Daily Business Report-May 12, 2021
North County and East County businesses
awarded $70 million in military contracts
Firms in Carlsbad, Escondido and Santee received construction and maintenance contracts for military projects, the Department of Defense announced.
RQ Construction LLC of Carlsbad won out over four other bidders to receive a $48.9 million contract for design-build services on Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek- Fort Story in Virginia Beach.
The project, expected to be completed by March 2024, involves several combat service support facilities. It includes an addition to the existing armory, demolition of an ordnance operations building and construction of a new operations building, vehicle maintenance facility and boat-shop building. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic in Norfolk sought the contract.
Synergy Electric Co. Inc., a Santee small business, received a $12.3 million contract to replace generators at Naval Medical Center in San Diego. The firm, chosen over two other bidders, will replace existing diesel generators at the center with work to be completed by June 2023. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southwest sought the contract.
The Western Metal Supply Co. Inc., in Escondido received a $9.4 million contract for the design, build and installation of F-35A aircraft shelters for the Royal Air Force. The work, which the company won over one other bidder, will be performed in Lakenheath, northeast of London, and is expected to be completed next year. The 48th Contracting Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, sought the contract via the U.S. Air Force.
PHOTO: Generators will be replaced at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego by a Santee firm awarded a military contract.
Small Business Administration funds
16,000 Restaurant Revitalization Fund awards
The U.S. Small Business Administrationon Monday began delivering economic relief from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, established by the American Rescue Plan and signed into law by President Joe Biden, to more than 16,000 approved applicants. This first round of funding represents over $2 billion of relief awarded since last Monday’s successful program launch. Restaurants and other food and beverage businesses across the nation will begin to see funds in bank accounts this week.
“Just one week after launching the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund, I am pleased to officially report that the SBA has begun to fund applications and that more than 16,000 restaurants and other food and beverage business owners will get much-needed relief in their hands,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “We know that this help is urgently needed by so many who have suffered disproportionately from this pandemic and have often been unable to access relief. Restaurants are the core of our neighborhoods and propel economic activity on Main Streets across the nation.”
Under RRF, restaurants are eligible for funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue losses, capped at $10 million per business and $5 million per location.
Gafcon President Robin Duveen appointed
to ACE Mentor Program Board of Directors
Gafcon Inc. President & Chief Operations Officer Robin Duveen has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the ACE Mentor Program San Diego. Duveen’s construction industry leadership and commitment to practical education were cited as key assets he brings to the nonprofit ACE organization, which provides no-cost mentorship for high school students in architecture, construction and engineering.
Founded in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) is a free, award-winning, afterschool program designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in the architecture, construction and engineering industry, including skilled trades.
Duveen is president of the San Dieguito Union High School District Independent Citizens Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Corporate Council of San Diego Community College District and on the San Diego Continuing Education Advisory Committee at San Diego Community College District.
Gafcon, which has been recognized as a national leader in the construction management industry, has welcomed students over the years to learn from its team members through various mentoring programs.
Gail Miller named national vice president
for Lincoln Military Housing
Gail Miller has been appointed national vice president of operations for Lincoln Military Housing (LMH), a national property management company for military families. In this role, Miller will help plan, direct, coordinate, and support daily operations in the organization. She will be responsible for the successful implementation of efficient operational initiatives, ensuring cost-effective systems are developed to meet the current and future needs of LMH and its residents.
Miller brings almost 30 years of residential and real estate experience to her role as the national vice president of operations. She joined LMH in 2003. In 2011, she was elevated to the role of regional vice president for the Southwest Navy region. In that capacity, she worked in tandem with LMH’s government partners to establish best practices for daily operations that directly benefited military families.
In 2020, Miller was promoted to vice president of special projects. She is a Certified Property Manager through the Institute of Real Estate Management. In 2008, she received the Industry Achievement Award from the San Diego County Apartment Association. She is a past president of the San Diego County Apartment Association and the past president of The Institute of Real Estate Management, San Diego Chapter.
Progenity receives funding from Crohn’s & Colitis
Foundation’s IBD Ventures program
ProgenityInc., a San Diego biotechnology company, has received funding from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s IBD Ventures program to further develop its first-in-class oral Drug Delivery System for delivery of targeted therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease.
The DDS capsule is an orally ingestible and self-guided drug delivery device under development, which is designed to deliver doses of therapeutic compounds formulated in proprietary solutions to a defined location within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Funding from IBD Ventures will support further development and clinical studies of the DDS technology. Progenity is also developing a pipeline of therapeutic candidates that use the DDS to deliver proprietary soluble liquid formulations, designed to improve tissue uptake, directly to the colon to treat ulcerative colitis.
SDG&E installs electric vehicle chargers
at Imperial Beach Sports Park
Visitors to Imperial Beach Sports Park – a popular community destination – now have access to a new amenity: four electric vehicle chargers built by San Diego Gas & Electric under its Power Your Drive for Schools, Parks and Beaches program.
These chargers are the first ones completed under the program, which aims to install a total of 336 chargers at 52 sites regionwide. Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina, San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas and Business Manager Nate Fairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 465 joined SDG&E on Monday to officially unveil the Level 2 chargers, which can provide up to 26 miles of range per hour of charging.
“With plug-in vehicles becoming increasingly popular in recent years, our region needs more charging infrastructure to keep up with demand,” said Estela de Llanos, SDG&E’s vice president of clean transportation, sustainability and chief environmental officer.
Those who wish to use the chargers at the park have two easy ways to pay: tap their credit card (with chip) or via the ChargePoint mobile app.
Sept. 18 gala will honor retiring chancellor
of San Diego Community College District
The San Diego Community College District will hold a gala on Sept. 18, 2021 honoring the legacy of retiring Chancellor Constance M. Carroll that will also serve as a major fundraiser for the tuition-free San Diego Promise.
Chancellor Carroll will be retiring July 1, 2021 after serving for 17 years as the chief executive officer at one of the largest community college districts in California. The gala, titled “A Legacy of Achievement: A Tribute to Chancellor Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D. Benefiting the San Diego Promise,” is scheduled to be held at the San Diego Mission Bay Resort.
The SDCCD’s longest-serving Chancellor, Carroll has made an extraordinary impact on the district and its students since her appointment in 2004. Prior to that she served as president of San Diego Mesa College for 11 years.
Oceanside celebrates Water Awareness Month
with new virtual reality water video
To celebrate “Water Awareness Month” this May and highlight the value of water, the City of Oceanside is unveiling its new virtual reality video tour. The 360-degree video shows the water recycling process that prepares water for Pure Water Oceanside, an advanced water purification project that will create a new local source of high-quality drinking water that is clean, safe, drought-proof and environmentally sound.
Residents, business owners and other stakeholders can experience an immersive tour of the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility, where water for Pure Water Oceanside will be sourced. The virtual 360-degree videoallows audiences to engage and look all around by simply using a computer mouse or touch screen or moving their phones in order to see all around.
Scheduled to be complete in 2022, Pure Water Oceanside will be the first operating advanced water purification facility in San Diego County. The $71 million project will use advanced technology to replicate and accelerate the natural recycling process to provide 3 to 5 million gallons per day to the City of Oceanside.
Spine and Sport Physical Therapy acquires
Sacramento-based physical therapy business
San Diego-based Spine and Sport Physical Therapy has expanded its physical therapy network through its acquisition of Sacramento-based Results Physical Therapy and Training Center. Led by Kyle Yamashiro, Results has four locations.
Rick Katz, vice president of business development for Spine and Sport Physical Therapy states “The partnership with Kyle and his team has been a personal goal of mine for many years. He brings a background of leadership and clinical excellence that has become a model that others strive for.”
The completion of the Results acquisition by Spine & Sport is a strategic expansion into the Northern California market, creating a reach of 30 locations throughout California.
Mitchell | Genex | Coventry to acquire QualCare Alliance Networks
Mitchell | Genex | Coventry has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire QualCare Alliance Networks Inc., one of the largest managed care organizations serving the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York tri-state area. The acquisition allows Mitchell | Genex |Coventry to strengthen its position as a market leader in provider network access, care management and workers’ compensation services. QANI will become part of the Coventry organization, expanding its network footprint in that region.
Headquartered in Piscataway and Egg Harbor Township, N.J., QANI, owned by Cigna Corp., contracts with over 100 acute, specialty and rehabilitation hospitals, as well as 40,000 professional providers.
