Daily Business Report: Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022
Experimenting in space to help
prevent mudslides here on Earth
By Ioana Patringenaru
As climate change-driven wildfires worsen, havoc wrecked by post-wildfire mudslides is a growing danger. These gravity-driven mudflows happen suddenly and are difficult to predict. They can have devastating effects, including lost lives, homes and damaged infrastructure. Knowing the causes of mudslides is critical to improving predictions that save lives and reduce damage. To better understand gravity’s effects on post-wildfire mudflow, a research team from the University of California San Diego will take their research to the only laboratory where gravity is removed—the International Space Station.
The project, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and supported by Space Tango, a commercial service provider for the ISS National Laboratory, will study the hydrodynamics of mudslides. Results could lead to improved mudflow models, new critical infrastructure and the development of early-warning systems.
Photo: An experiment designed by UC San Diego faculty Ingrid Tomac will launch to the International Space Station to improve our ability to prevent mudslides after a fire here on Earth. (Credit: UC San Diego)
The North County Transit District is becoming a developer
By Tigist Layne | Voice of San Diego
The North County Transit District is undertaking major redevelopment of the land around its transit stations. The transit agency is selecting developers to turn the largely empty land surrounding up to 12 of its properties into mixed-use projects with market-rate housing, affordable housing and commercial spaces.
NCTD officials expect the initiative to not only create long-term revenue for the agency, but also provide affordable housing to a region that needs it, and increase transit ridership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The public agency provides public transportation for North San Diego County. Several of its transit centers and SPRINTER stations sit on acres of land that have been underutilized for decades. With demand for housing continuing to increase and climate reduction mandates bearing down on the region, public entities are facing more pressure to get involved.
Regional Task Force on Homelessness receives
$5 million from Amazon founder’s Families Fund
The Regional Task Force on Homelessness, the lead agency for the San Diego region’s Continuum of Care, announced that it has received a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund—the largest private gift in the organization’s history. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to leading organizations on the frontlines that are employing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families move from unsheltered homelessness and shelters to permanent housing with the services they require to achieve stability.
The Regional Task Force on Homelessness was selected as a Day 1 Families Fund grant recipient by a group of national advisors who are leading advocates and experts on homelessness and service provision. National advisors brought expertise on housing justice, advancing racial equity and helping programs employ resources effectively to assist families out of homelessness.
Three freestanding retail buildings
in Del Mar sold for $19.5 million
Retail Insite, a commercial real estate firm in Solana Beach, announced the sale of three freestanding retail buildings in Del Mar for $19.5 million. The buyer was Kleege enterprises. The seller was P&G Enterprises. The investment sale included existing tenants of US Bank, Chase Bank and Armstrong Garden Center, each occupying their own building. Mike Moser of Retail Insite handled the transaction and represented the seller.
Retail Insite was established in 1996 and serves the San Diego, Orange and Inland Empire communities.
Palm Street Ventures apartment plan awaits verdict
By Elaine Alfaro
Apartment complex plans near the village in downtown La Mesa are in limbo as the La Mesa City Council faces the decision to ratify them, but some residents are concerned about the current designs.The plans for an apartment complex on the 0.49-acre lot (where the former historic Randall Lamb building once sat) located at the southeast corner of Palm Avenue and Allison Avenue include a five-story building with 64 units, 8 of which would be affordable, low-income units. There would also be 29 off-street parking spaces on the ground floor, and various landscape and hardscape improvements, according to a report presented to the Planning Board. Read more…
Feds approve $1 billion to keep Diablo Canyon open
CalMatters
California’s last nuclear power plant, which provides about 10 percent of the state’s electricity, just took a big step toward staying open past its planned 2025 closure date: The U.S. Department of Energy announced that PG&E, the operator of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, was awarded a grant of about $1.1 billion to help keep the facility open. The move comes two months after a controversial, last-minute process that culminated in Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers authorizing a loan of as much as $1.4 billion for PG&E to keep Diablo Canyon open until 2030 to help stabilize California’s fragine energy grid. Anti-nuclear advocates opposed the action, noting that the aging facility near San Luis Obispo is located close to earthquake fault lines and could pose safety issues.
Illumina to partner with children’s hospital in Dubai
genome web
Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has signed a deal with Illumina to collaborate on rapid whole-genome sequencing for diagnosing critically ill children. Under the terms of the agreement, the partners will collaborate on a two-year study of the impact of clinical rWGS in neonatal and pediatric care units. The study will comprise 200 children under the age of 18 and their parents. Illumina will provide sequencing reagents and analytical tools for rWGS. Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Greenbutts receives accredited validation
for biodegradable filter technology
Greenbutts LLC has been granted the Hohenstein Quality Label for a novel biodegradable filter technology designed to replace the most littered single-use plastic item — cigarette filters. An all-natural and fiber-based solution to cellulose acetate filters, Greenbutts’ technology becomes one of few alternatives certified as biodegradable by Hohenstein Laboratories, a distinction requiring materials to achieve complete biodegradation to achieve certification. By fully biodegrading, the novel filter technology enables multinational partners and thecustomer pipeline to address their product sustainability while materially reducing the negative impact on oceans and communities.
Paddy the Baddy and Graham Boylan
join BXNG Club as investors, advisors
The BXNG Club (BXNG), a California leader in combat sports and fitness, announced that UFC fighter, Paddy Pimblett (Paddy the Baddy) and Cage Warriors owner and president, Graham Boylan have invested in BXNG’s growth and expansion, with Graham Boylan also taking on an advisory role. The BXNG Club offers boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, strength training, and other fitness-related classes such as Cycling, HIIT, Pilates & Yoga.
Airgain Inc. secures multi-million-dollar
contract with EV charging leader
Airgain Inc., a leading provider of wireless connectivity solutions based in San Diego, announced that a leading manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has selected Airgain’s NimbeLink embedded modems to provide connectivity to its expanding nationwide network. This win is the latest for Airgain in a growing niche that includes several top manufacturers who require reliable connectivity for maintenance, status tracking, usage monitoring, payment processing, geolocation, and more.
Rincon water rebates a hit with customers
Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District said it completed an initiative to provide nearly $1.2 million in rebates to customers and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the program. The rebates were made possible following years of litigation by the San Diego County Water Authority against the Metropolitan Water District for violating existing exchange agreements between the two agencies. The customer rebates come as residents across the county prepare for the holiday season, giving Rincon Water customers a boost to help put food on the Thanksgiving table and some extra gifts for family members next onth.
Cyber Security and Intelligence
Club at SDSU launch partnership
As part of a new partnership, the San Diego State University Cyber Security and Intelligence Club and Haiku Inc. are expanding hands-on cybersecurity training tools available to students. Using Haiku Inc.’s “Games that Train,” critical testing and feedback on tactics, tools, and procedures will be available to both cybersecurity and homeland security students to help them develop intelligence skills in a safe, virtual environment. Though designed for students studying cybersecurity and homeland security, the initiative is open to all SDSU students. Read more…
Novo Brazil Brewing Company opens
fourth location in Imperial Beach
Novo Brazil Brewing Company last weekend held the grand opening of its Imperial Beach location at 535 Florence St. The restaurant and nano brewery sits on the south end of San Diego Bay with views of the Coronado Bridge and downtown skyline in the distance. The new location features the same menu as the Otay Ranch mall location and 64 taps, serving all NOVO beers and its other lines of beverages: NOVA easy kombuchas (hard and non-alcoholic), California Spritz beer cocktails, and hard seltzers. The hours are noon to 10 p.m. daily.
