The buildings also have an intelligent and automated heating and cooling system, as well as large windows and water-saving shower heads in the resident rooms.
With the South Campus Plaza residence hall located in a short walking distance from the SDSU Transportation Plaza, residents have easy access to both campus and public transportation options, reducing their reliance on motor vehicles. The buildings also provide special parking for drivers of low emission vehicles and a secure, covered bike storage locker for residents.
SDSU’s recent major renovation to Zura Hall was also certified LEED Silver. But residence halls are not the only buildings on campus to have been recognized for their sustainability. The Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union is among the only buildings in the world rated Double LEED Platinum. SDSU’s Children’s Center, Storm and Nasatir Halls, Aztec Recreation Center and Mission Bay Aquatic Center are also on the list of SDSU buildings with LEED certifications.
SDSU has set a goal that all new construction and major renovations at a minimum achieve LEED Silver designation.
The university recently approved its own Climate Action Plan, which lays out campus-wide environmental goals, including achieving operational carbon neutrality by 2040 and complete carbon neutrality by 2050. This plan also addresses other sustainability issues, including water, waste and food.
“South Campus Plaza captures a breadth of sustainability issues while improving quality of life for students, faculty, staff and the broader community,” said Tom Abram, assistant director of campus sustainability for SDSU Facilities Services. “From energy and water efficiency to transit-oriented development and sustainable commuting, this project exemplifies the work that we need to accomplish to meet our carbon neutrality goals.”
South Campus Plaza retail shops will begin to open this summer and fall, starting with Trader Joe’s on May 19, 2017.
