Daily Business Report: Friday, Oct. 28, 2022
Going Electric: Opponents clash as California
aims to force diesel trucks off the road
By Nadia Lopez |CalMatters
Environmentalists and trucking industry groups sparred with clean air regulators Thursday over a contentious proposal to phase out California’s big rigs and other trucks with internal combustion engines and force manufacturers to speed mass-production of electric trucks.
The California Air Resources Board held its first public hearing on rules that would ban manufacturers from selling any new fossil-fueled medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks by 2040. The new rules would also require large trucking companies to convert their fleets to electric models, buying more over time until all are zero-emission by 2042. The move is part of the state’s wider strategy to end its reliance on fossil fuels and cut planet-warming emissions.
“California is leading the transition to wide-scale electrification of trucks and buses,” said board chair Liane Randolph. “These actions can show the world how to simultaneously address the climate crisis, improve air quality and alleviate key concerns identified by communities.”
The proposed regulation received widespread criticism from both sides, as 167 members of the public lined up to speak at Thursday’s hearing. Environmentalists and public health groups called for a tougher rule that would speed up the 100 percent electric truck sales requirement to 2036 instead of 2040, while trucking companies said the proposal ignores concerns about electric vehicle costs and technology, lack of infrastructure and the loss of good-paying jobs.
Top Photo: A Toyota Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck during an event in San Francisco on Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo by Stephen Lam, Reuters, via CalMatters)
County selects a chief geriatric officer to help
serve the region’s growing seniors population
For the first time, a chief geriatric officer will help lead the county’s efforts surrounding the health and wellbeing of San Diego’s growing older adult population. The county has chosen Lindsey Yourman, M.D., to fill that role. She’ll join the county’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Medical Care Services department.
This position is one of the first of its kind in the state and nation for a local integrated health and human services system. HHSA Director Nick Macchione said the time was right for its creation in San Diego County.
“In 2010, our region had about a half million residents 60 years of age or older,” said Macchione. “Since then, we have added about a quarter million more and by 2030 the older adult population is expected to surpass 900,000.
Since 2015, Dr. Yourman’s work surrounding older adults has included clinical leadership of interprofessional teams to help older adults live independently and studying quality improvement and implementation science to improve health care delivery for older adults. She was the inaugural graduate and now serves as co-director of the West Health-UCSD Geriatrics Quality Improvement Science Fellowship designed to support early-stage geriatricians to pursue careers in quality improvement for older adults.
Ford and Volkswagen close down
Argo AI autonomous car unit
Autonomous car specialist Argo AI is closing down after Ford and Volkswagen, the company’s main backers, ended their support. Ford and Volkswagen’s Argo investments totaled $1 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, but the two automakers have now concluded that the dream of fully autonomous vehicles is not worth chasing, at least for now.
Jim Farley, Ford president, said on Wednesday that when the automaker invested in Argo and autonomous vehicles in 2017, it anticipated being able to bring Level 4 self-driving capabilities to market, a level described as highly advanced and one grade short of Level 5, which offers full automation. But despite pumping billions of dollars into its driverless car dreams, Ford is still nowhere near L4 autonomy.
Petco and Nationwide partner to bring
insurance and care to more pets
Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc. and Nationwide, the largest pet insurer in the country, announced plans for a multi-year partnership to co-develop integrated and affordable pet health, wellness and protection solutions for every stage of a pet’s life, with the goal of better pet health and wellness outcomes for the more than 90 million pet families in the U.S.
Petco’s fully integrated ecosystem of pet health and wellness solutions — including their more than 1,500 Petco pet care centers — and Nationwide’s deep claims data set, and pet protection and insurance capabilities will be at the center of the comprehensive programs expected to be available in 2023. With the ability to cross-promote and market to each other’s customer base and beyond, the pet-serving companies will leverage their collective infrastructure, expertise and more than 150 years of insights from a rapidly growing customer base of more than 25 million pet families.
Megan Lim-Blair and Gary Strawn reappointed to
San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
Megan Lim-Blair, 37, of San Diego, and Gary Strawn, 76, of Santee, have been reappointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Lim-Blair has served since 2018. She has been senior director of strategic initiatives for Rady Children’s Hospital since 2019, and was chief development officer at the San Diego Public Library Foundation from 2008 to 2019. She was capital campaign and major gifts manager at Girl Scouts San Diego – Imperial Council from 2007 to 2008.
Strawn has served on the board since 2010. He was an engineering consultant at Gary Strawn Consulting from 2007 to 2012 and a program manager at United Technologies Hamilton Sundstrand from 1988 to 2006. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1988. Strawn is a member of the San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego Fly Fishers, San Diego River Conservancy and the Mission Trails Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee. Strawn is registered without party preference. Lim-Blair is a Democrat.
The position require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem.
R.D. Olson Construction breaks ground
on Springhill Suites by Marriot in Chula Vista
R.D. Olson Construction has started construction on the Springhill Suites by Marriot, a five-story hotel in Chula Vista. Completion is expected by December 2023. Located at 870 Showroom Place, the $38 million, 127,628-square-foot project is a continuation of the firm’s growing San Diego presence. Amenities will include a lounge, bar, buffet, meeting room, rim flow pool, jacuzzi, cabanas, fire pits, activity area, pavilion, event lawn, barbeques and fitness room. The public areas and lobby will include custom interior finishes while the lobby showcases custom millwork features. R.D. Olson is partnering with architect Lee & Sakahara and interior designer Design Studion on the project.
Feeding San Diego awarded second $100,000
grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Fund will go to alleviate childhood hunger
Feeding San Diego, the county’s leading hunger relief and food rescue organization, is a recipient of a second $100,000 grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation for its 2022 summer grant cycle. The funds will support the nonprofit’s School Pantry Program, helping to break the cycle of food insecurity for the youth of San Diego County by providing nutritious meals to families. The longstanding program, which is Feeding San Diego’s largest hunger-relief program for children, alleviates childhood hunger by providing nutritious food to children, youth, and their families at no cost onsite at local schools. This ensures consistent, reliable access to healthy food on a dependable schedule at familiar locations. The School Pantry Program operates throughout San Diego County in partnership with 13 school districts.
San Diego Foundation partners with USD on
initiative to prepare Black students for college
San Diego Foundation announced a new partnership with University of San Diego (USD) and a $1.5 million grant to its School of Leadership and Education Sciences to prepare more Black secondary students for college, fulfill their college financial needs, and create a teaching and learning center focused on supporting neurodivergent students for all San Diego educators. The Black InGenius Initiative (BiGi) at University of San Diego will be a college access and early literacy program annually serving a cohort of 60 Black students starting in fall 2023. Each year, a new 6th grade cohort will be added to the program, with 420 students anticipated to participate by 2030.
Intersection Equities secures $11.2 million loan
to purchase warehouse in American Canyon, Calif.
Intersection Equities, a San Diego-based commercial real estate firm, has obtained an $11.2 million loan to purchase an 85,000-square-foot temperature-controlled warehouse in American Canyon, Calif. Bill Chiles, Scott Peterson and Colby Matzke with CBRE Capital Markets’ Debt and Structured Finance team in San Diego secured the full-term interest-only bridge loan on behalf of the buyer. The company plans to make strategic capital improvements to rebrand the property and enhance the facility’s appeal to prospective tenants.
Reality Changers and MAAC get Bank of America grant
Reality Changers and Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti Poverty (MAAC) have been named as the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders awardees for their work in the San Diego community removing economic barriers and advancing economic opportunity.
The Neighborhood Builders program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development, with each organization receiving a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling, joins a network of peer organizations across the U.S., and the opportunity to access capital.
Point Predictive launches DealerExplorer
Point Predictive Inc., the San Diego-based company that provides artificial intelligence solutions to lenders, announced the launch of DealerExplorer, a solution that helps auto lenders evaluate prospective dealerships before adding them to their network by providing insights into the quality and quantity of deals originating from a dealership. This helps automotive lenders better assess risks associated with dealerships they may be considering for their portfolio.
DealerExplorer provides data for lenders to evaluate prospective dealerships based on their loan performance history as seen in the Point Predictive data consortium. Lenders receive comprehensive reports on prospective dealerships and can extract raw data from the report to use during their internal analysis and onboarding processes.
United BioChannels acquires ORFLO Technologies
United BioChannels (UBC), a San Diego commercial strategy consultancy, announced its acquisition of ORFLO Technologies, LLC, from Gemini Bioproducts. The acquisition represents an opportunity for both ORFLOand UBC to collaboratively increase the commercial presence of ORFLO and build market share using UBC’s modular method of developing commercial strategy and tactical execution. ORFLO, a leading manufacturer of cell counting and characterization technologies, will be led by Varshal Davé, UBC’s managing partner, who will assume the role of chief executive officer. The acquisition is funded through a collaboration between UBC and BroadOak Capital Partners.
Port of San Diego honored with
SANDAG Diamond Award
The Port of San Diego has been recognized by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) as a Platinum recipient in the annual SANDAG Diamond Awards program. The SANDAG Diamond Awards honors employers from across the San Diego region for their leadership in sustainable commuting. The award was presented at a ceremony held at the San Diego Central Downtown Library on Oct. 21, 2011. The Port received Platinum status, which is the highest level of recognition in the program, for being a host for Bike to Work Day on May 19, 2022 and for its overall commuter benefits program.
