Daily Business Report-Feb. 19, 2021
Orchid Lake Hotel in China’s Zizhu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone will feature conference, reception and work space and an executive lounge, as well as 360 guest rooms, a spa and gymnasium. (Rendering courtesy of WATG)
San Diego’s Gafcon Inc. tapped to oversee
next phase of mixed-use Shanghai development
After successfully planning and designing the first two phases of China’s Zizhu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Gafcon Inc. is now leading the planning and designing of the third phase of the 3,200-acre, mixed-use waterfront project.
The San Diego-based construction and project management firm will oversee Zizhu’s third phase, which centers on Orchid Lake Hotel, a 5-star business-class resort and conference center along the Huangpu River about 18 miles south of Shanghai.
The luxury hotel will serve visitors to Zizhu, an important technology, science, research and business hub in the Shanghai area. Orchid Lake Hotel will feature conference, reception and work space and an executive lounge, as well as 360 guest rooms, a spa and gymnasium.
“China has emerged as a leader in the post COVID-19 pandemic world, and has seen hotel occupancy return to its pre-pandemic rates, so we know the time is right to pick up where we left off,” said Gafcon Chief Development Officer Bryan Benso. “After a delay because of the pandemic, Gafcon is excited to continue working on this visionary development.”
Gafcon previously led the planning and development for Zizhu’s first two phases: Purple Bay and InnoTown. These two phases have a combined value of $12 billion.
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Air Pollution Control District helps
Coaster train riders improve air quality
Thanks in part to a helping hand from the County’s Air Pollution Control District, train riders on the North County Transit District’s Coaster line are doing more to keep climate-changing, polluting greenhouse gases out of our air.
Last week, NCTD, federal and local officials including County Board of Supervisors Chairman Nathan Fletcher introduced five new, cleaner-running, Coaster replacement locomotives paid for by a $10 million grant from the Air Pollution Control District and $46 million in state funding.
NCTD officials who introduced the new locomotives along with several renovated Coaster passenger cars said they would increase service reliability, improve riders’ experience and be more environmentally friendly.
Air Pollution Control District officials estimate the replacement locomotives will improve air quality each year by preventing the emission of 144 collective tons of greenhouse gases and pollution into local skies.
California’s rolling blackouts, Texas’s electric grid
collapse and Sen. Ted Cruz’s walk back
CalMatters
California’s rolling blackouts last summer are back in the national spotlight due to the collapse of Texas’ electric grid amid a record-breaking winter storm — underscoring the discrepancy between the two states’ stances on energy and climate change, as well as the challenges they share.
In August, Texas politicians were quick to seize on the rolling blackouts that left nearly 1 million California customers without power for several hours on two days.
GOP Sen. Ted Cruz: “California is now unable to perform even basic functions of civilization, like having reliable electricity. Biden/Harris/AOC want to make CA’s failed energy policy the standard nationwide.”
But when nearly 4 million Texas customers lost power on Monday amid a sustained cold snap, Cruz was forced to walk back his previous comments. “I got no defense,” he tweeted Tuesday. Nearly 2.4 million customers remained without power on Wednesday, and outages could continue for days.
Also affected were enrollees in Medi-Cal, California’s health care system for the poor. The Medi-Cal website was out of service from Monday through Wednesday morning due to power outages in Dallas, where its primary data center is located — temporarily preventing patients from submitting claims and doctors from authorizing treatments.
Council President Campbell to present short-term
rental ordinance proposal to council on Feb. 23
San Diego City Council President Jennifer Campbell will bring her short-term rental ordinance proposal to the full council on Feb. 23, one of the issues that led to the formation of a recall campaign against her.
“This ordinance is about two things: increasing the amount of homes available for San Diegans and decreasing quality of life problems for residents who live in neighborhoods with short term rentals,” said Campbell in a press release. “For the first time, San Diego is poised to pass regulations that will put a limit on the number of whole home short term rentals — reducing their number by two thirds while creating meaningful enforcement that will ensure the STRs that remain are good actors who follow the rules and regulations.”
Many of the recall complaints against Campbell are a result of what critics describe as a too-lenient attitude toward vacation rentals and her support for a ballot measure allowing developers to exceed a long-standing 30-feet height limit in the Midway neighborhood.
She described the recall campaign a a waste of time and money.
Campbell offered this link to a staff report on the proposed ordinance.
MiraCosta College’s BrewTech Program recognized
by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas
MiraCosta College said its craft brewing program has been recognized as the only community college certificate program of its kind in California meeting the standards set by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas.
Certification assures that the BrewTech Program at the college meets an array of standards, such as preparing students for entry-level positions at either large-scale or craft brewing business, employing a lead faculty member with extensive experience as a leader of an operating brewery, allows for industry internships, and provides adequate facilities needed to hone techniques and skills.
MiraCosta’s was just one of two MBAA-approved programs in the state (the other being at UC Davis) and one of just 14 in the nation. The BrewTech Program enrolls two cohorts each year, with 16 to 18 students per cohort, and a job placement rate of 80 percent.
MiraCosta College graduated the first class in its BrewTech certificate program in spring 2019. The 280-hour class includes industry relevant curriculum, state-of-the-art equipment, and job placement assistance.
Steven Brunolli elevated
to attorney at Higgs Fletcher & Mack
Steven Brunolli has been elevated from law clerk to attorney in the Higgs Fletcher & Mack law firm. He had been a law clerk at HFM since March 2020, working primarily with attorneys in the firm’s business litigation and appeals and writs practice groups.
As an attorney, he will continue working with the business litigation practice group and will also work with HFM’s health care and employment practice groups. His experience prior to joining HFM includes serving as a legal extern for United States District Court Judge Cynthia Bashant and working for the California Innocence Project.
He earned his law degree magna cum laude from California Western School of Law (CWSL) in 2019, and previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from San Diego State University.
In law school Brunolli earned the Justice Anthony Kennedy Scholarship, CWSL’s highest merit scholarship, and the Trustees’ Award, which is awarded to one student in each graduating class by the school’s Board of Trustees. Brunolli graduated second in his law school class of 207 students and was an associate writer for the California Western Law Review and International Law Journal.
Forbes School of Business and Technology
launches Women in STEM student organization
The Forbes School of Business and Technologyat the University of Arizona Global Campus announced the launch of the UAGC Women in STEM student organization and kickoff event today at 1 p.m. The UAGC, formerly known as Ashford University, is an online university headquartered in San Diego.
The theme of the UAGC Women in STEM kickoff is “Igniting Your STEM Success!” Student engagement with industry leaders is emphasized. Speakers are Dr. Priyanka Sharma, with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who will provide words of inspiration and encouragement; and Dr. Cindy Gordon, CEO and founder of SalesChoice Inc., an advanced sales analytics company, whowill deliver the keynote message.
UAGC Women in STEM is a new student-led organization which focuses on STEM careers for women and includes the UAGC Women in Technology International Chapter and the UAGC Chapter of Girls Who Code – College Loop. Dr. Karen Ivy, faculty adviser said, “Our Women in STEM organization will enhance student and alumni preparedness to enter into STEM career paths and excel.
“The Women in STEM organization will encourage more women to pursue STEM in a field where they remain underrepresented and provide opportunities for support in planning their STEM journey,” said Lisa Sims, lead faculty adviser.
Eurofins Scientific announces acquisition
of San Diego-based Beacon Discovery
Eurofins Scientific, a scientific leader in bioanalytical testing, announced the acquisition of San Diego-based Beacon Discovery, a drug discovery and contract research organization. Beacon Discovery joins Eurofins Discovery. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks upon fulfilment of customary closing conditions.
Eurofins said it acquired Beacon Discovery for its innovative approach, years of experience in drug discovery and development as well as its profound expertise in research, complemented by a unique compound library. The addition of Beacon Discovery supports Eurofins’ strategy to be the partner of choice to the pharmaceutical industry, providing drug discovery experience, knowledge, and proven success in supporting the discovery and development of new therapeutics.
County reserves COVID-19 vaccine
appointments for Project SAVE
The County of San Diego is reserving a portion of available COVID-19 vaccination appointments each day for a pilot project that aims to equitably distribute the novel coronavirus vaccine.
Project SAVE (Scheduling Assistance for Vaccine Equity) sets aside appointments for people who are in the currently eligible groups and at high risk for complications from COVID-19.
“We need to make sure that communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 have easier access to the vaccine,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., county public health officer. “This project is making it easier for people who qualify to make appointments and get vaccinated.”
The pilot program is now operating in the southern region of the county and is managed by nine community groups who have access to reserve appointments at four vaccination sites. The sites are:
South Region Live Well Center – Chula Vista
Martin Luther King Community Center – National City
Mar Vista High School – Imperial Beach
Southwestern College – San Ysidro
Helen Woodward Animal Center unveils
Emergency Response RV and Rescue Team
Helen Woodward Animal Center announced its newest program — the Emergency Response Unit and Rescue Team.
Thanks to generous donors, the Linda C. Scott Fund for Animal Welfare held at The San Diego Foundation and the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust, the enter is unveiling a state-of-the-art, 37-foot-long Rescue RV completely retrofitted with veterinary equipment and prepared to deploy to the rescue of animals in any part of the U.S.
The organization which, up to now, has offered 14 programs and services dedicated to helping animals and people, is now ready to make an even greater impact when disaster strikes with its own Emergency Response Unit and Rescue Team.
The center received funding totaling $250,000 to purchase and retrofit the response RV, as well as train a rotating team of nine center staff in emergency response. Helen Woodward Animal Center thanks the Linda C. Scott Fund for Animal Welfare and The San Diego Foundation’s matching grant support of $125,000, matched by the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust.
First in-human clinical trial to assess
gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have launched a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a gene therapy to deliver a key protein into the brains of persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes full-blown dementia.
The protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, is part of a family of growth factors found in the brain and central nervous system that support the survival of existing neurons and promote growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. BDNF is particularly important in brain regions susceptible to degeneration in AD.
In previous published research, principal investigator Mark Tuszynski, M.D., professor of neuroscience and director of the Translational Neuroscience Institute at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and colleagues described the prevention and reversal of brain cell degeneration and death in animal models.
“We found that delivering BDNF to the part of the brain that is affected earliest in Alzheimer’s disease —the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus — was able to reverse the loss of connections and to protect from ongoing cell degeneration,” said Tuszynski. “These benefits were observed in aged rats, aged monkeys and amyloid mice.”
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
receives trio of Five-Star awards
Fairmont Grand Del Mar has received a trio of Five-Star awards from Forbes Travel Guide for lodging, spa and the resort’s fine dining restaurant, Addison.
Among an elite group of high-end resorts, The Grand is one of just 14 hotels to receive three Five-Star designations (Hotel, Restaurant and Spa) from Forbes in 2021, and continues to be the only hotel in San Diego to ever achieve the triple Five-Star status.
“We are honored and humbled to be featured among such prestigious properties,” said Michael O’Donohue, general manager. “It is a great accomplishment for our colleagues to be recognized for their commitment to delivering memorable service to our guests.”
This news comes as the resort welcomes guests back to enjoy open air dining along with two new dining concepts, the Fireside Lounge and weekend brunch. The new Fireside Lounge, open nightly 4 to 10 p.m., offers private cabanas with firepits serving drinks and light bites while diners listen to live entertainment. Locals and guests can dine on brunch favorites while sipping champagne on Amaya’s patio for weekend brunch available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
As The Grand celebrates its 13th year, the resort continues to offer the five-star service guests have come to know and love while also reimagining the way they experience luxury.
