Daily Business Report: Monday, April 24, 2023
California hits 1.5 million EV
sales years ahead of schedule
California passed 1.5 million electric vehicle sales nearly two years ahead of market predictions, according to the California Energy Commission, representing more than 21 percent of the total California new car market in the first quarter of 2023. In comparison, in 2022, more than 750,000 new EVs were registered in the U.S., just 5.6 percent of the total market.
“This incredible EV milestone is a shared victory and we are thrilled to be celebrating it with the Governor’s Office and many of out public and private sector board leaders,” said Josh Boone, executive director of Veloz, which has tracked EV sales data and infrastructure buildout in California for over 10 year.
The state Legislature has approved more than $5 billion in investmewnts for the EV transition. This includes a $2.9 billion state investment plan for EV charging and hydrogen refueling goals, a $2.6 billion state investment plan in EV projects — 70 percent of which will go to priority communities, and the state will receive $384 million of federal funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program to install charging stations throughout the state.
Read the Veloz quarterly EV Market Report
Electric vehicle in car sharing station (Canstock Photos)
FCC grant will promote internet connectivity
program for households with low income
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) will expand its collaborative efforts to help more families with low income access affordable, quality and reliable broadband internet service with help from a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grant.
SDHC will receive more than $230,000. The grant supports awareness, outreach and assistance for households to apply for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides eligible households with a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service and a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
With the FCC grant, SDHC’s objective is to reach out to approximately 120,000 households in the City of San Diego that are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
County opens affordable housing
development in San Marcos
The County’s newest affordable housing development celebrated a ribbon cutting and grand opening April 20 in San Marcos. Villa Serena on Marcos Street has 85 units for both low-income families and young adults transitioning out of the foster system. The County invested $6.5 million dollars in the project and will provide ongoing supportive behavioral health services. For many of these residents, Villa Serena is the first time they’ve had a place to call home.
Construction starts on affordable
housing project sponsored by county
Construction started last week by BRIDGE Housing Corp. on a county-sponsored affordable housing project — Kettner Crossing — that will offer 63 units (6 studios, three 2-bedrooms, and fifty-five 1-bedrooms) + 1 manager at the downtown San Diego site. The target population: seniors age 55 and older earning 30 to 50 percent of the Area Median Income, which is currently $31,250 to $52,05o for a household of two.
Serving Seniors will provide a resident services coordinator to offer residents with case management, medical case management and enrichment programs offered on site (nutrition and cooking).
The project will include an 8th floor deck with a community room, BBQ area, library and shared laundry, and on the ground floor, a leasing office, resident services office and bike storage.
MTS board approves $174 million
capital improvement program
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board of Directors unanimously approved a $174 million capital improvement program for FY 2024 on April 20, and an exclusive negotiating agreement with the San Diego Foundation to assist with redeveloping a land parcel adjacent to the 12th and Imperial Transit Center for up to 47 floors of housing.
Additionally, none of the nominees to serve as MTS’s Board Chair received the required two-thirds vote to take over the position vacated by Nathan Fletcher last month. San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn will continue to serve as MTS’s acting Chair until the Board takes up the item again. This is anticipated to take place at the next Board meeting on May 18.
St. Paul’s Senior Services names Sophia Lukas as new CEO
St. Paul’s Senior Services (SPSS) has named Sophia Lukas as its new vice president and chief operating officer . Lukas brings a plethora of experience in healthcare operations, management, and strategy. She has led established senior living programs, as well as start-up operations.
Lukas returns to St. Paul’s after serving in several different roles over the years.
Her mother worked for many years as the controller of the SPSS Finance Department; growing up, Lukas spent many hours volunteering for SPSS, where she did her Administrator-in-Training program, and later, served as the administrator of St. Paul’s Plaza.
Prior to coming to St. Paul’s, Lukas was with WellQuest Living, a start-up senior living company with communities in California.
In her role as vice president of operations, she managed large teams at established, as well as newly constructed, senior living communities.
New James M. Cox Foundation
Technology Immersion Lab unveiled
Sharp HealthCare Foundation on Friday unveiled the new James M. Cox Foundation Technology Immersion Lab during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center (SPIEC) in Kearny Mesa, which houses the technology immersion lab. The lab was funded by a $500,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises (parent company of Cox Communications) and named after the company’s founder.
The James M. Cox Foundation Technology Immersion Lab will enable Sharp researchers, clinicians, technologists, and industry partners to explore leading-edge technologies including artificial intelligence, software development, machine learning, and advanced analytics, all in support of Sharp’s leadership in health care innovation.
The 68,000-square-foot, four-story SPIEC is located on the campus of Sharp HealthCare’s headquarters at 8695 Spectrum Center Blvd. in Kearny Mesa.
In addition to the $500,000 James M. Cox Foundation grant, Cox Communications previously made a $75,000 donation to the project. Both donations were made during a match campaign by the Conrad Prebys Foundation, which brought the grants’ impact to a total of $1.15 million.
SDSU, UC San Diego among winners
of $1.13 San Diego Foundation grants
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Foundation’ Science & Technology Program announced $1.13 million in funding for its STEM initiative intended to aid and expand the number of students from underrepresented communities in STEM careers. The awarded programs focus on youth and young adults receiving placements in internships, mentorship programs, and cohorts concentrating on research, data science and overall career development.
Suffolk Construction Company moves
regional offices to downtown San Diego
Suffolk Construction Company has moved its regional offices to downtown San Diego’s Little Italy in what is a lagging market for office space generally. The move is seen as an encouraging sign by the Downtown San Diego Partnership in a market where retail continues to recover from the pandemic and several new apartment projects will soon open, including the Little Italy apartment tower Simone and the Radian in East Village, an apartment tower that includes downtown’s first Target department store.
City, local agencies to shed light on housing discrimination
SAN DIEGO — To learn more about housing discrimination and how it affects people locally, the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department along with the San Diego Regional Alliance for Fair Housing and the San Diego Housing Federation will hold the 8th annual Fair Housing Conference. It will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 26, and Thursday, April 27, with the theme “Crashing Through Hidden Barriers to Fair Housing.” Register
MAAC and Palomar College partner to offer
two-year early care apprenticeship program
SAN DIEGO — MAAC has partnered with Palomar College and Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS) for the pilot of its Next Level: Early Care & Education Apprenticeship Program —the only one of its kind in San Diego County. Twenty-five participants will receive free college coursework in child development, paid on-the-job training at MAAC’s Early Learning Centers, and additional support such as tutoring, technology and job-readiness training. At the end of the two years, the participants will have the qualifications to apply for an Associate Teacher Permit and will be prepared for full-time employment working with children in our local communities.
Pala Band in partnership to install
Naloxone vending machines on tribal land
PALA — The Pala Band of Mission Indians is partnering with Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego to install the first Naloxone vending machine on sovereign land. Funded through San Diego County, the machine is located at the Pala Fire Department and will be a vital tool in reducing fentanyl overdoses and preventing opioid-related deaths. This is the first machine of its kind to be placed on Tribal land in the United States. Naloxone vending machines have already been installed in various places throughout the country and have proven to be effective.
SkylineDX and NeraCare partner to
advance treatment for melanoma
SAN DIEGO — SkylineDx, an innovative diagnostics company focused on research and development of molecular diagnostics for oncology and inflammatory diseases, announced its first non-academic strategic partnership with NeraCare GmbH from Frankfurt, Germany to co-develop a test to help life science companies bring lifesaving melanoma therapies to market. NeraCare is rising to the forefront of modern clinical trial design with its proteomic test, Immunoprint, which identifies patients with early-stage melanoma who are at high-risk of relapse and death.
Scripps Research scientists receive
$12.8 million grant for viral infections study
SAN DIEGO — Scientists at Scripps Research have received a significant grant to study the evolution and outcomes of human infections with SARS-CoV-2, Lassa virus and Ebola virus. The team will receive roughly $2.5 million each year for a maximum of five years, bringing the total potential award to $12.8 million. The funds—a grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) first awarded in 2018—will support the Scripps Research-led Center for Viral Systems Biology (CViSB) over this time.
SDSU offers first K-pop dance
theory, practice class in the U.S.
K-pop is a worldwide cultural sensation. Now, San Diego State University will offer a first-of-its-kind class focused on the art form. Launching in Fall 2023, the class, created and taught by Chuyun Oh, associate professor in the School of Music and Dance, will offer students the opportunity to observe how cultures use dance as a form of communication and expression. Oh focused her Ph.D. research on K-pop, and is an internationally known scholar on the subject.
Tuition exemption pilot program
for community colleges introduced
SAN DIEGO — Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) has introduced his first bill, Assembly Bill 91, which will allow low-income students who reside within 45 miles from the California-Mexico border to attend local community colleges. If approved, students would be able to attend community colleges at the in-state tuition rate of $46 per unit. The tuition for international students at Southwestern College is $291 per unit. AB 91 is supported by the San Diego and Imperial Valley Counties Community College Association, which includes Southwestern College
