Daily Business Report: Aug. 11, 2023
Goodby hotdogs, hello vegan masala:
California’s school lunches are going gourmet
By Carolyn Jones | CalMatters
The hottest new restaurant in California might be your local elementary school.
Thanks to a surge of nearly $15 billion in state and federal funding, school districts are ditching the old standbys — frozen pizza and chicken nuggets — in favor of organic salads, free-range grilled chicken, vegan chana masala, chilaquiles and other treats. Districts are building new kitchens, hiring executive chefs, contracting directly with local organic farmers, and training their staffs to cook the finest cuisine. One district in San Luis Obispo County even bought a stone mill to grind its own wheat for bread and pasta.
The move to healthier, fresher school meals comes on the heels of California’s first-in-the-nation program providing free breakfast, lunch and snacks to nearly 6 million students in public schools, regardless of whether they qualify under federal income guidelines. The expansion of the meal program, combined with investments in school kitchens and training, have made public schools the largest restaurant system in the state, serving nearly 1 billion meals a year — more than McDonald’s, Starbucks and Subway combined.
Photo: School food service workers train at the Culinary Institute of America as part of Farm to School, an initiative to provide healthier lunches in California schools, in Napa on Aug. 3, 2023. (Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters)
Navy begins evaluation of revitalization
proposals for NAVWAR site in Old Town
The Navy has received proposals for the Old Town Campus (OTC) Revitalization project from shortlisted potential master developers by the Aug. 9 deadline and has started the evaluation process. The Request for Proposals source selection evaluation process will identify the team whose proposal conforms to the solicitation, best meets Naval Information Warfare Systems Command’s (NAVWAR) mission requirements, and represents the best value to the government.
The Navy plans to select one proposer by the end of calendar year 2023 to enter into a period of exclusive negotiations.
The Navy OTC facilities, serving as NAVWAR’s headquarters, are well beyond their useful life and negatively affect NAVWAR’s cyber warfare mission, security, and workforce safety. The Navy’s proposed revitalization of OTC facilities would meet design standards for safety and security while enabling sustainment of NAVWAR’s national defense mission.
Home sales prices still higher than a year ago, as sales remain slow
Median prices of resale homes remain near record highs, comparing July 2023 data to the same month last year. That’s despite a drop in home sales, according to the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors.
In July, the median price of a detached single-family home was up 3.6 percent to $990,000, and for detached homes (condominiums and townhomes) the price was up 2.6 percent to $641,000. For the year-to-date, prices are virtually unchanged from a year ago
Closed sales of single-family homes in July decreased nearly 8 percent month-over-month, while sales of condos and townhomes were down more than 16 percent. Properties are currently closing escrow in an average of one month, compared to about three weeks for the same time last year.
Most expensive single-family home sold in July
The most expensive single-family property sold in July in San Diego County was a 2,900-square-foot, beach home on Ocean Front in Del Mar. The mixed traditional/modern design has an upstairs master suite with a view looking at the surf. The 4-bedroom, 4-bath property sold on July 26 for $14 million.
General Atomics opens new hangar in North Dakota
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) hosted a grand opening event on Aug. 9, 2023 to mark the opening of ts newest hangar at the Grand Sky Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Business Park near Grand Forks, N.D.. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the new hangar at the company’s Flight Test & Training Center (FTTC).
The new hangar will be used for international crew training, aircraft storage, aircraft maintenance and will house two GA-ASI Certified Ground Control Stations (CGCSs) with room to add additional CGCS as required. The FTTC opened in 2016.
Brenna Leon Sandeford named public information
officer for San Diego College of Continuing Education
Brenna Leon Sandeford, an equity-focused leader experienced in working with diverse student populations, has been named the new public information officer at the San Diego College of Continuing Education.
Prior to arriving at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Leon Sandeford oversaw public relations, marketing, and communications for San Diego State University’s Educational Opportunity Program.
She also served as a student development resource specialist at Grossmont College in El Cajon and as a child development center assistant with the San Diego Unified School District.
She is well-versed in creating marketing materials, video production, and social media outreach.
Victoria Garcia DeLuca named to
HousingWire’s 2023 Women of Influence list
Victoria Garcia DeLuca, vice president of marketplace diversity strategy for Guild Mortgage, has been named to HousingWire’s 2023 Women of Influence list. She was honored for exceptional leadership skills, work ethic and professional results.
In the last year, DeLuca’s contributions have helped conceptualize and develop Guild’s My Path2Own Dedicated to Lisa Klika, which makes homeownership more accessible through homebuyer education, concierge service and a closing cost assistance grant for those who complete the path. T
his achievement was made possible through her collaboration with Guild’s product development team, leveraging their expertise to create an innovative and impactful initiative.
Rich Garti named new campus director for
Pima Medical Institute’s Chula Vista campus
Pima Medical Institute has announced Rich Garti as its new Chula Vista campus director.
With 20+years of experience in higher education, Garti is poised to guide the campus toward further success.
As campus director, Garti plays a pivotal role in overseeing daily operations, ensuring that students receive a high-quality education and providing staff and faculty with the tools to help those students graduate prepared to begin successful careers in the health care field.
Garti has a strong background in career and technical education, distance education, and administration, having most recently served as Director of education/operations with Universal Technical Institute in Sacramento.
Enrollment trending up across San Diego Community College District
The fall semester begins Monday, Aug. 21, for nearly 50,000 students at the San Diego Community College District. Two weeks prior to the start of classes, enrollment is up 12 percent at City, Mesa and Miramar colleges compared with the same time in 2022. The College of Continuing Education, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 5, also anticipates increased enrollment in its free, noncredit programs.
District officials say it is still early, but they are seeing more students returning after having put their educations on hold during the pandemic.
To attract more working adults, the district’s colleges continue to offer a flexible mix of online, in-person and hybrid courses. The district also recently launched an advertising campaign specifically aimed at adult learners.
QDOBA plans to double in size over the next decade
SAN DIEGO — QDOBA, America’s #2 fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, is planning for rapid expansion. With 750 restaurants in 45 states, the privately held company expects to double in size over the next decade, with plans to open 40 new restaurants this year, followed by 60 in 2024, and 80+ annually beginning in 2025. In keeping with its selective refranchising strategy, QDOBA recently sold 77 company-owned restaurants to existing franchisee, North Fork Fresh Mex, which now operates 97 QDOBA restaurants in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia.
Dr. Steven Barnard appointed chief technology officer for Illumina
SAN DIEGO — Illumina Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced Dr. Steven Barnard, Illumina’s vice president and head of global advanced science, will serve as its next chief technology 0fficer, effective immediately. Dr. Alex Aravanis, who held the position of CTO, will be departing Illumina to pursue another opportunity outside of the company. Barnard joined Illumina in 1998 as the company’s first scientist and fourth employee, holding a variety of leadership positions within Illumina’s R&D organization throughout his distinguished 25-year tenure.
Join the 33rd annual Operation Clean Sweep around the bay
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Working Waterfront and the Port of San Diego invite the public to participate in the 33rd annual Operation Clean Sweep on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, from 8 to10 a.m. Following the event, an afterparty will be held for all volunteers at Cesar Chavez Park until noon. Volunteers are invited to participate by selecting from a variety of locations around San Diego Bay or choosing an area in their own community to clean.
Crowley, Port celebrate groundbreaking for all-electric tugboat charging station
SAN DIEGO — Crowley and the Port of San Diego broke ground for the shoreside charging station designed to provide clean energy for the company’s forthcoming zero-emission tugboat, eWolf. Joined by key partners and community stakeholders, the ceremony marked a significant step forward in the industry’s journey to decarbonization and reduce emissions in the San Diego community. Each energy container will house battery modules with storage capacity of almost 1.5 MWh, for a total capacity of 2,990 kW. The station will be equipped with battery monitoring system, HVAC and firefighting and detection technology.
Uqora recognized as a Best Place to Work in SoCal
SAN DIEGO — Uqora, Inc., the women’s health category disruptor delivering urinary health support and menopause symptom relief, is being honored as a 2023 Best Place to Work in SoCal by Best Companies Group (BCG), an independent research firm and leading expert in identifying the best places to work globally. This award acknowledges Uqora Inc., and its Uqora and Equelle brands’ unwavering dedication to creating a workplace that prioritizes employee growth, collaboration, and job satisfaction.
Medcrypt launches new FDA Cybersecurity Readiness Services
SAN DIEGO — Medcrypt Inc., the proactive cybersecurity solution provider for medical device manufacturers, announced its latest offering, “FDA Cybersecurity Readiness Services” empowering medical device manufacturers to confidently navigate the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Refuse to Accept policy as well as the new Secion 524B requirements stemming from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
SkyFire Arts launches ‘Infinite Energy’ festival
SAN DIEGO — International fire and lightning entertainment company SkyFire Arts presents “Infinite Energy,” an electrifying, transformational event where science, technology, art, and magic converge. On Oct. 7, 2023, from noon to 1 p.m., the Encore Event Center in San Diego will come alive with Tesla coil lightning performances, interactive workshops, flow arts, dance, DJs, merchants, and food vendors during this family-friendly experience. General Admission, Early Bird and VIP Tickets are available here.
ICE Thermal Harvesting joins 2 others to
collaborate on onsite energy systems financing
SAN DIEGO — ICE Thermal Harvesting, Gardner Capital Specialty Group, and VECKTA announce the successful completion of financing for the deployment of distributed energy systems across multiple industrial sectors. The committed facility of $150 million can be expanded to accommodate the growth trajectory of ICE over the next five years, and represents a significant step towards advancing sustainable energy generation for producers in the energy industry and beyond.
EDF Renewables North America places multi-year
order for Canadian Solar’s Made-in-USA modules
SAN DIEGO — EDF Renewables North America and Canadian Solar Inc. announced the signing of a multi-year module supply agreement to deliver up to 7-gigawatts (GW) of high efficiency N-type TOPCon solar modules to be produced at Canadian Solar’s new factory in Mesquite, Texas. Under the agreement, Canadian Solar will be supplying its latest high efficiency N-Type TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) solar modules to support EDF Renewables’ project pipeline in the U.S. between 2024 and 2030.
City of Hope receives $32.3 million to advance innovative therapies for patients
SAN DIEGO — Researchers at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses, were awarded $32.3 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to support three novel Phase 1 clinical trials evaluating innovative cell and gene therapy treatments for patients with HIV, acute myeloid leukemia and severe aplastic anemia. Up to 12 healthy people with HIV will be treated in this first-in-human study performed at the University of California San Diego and City of Hope.
