Daily Business Report: Monday, July 11, 2022
UC San Diego receives $100 million in
state funding for new student housing
By Leslie Sepuka
UC San Diego has received $100 million in state funding for the Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood, which will provide more than 1,300 single-occupancy rooms to transfer and upper-division undergraduate students when it opens in the fall of 2024. The funding is part of a new Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program established by the state, which provides one-time grants for projects to support increased California resident enrollment.
Construction of Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood will start this summer. The project is located in the interior of campus, adjacent to the Central Campus station of the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley. The 580,500-square-foot project features two 22- and 23-story towers connected to five-story buildings with outdoor terrace seating along with retail, dining, and open spaces in two large courtyards and access to canyon trails.
Top photo: Construction of Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood will start this summer, with the goal of opening in the fall of 2024. (Copyright: Perkins & Will Architects)
San Diego airport’s Terminal 1 redo gets
help from the FAA — $24 million
The San Diego International Airport, well into construction of a new multi-billion-dollar Terminal 1, received word last week that it will be getting a little extra help from the federal government — $24 million worth.
Thanks to the $1 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law last November by President Biden, dozens of airports across the country are getting financial help for improving their terminals. The projects promise to not only expand capacity at airports but also increase energy efficiency and provide greater accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Simplicity Group to acquire San Diego’s
LifePro Financial Services
The Simplicity Group has entered into an agreement to acquire LifePro Financial Services, a San Diego-based financial products distribution business serving independent financial professionals across the country with a range of financial planning and sales and marketing supports. The agreement with LifePro marks the 39th acquisition for Simplicity. Heather Ulz, Ben Nevejans, and the LifePro team will continue to manage the business with the additional resources of the Simplicity Group.
“We have had a long and successful relationship with Simplicity and are excited to join the group, work alongside a network of talented professionals, and tap into their extensive resources,” said Heather Ulz. “Our shared values and mutual respect – as people and as business partners – are what makes this partnership so exciting for the entire LifePro team.”
Biocom California appoints Miguel Motta as VP
of operations and head of San Diego office
Biocom California, the association representing the California life science industry, announced the appointment of Miguel Motta as the organization’s vice president of strategic operations and head of its San Diego regional office.
Motta is an international business professional with more than 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of IRP Health. He has held executive positions in Fortune 500 companies, including Monsanto, now Bayer Crop Sciences.
Motta has been chairman, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief operating officer of growth-stage, venture capital-backed companies. He has extensive experience in launching novel products in developed and emerging markets, mergers and acquisitions and capital formation. He brings a true global perspective having led global organizations in Switzerland, Spain, The Netherlands, France, Japan, Mexico and the US. Miguel received his MBA with honors from the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands and his B.S. with honors from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.
MTS receives $33.5 million state grant to
advance major capital initiatives
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has been awarded critical funding to continue advancing its transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2040, and major improvement projects for the system. The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has announced the award of $33.5 million to MTS through its competitive grant, the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). This TIRCP funding will advance key agency objectives including expansion of the busiest transit center in Downtown, improvements to Trolley stations along the Orange Line, and implementation of its Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan.
The MTS improvement projects funded by the TIRCP grant include:
• Electrification of MTS Imperial Avenue Division which requires charging infrastructure for full transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2040.
• The Orange Line Improvement project, which includes widespread enhancements along the corridor with station passenger information sign upgrades.
• The 12th and Imperial Transit Center Expansion project, which includes components of a Mobility Hub and expansion of the transit center’s foot-print for increased capacity.
Grossmont College launching workforce drone program
Grossmont College will start to offer a free drone certification program for its students this fall. The program will help students get ahead in the workplace by learning to use drones for a variety of applications, includind defense, cinematography, and research. Getting trained can be expensive. Instruction from a private company or institution, and then certification from the Federal Aviation Administration can cost up to $10,000.
Sharia’s Closet receives $25,000 from Aetna
Aetna Better Health of California, a CVS Health company, has provided San Marcos-based Sharia’s Closet with a $25,000 donation to help operate the emergency clothing center at the soon-to-be-opened One Safe Place in the North County Family Justice Center in San Marcos.
Nonprofit Sharia’s Closet provides free clothing and hygiene products to individuals and families in need, including those affected by human trafficking and domestic violence.
New augmented reality game debuts at Petco Park
Ever wonder what it would be like to stand in the batter’s box against Trevor Hoffman? A new augmented reality game, debuting this week at Petco Park, gives fans the chance to do just that. Up to four people at a time can play the game located inside the Padres Hall of Fame using Motorola devices and smart glasses. It places players right down on the field at the ballpark to hit moving targets while staring back at Hoffman, Tony Gwynn and other Padres legends. It is part of the team’s new first-of-its-kind partnership with Motorola, which was announced earlier this year.
Augmented reality experiences have become widely available in recent years, allowing players to play some of their favorite games in real-world environments. They’ve been popularized by mobile apps such as “Pokémon GO” and “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite” as well as through social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat.
Innovision Marketing Group launches Hispanic division
In their continued efforts in emerging as a national advertising agency, San Diego-based InnoVision Marketing Group has launched InnoVision Español, adding to their portfolio of in-house services that include digital media, traditional media, web development, design, public relations, film production and more.
InnoVision Español will serve businesses and brands wanting to reach the Hispanic community and Hispanic-oriented clients and companies.
An important and valuable sector of the entire country and San Diego County, the Hispanic team at InnoVision is representative of this community, which makes up a very large percentage of San Diego County.
Hispanic consumers remain an underserved demographic for many marketers. Given that the population of Hispanics in the US is 18.7 percent in 2020, and around 34 percent in San Diego, only 6 percent of overall industry investment is spent toward the Hispanic community, per the Hispanic Marketing Council.
Wilson Turner Kosmo adds six attorneys
to its various practice groups
Wilson Turner Kosmo, one of the largest certified women-owned firms in California, continues to strengthen its team of skilled attorneys with the additions of Patrick Allen, Evan Critchlow, Kyle Fellenz, Ana Hartman, Susan Henderson and Mary Snyder to its business, employment products liability and warranty practice groups.
J. Patrick Allen
Allen, senior counsel in the firm’s Employment and Class Actions practice groups, manages individual, class and representative actions on behalf of employers in state and federal court, as well as private arbitrations.
Evan J. Critchlow
Joining WTK’s Product Liability and Warranty practice groups, Critchlow will represent distributors, manufacturers and retailers in breach of warranty, product liability and fraud matters in state and federal courts.
Kyle A. Fellenz
A senior associate in the firm’s Business Litigation, Product Liability and Warranty practice groups, Fellenz represents a breadth of clients in class actions and defends against product liability and warranty claims.
Ana R. Hartman
Senior counsel in WTK’s Business Litigation and Employment practice groups, Hartman has extensive experience defending, and advising, national insurance companies, international shipping carriers and security brokerage firms on sophisticated and varied legal issues.
Susan I. Henderson
An associate in the firm’s Employment Law practice group, Henderson represents employers in all employment-related matters including claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate and wage and hour disputes.
Mary P. Snyder
Rejoining the firm as partner, Snyder brings over 20 years of litigation experience to WTK’s Business Immigration, Class Actions and Employment practice groups. She is a skilled trial attorney practicing in state and federal courts, before administrative tribunals and in arbitration and appellate proceedings.
