Daily Business Report-June 21, 2013
Betsy Read, a professor of molecular cell biology at Cal State San Marcos, examines a solution of Emiliania huxleyi. (Photo courtesy of Cal State San Marcos.)
Cal State San Marcos Delivers
Innovative Algae Research
Innovative research from Cal State San Marcos on the genome of algae could have widespread application in entirely different fields of study including medical and climate research. The team of researchers have unlocked the genomes for 14 different strains of the common phytoplankton, allowing them to decode the DNA of related strains in the algae Emiliania huxleyi. Their study is among just a few that have been able to unravel the genomes of marine algae, and it is the first to document a “pan genome,” a set of core genes shared by diverse algal varieties.
County Unemployment Rate Drops
Nonfarm employment up by 6,000 jobs over the month; up 20,300 jobs over the year
The unemployment rate in the San Diego County was 6.7 percent in May, down from a revised 7.0 percent in April and below the year-ago estimate of 8.8 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported today.
California’s unemployment rate was 8.1 percent for the same period. The nation’s jobless rate was 7.3 percent.
Between April and May:
Total nonfarm employment increased from 1,276,300 to 1,282,300, a gain of 6,000 jobs. Agricultural employment gained 300 jobs, or 3.0 percent.
Leisure and hospitality reported the greatest month-over gain, adding 3,300 jobs. Accommodation and food services (up 3,000) contributed to roughly 91 percent of the job growth in this sector, primarily from food services and drinking places (up 2,600). Arts, entertainment, and recreation gained 300 jobs.
Six other sectors also added jobs over the month. The most notable job gains came from trade, transportation, and utilities (up 1,200), mainly from retail trade (up 1,100), and financial activities (up 1,000).
Three sectors recorded month-over job losses: educational and health services (down 500), information (down 200), and manufacturing (down 100).
Between May 2012 and May 2013:
Total nonfarm employment increased by 20,300 jobs, or 1.6 percent. Agricultural employment declined by 100 jobs. Professional and business services posted the greatest year-over gain, adding 5,600 jobs. Administrative and support and waste services (up 3,500) accounted for more than 60 percent of the job growth in this sector. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 2,000 jobs, while management of companies and enterprises increased by 100 jobs.
Seven other sectors also posted job gains over the year. The most significant growth came from educational and health services and leisure and hospitality, adding 4,800 jobs each. Trade, transportation, and utilities gained 2,000 jobs.
Two nonfarm sectors recorded year-over job losses: construction (down 400) and manufacturing (down 100).
Navy Awards Cubic $30 Million Contract for Ship Training Systems
San Diego-based Cubic Corp. announced a new $30 million contract from the U.S. Navy to deliver advanced combat ship training systems. The Navy placed two $15 million delivery orders with Cubic’s Simulation Systems division for Cubic to develop instructor-led and facilitated programs that will provide ship engineers with up-to-date training.
Air Force Contract
Cubic Applications Inc. won a $6,619,242 federal contract from the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for research and development for vulnerability and counter-proliferation technology to support Air Force human effectiveness.
Old Town Family Hospitality Corp. Takes Over Operation of the Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Hotel
Old Town Family Hospitality Corp. has taken over operation of the Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Hotel. Owner Chuck Ross has held the concession to operate the property but chose to have it run by a sub-concessionaire while he was rebuilding two other restaurants and 19 shops that comprise the Fiesta de Reyes concession in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Ross said the former operators ran the Cosmopolitan for the past three years and recently made a decision to step away to pursue their other businesses. There will be no interruption of services at both the restaurant and hotel and most, if not all, of the employees will be retained, he said.
The Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Hotel reopened in July 2010 after a three-year, multimillion-dollar restoration to return the building to how it appeared in 1869. The property has two saloons, 10 hotel rooms and private dining rooms for special occasions. The building was originally constructed as the home of San Diego pioneer Juan Bandini between 1827 and 1829. It is located at Calhoun and Mason streets.
Major Renovation Completed at Leucadia’s SeaBluffe Community
Del Mar Pacific General Contractors Inc. has completed a major renovation project for SeaBluffe, a 600,000-square-foot, 255-unit gated community located on South Coast Highway in Leucadia. The project, which represents the largest James Hardie Color Plus siding project in the Western United States, was valued at $6.5 million. Roger Dinsmore of RTD Consulting LLC was the construction manager for the SeaBluffe Homeowners Association. Over the past 14 months, exterior renovation work was completed on the development’s 95 buildings, which included replacing the exterior siding to combat termites, prevent dry rot, reduce maintenance and enhance the beauty of the seaside community.
San Diego’s Budget Analyst: City Should Deal With Massive Backlog of Capital Projects
The city of San Diego’s Independent Budget Analyst released a report Thursday that suggested city leaders should develop a comprehensive, multi-year and citywide strategy to whittle down a massive backlog of major capital projects, City News Service reports. The so-called infrastructure deficit is pegged at $898 million, but is likely even higher because the figure is based on obsolete and partial data, the IBA said. The report said the strategy would identify necessary projects and revenue sources, and also discover critical projects that don’t yet have a revenue source. The mayor, council members, city staff and public should all be involved in creating the strategy, the document said. The IBA acknowledged that the city has taken “important steps” to addressing the infrastructure deficit. Updated condition assessments of city facilities were funded in the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The IBA report is scheduled to be presented Monday to the City Council’s Infrastructure Committee.
Imperial Beach Opens ‘The Post’ Affordable Housing Project
The city of Imperial Beach, Hitzke Development and American Legion Post 820 are celebrating the opening of “The Post,” Imperial Beach’s newest affordable housing community and new home to the American Legion post. Formal opening ceremonies will be at noon today at 1252 Palm Ave. The 30-unit housing complex offers homes affordable to the community’s low-income families, seniors, and veterans.
C.W. Driver Starts Construction of Student Health and Counseling Building at Cal State San Marcos
C.W. Driver has broken ground on the new 20,000-square-foot Student Health and Counseling Building at California State University San Marcos. The $7.5 million design-build project, which is slated for completion in 2014, was designed by Los Angeles-based HMC Architects to achieve LEED Gold certification. The building will contain 10 student examination rooms, a wellness resort area in addition to counseling and health facilities and space for administration, laboratories, medical records and support staff. Student health facilities are currently located in an off-campus rental space with outdated resources and equipment. The new building will allow the university to consolidate its health services to be available to students on campus and ultimately save money.
SDSU Center Receives $10,000 Grant
The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Youth and Science at the San Diego State University Research Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from the HDR Foundation, established earlier this year to give back to the communities in which HDR employees live and work. HDR is an employee-owned architecture, engineering and construction company. The funds will contribute to the “Building Healthier Communities and Pathways to Higher Education with Native American Youth.” Employee sponsors are Giorgio H. Curti and Christopher M. Moreno, who are resource associates with ISYS and adjunct professors with the SDSU Department of Geography.
Federal Contracts
Chromalloy Corp.
Chromalloy Corp., San Diego, won a $1,547,862 federal contract from the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., for engines, turbines and components.
UC Regents
Regents of the University of California, La Jolla, won a $52,518.48 federal contract from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Network 22 Logistics Office, Long Beach, for professional, administrative and management support services.
Datron World Communications
Datron World Communications, Vista, won a $47,734.32 federal contract from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colo., for six high frequency radio systems.
