Daily Business Report: Friday, July 15, 2022
Quidel named first partner at SDSU
Mission Valley Innovation District
San Diego State University announced the execution of partnership agreements with Quidel Corporation, a provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, cellular-based virology assays and molecular diagnostic systems, that will make Quidel the first partner in SDSU Mission Valley’s Innovation District and a Founding Partner at SDSU’s Snapdragon Stadium, the new home of Aztec football.
The agreements announced are in two parts: The first agreement establishes a research partnership between Quidel and the SDSU Research Foundation to pursue research projects that foster scientific learning and discovery. SDSU will provide the personnel, materials, equipment, and other resources required to conduct the research, and Quidel will provide diagnostic devices and input based on the company’s clinical and commercial expertise.
The second agreement cements Quidel as a “Founding Partner” of SDSU’s new Snapdragon Stadium and the “Official Diagnostics Partner of SDSU Athletics.”
Top Illustration: Rendering of the campus mall at the SDSU Innovation District. (Courtesy SDSU)
Illumina loses bid to halt European review of Grail deal
By genomeweb
The European Union’s General Court ruled on Wednesday that the European Commission’s investigation into Illumina’s purchase of Grail can continue. The court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Illumina in April 2021, which challenged the investigation on jurisdictional grounds. The court also ordered Illumina to cover costs incurred by the Commission (EC).
A spokesperson for the EC Directorate-General for Competition hailed the judgment as an endorsement of its updated approach to referrals for merger review. The case is seen as an early test of new regulations seeking to apply EU merger control rules to deals that did not meet previous requirements for review, such as those involving companies like Grail that do not have significant revenues.
Illumina intends to appeal the decision to the EU Court of Justice, a company spokesperson said in an email: “We remain focused on obtaining clearance of the deal. We continue to work with the EC to reach a resolution.”
Where are Californians moving to?
More than ever, Californians are leaving their once-paradise and moving to five other metropolises across the country. While puzzling for many researchers, the answers come down to variables concerning income and home affordability —among several other factors, according to a report by Allied Van Lines.
The top five cities that Californians are moving to, according to the report, are Dallas, Austin, and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Wash., andPhoenix, Ariz.
Economic opportunities seem to be shifting in California as more and more workers are spending more time commuting. Transportation statistics in the United States show that four California cities are among the top 10 city areas with the highest rate of people who have to travel more than 90 minutes to work: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Stockton, Calif.
Chamber announces 2022 Small Business Awards
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce presented its 2022 Small Business Award winners Wednesday for their significant contributions to local communities and the regional economy.
• Armed Services YMCA San Diego – Winner of the Community Minded Award which recognizes an organization dedicated to helping others orthat’s leading an initiative/program focused on making a positive impact in the community.
• Beach Break Insurance Agency – Winner of the Customers First Award for providing exemplary customer service.
• San Diego Tequila Tour – Winner of the Outstanding Emerging Business Award recognizing a small business in operation for less than five years that has contributed to our region’s economic vitality and demonstrated revenue growth and staying power.
• Girlie Garage – Winner of the Outstanding Minority, Woman, Veteran, DBE-Owned Business Award which celebrates the success of a small business contributing to the growth and diversity of the San Diego economy.
• Computers2Kids – Winner of the Peak Performance Award given to an organization that has demonstrated a significant achievement or major winin the last year.
Home sales and prices slowed down in June
San Diego home sales and prices slowed down in June, and in the case of attached properties (condominiums and townhomes), the median price declined by nearly 5 percent month-over month, according to resale housingstatistics compiled through the San Diego Multiple Listing Service by the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors.
The median price of single-family homes in San Diego County stood at just under $990,000 in June, virtually unchanged from the previous month; attached properties were priced at $638,000, compared to $670,000 in May. Prices of single-family homes are still 13 percent higher than a year ago, and attached properties are 16 percent higher than in June 2021.
The number of sales of single-family homes in June was down nearly 12 percent from May, and more than 35 percent lower than a year ago. Condo and townhome sales in June were down 14 percent month-over-month, and 33 percent lower than June 2021. Resale properties were closing escrow in an average of only 19 days in June.
Newsom signs law allowing Californians
to sue gun manufacturers for negligence
Times of San Diego
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law an Assembly bill that allows California victims of gun violence to sue manufacturers and retailers for negligence.
“To the victims of gun violence and their families: California stands with you. The gun industry can no longer hide from the devastating harm their products cause,” said Newsom during the signing in Sacramento on Tuesday.
“Nearly every industry is held liable when people are hurt or killed by their products — guns should be no different,” he said.
Assembly Bill 1594 by Assemblymembers Phil Ting of San Francisco, Mike Gipson of Carson and Chris Ward of San Diego allows individuals, local governments and the California Attorney General to sue the manufacturers and sellers of firearms for the harm caused by their products.
Illumina among first in world to receive
approval of science-based net-zero target
Illumina Inc., a San Diego global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced it is among the first group of companies worldwide to receive approval of its net-zero targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This includes validation of Illumina’s corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets by the organization.
The SBTi is a global body that enables businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. Its Net-Zero Standard is the world’s first science-based certification of companies’ net-zero targets in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping planetary warming to 1.5°C.
Port of San Diego releases third edition of its
Blue Economy Incubator Highlights Report
The Port of San Diego has released the third edition of its Blue Economy Incubator Highlights Report, which outlines the performance of each project based on measurable, key performance indicators that are linked to environmental, social, and financial benefits and delivered by the companies in the portfolio, from pilot project to commercial success.
As a catalyst for the region’s Blue Economy, the Port of San Diego established its Blue Economy Incubator in 2016 as a launching pad for sustainable aquaculture and Port-related blue technology ventures. To date, the Board of Port Commissioners has approved nine agreements with early-stage companies to launch innovative pilot projects.
Major cleanup of De Anza Cove to move forward
The California Coastal Commission on Wednesday voted to approve a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) that will allow Northeast MB LLC, which operates the Mission Bay RV Resort in Mission Bay Park, to proceed with the clean-up of the park’s De Anza Cove peninsula. The crucial clean-up project will improve coastal access by adding 147 temporary campsites at Mission Bay RV Resort; result in repaired coastal bike and pedestrian paths; and provide for the removal of dilapidated homes and debris that have long blighted and posed environmental risks along the coastline.
“This is a huge victory and step forward for the city, public and environment,” said Jacob Gelfand, chief operating officer for permit applicant Northeast MB LLC. “We intend to work around the clock to make De Anza Cove cleaner and more accessible for San Diego families, visitors and wildlife, and provide enhanced camping access to help address the shortage of affordable overnight accommodations along San Diego’s coastline.”
Price of a Girl Scout cookie package to increase to $6
Girl Scouts San Diego will adjust the price of all varieties of Girl Scout cookies marketed by local Girl Scouts to $6 per package beginning in the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie Season, which kicks off in San Diego and Imperial counties on Jan. 29, 2023. The previous charge was $5 per package for most packages
The adjustment is one way the council — which serves 23,000 girls and adults in the region each year — is working to offset the significant effects the pandemic and inflation have had on funding for its critical youth empowerment programming, according to Carol Dedrich, CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego. “The shift in cookie package pricing to $6 across the board will support GSSD’s pandemic recovery and inflation mitigation efforts, strengthen funding for our many programs that promote the positive development of local girls, and enhance the cookie program experience for girls, families, volunteers, and customers,” said Dedrich.
This is the first time in eight years that Girl Scouts San Diego has adjusted the prices of cookie packages.
Taxpayers association agrees with voters
not signing ‘Let’s Go SD’ petition
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) board of directors formally acknowledged in late June, after debating the merits and challenges of the “Let’s Go SD” sales tax citizens’ initiative that failed to qualify for the ballot, that voters made the right choice not signing the petition. The Association analysis of the measure shows there are a number of governance weaknesses in the proposal, and this incremental sales tax would have ironically hit hardest the very low-income communities the proponents claim to support.
The Association’s full paper is available on the web at https://www.sdcta.org/policyreports
Blenders Eyewear announces new philanthropic initiative
Blenders Eyewear, a leading eyewear brand, announced the official launch of Blenders Cares, a new charitable initiative dedicated to supporting impactful nonprofit organizations in an effort to make positive and long-lasting change for important issues. Blenders Cares’ inaugural partnership is with San Diego Pride, with Blenders serving as an official sponsor of the annual San Diego Pride Parade, to be held this Saturday, July 16.
Since its inception in 2012, Blenders Eyewear has always supported and celebrated a variety of important causes including breast cancer awareness, LGBTQIA+ rights, and more. Through the official Blenders Cares program, Blenders Eyewear will continue its philanthropic endeavors and ongoing mission in encouraging all to live boldly and participate in causes that they’re passionate about.
San Diego engineer designs Atmospheric Wind Extractor
AWE Industries, an LA-based renewable energy provider that designs and manufactures clean, wind-based technology systems, and Air2Power Ltd, a clean engineering company in Papua New Guinea, announced they have the blessing of the National Energy Authority of Papua New Guinea and Papua New Guinea Power Limited, to install that country’s first Atmospheric Wind Extractor (AWE) in the Wewak district of Papua New Guinea.
The patented AWE System was designed in 2016 by a San Diego-based engineer, Allen Jones. Read more…
