Daily Business Report: July 5, 2023
SANDAG and Caltrans get bulk of state
money for Otay Mesa East Port of Entry
The California Transportation Commission has awarded and approved hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the San Diego region for the advancement of critical transportation projects including transit, freight, rail, bikeways, and safety improvements.
SANDAG and Caltrans received the largest award of TCEP funds: $140 million for the advancement of the federal State Route 11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry project. The project will create a new, modern, land border crossing for the Cali-Baja region. Using state-of-the-art technologies, the new port of entry will improve mobility and air quality at the border. It will also help boost the economy and increase trade between the U.S. and Mexico.
Construction continues on the binational, multi-agency, $1.5 billion project, and major progress is expected throughout 2023.
The projected date to open is September 2024.
Photo: The construction site in late March 2022. (Courtesy of SANDAG)
Arctic set for high-speed broadband as
polar mission completes key milestone
Mission expected to provide high-speed services to air, land and sea users in the Arctic regin and in northern latitudes
Carlsbad’s Viasat Inc., a leader in satellite communications, and Space Norway, announced that the first of the two satellites for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission, has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing.
The new satellites, which will carry Viasat’s GX10A and B payloads, aim to connect users in the Far North with high-speed broadband in 2024.
The mission, managed by Space Norway Heosat, will see two satellites deployed in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) above the Earth. Operating in an oval-shaped orbit around the poles, the satellites will speed up when over the South Pole and slow down above the North Pole, tagging each other to deliver persistent coverage of the northernmost region of Earth.
Today, the Arctic Circle represents a rapidly growing connectivity region for governments, shipping companies, commercial airlines, and scientists.
General Atomics awarded contract for advanced
submarine propulsion concept designs
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has been awarded a contract from General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences to perform propulsion system design, to provide modeling, technical evaluation, and analysis supporting the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Advanced Propulsor, Experimental (APEX) program. The APEX program is intended to develop and demonstrate a new generation of propulsion technology designs to power submarines and other undersea vehicles.
Alessandra Sacco named dean of Sanford
Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Veteran researcher Alessandra Sacco has been named dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in San Diego.
Sacco, who was recruited to Sanford Burnham Prebys in 2010 and was previously vice dean and associate dean of student affairs for the graduate school, studies skeletal muscle wasting, a devastating characteristic of many diseases including muscular degenerative diseases, cancer and aging.
She is also co-director of the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program and a member of the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford’s National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center.
Kratos expands global Space Domain
Awareness network locations into India
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., a San Diego technology company, announced an expansion of its Space Domain Awareness (SDA) network locations into India. Kratos’ SDA network monitors the behavior of space-based radio frequency (RF) signals to identify critical information about satellites in orbit, such as their position, maneuvering, health, proximity to other satellites and more. It is the world’s largest global RF sensor network providing commercially available SDA services in all segments: orbital, link and terrestrial.
Recent strategic installations within the Asia Pacific region including the new India-based facility have increased Kratos’ global satellite tracking coverage by over 30 percent.
Award-winning researcher’s films
shed light on HIV and aging
By Penny Pico | SDSU
San Diego State University researcher Megan Ebor’s award-winning documentary “Even Me” and her feature film “TRY” brings to life her research to address prevention, treatments, and the realities of living with HIV and AIDS in disproportionately affected communities, including older adults.
Older adults are among the largest groups in newly acquired HIV infections in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those aged 55 and older account for 26 percent of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV. Women account for about 18 percent, and African Americans disproportionately account for about 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses.
PLNU partners with Padres on science lab
SAN DIEGO — Point Loma Nazarene University is teaming up with the San Diego Padres to build a biomechanics lab — complete with sophisticated motion capture, force platform, and ball-tracking technologies — to provide pitching and hitting mechanics evaluation for all levels of the Padres organization. The PLNU Sea lions are also celebrating winning the National Scholastic Surfing Association College Nationals Competition, with team captain Noah Kawaguchi named the 2023 National College men’s champion.
Cities of Escondido, San Marcos win top awards
NORTH COUNTY — The Cities of Escondido and San Marcos both won statewide awards at the California Association for Local Economic Development conference. Escondido and Fresh Brewed Tech won the 2023 Award of Excellence for its AgTech Hackathon. San Marcos won an Award of Merit for Economic Resiliency & Recovery for its COVID-19 Business Sustainability Program.
Forum spotlights Oceanside
Transit Center redevelopment
OCEANSIDE — An update on the redevelopment plan for the Oceanside Transit Center will be presented at the July 6 Emerging Issues Forum of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. Mike Winter of Toll Brothers will provide an in-depth look at the vision to revitalize one of the largest pieces of property in downtown Oceanside. The Forum will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at 928 North Coast Highway.
Count’s Splash Castle now
open at Sesame Place San Diego
CHULA VISTA — Sesame Place San Diego, the only theme park on the West Coast based entirely on the award-winning show “Sesame Street,” has opened The Count’s Splash Castle to the public. It’s is an all-new, multi-level water-play attraction perfect for all park guests, even the littlest splashers. Sesame Place San Diego opened the attraction following a grand opening event for park guests to celebrate the new attraction. Sesame Place San Diego is open daily and is located at 2052 Entertainment Circle in Chula Vista.
Oz Laniado named executive director
of StandWithUs Southwest region
SAN DIEGO — Oz Laniado has been named the new executive director of the StandWithUs Southwest region, which includes San Diego, La Jolla and Rancho Mirage. Laniado served as the executive director of FIDF in the southwest for over five years. Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Laniado served as the San Diego regional director for the Israeli American Council, and was a StandWithUs Israeli Fellow when he attended the IDC in Herzliya.
Barnes Tennis Center plans to add
19 courts for pickleball players
SAN DIEGO — The Pickleball Association of San Diego got a small portion of what it has been seeking the past couple years, as Barnes Tennis Center at 4490 W. Point Loma Blvd. announced it will soon have 19 courts dedicated to accommodate the rapidly growing court sport. The tennis center’s action, however, fell short of PASD’s proposal to convert six of Peninsula Tennis Club’s 12 existing tennis courts at Robb Field at 2525 Bacon St. for pickleball use. One tennis court can be converted into about four pickleball courts.
Improv training to be held
at Point Loma Playhouse
SAN DIEGO — Registration is now open for a six-week improv workshop and live performance July 18-Aug. 26 being offered through Point Loma Playhouse. The workshop is taught by award-winning actor/director Sean Mulvihill. This is an all-levels class for beginning to advanced improvisers.The course will explore the primary tools for creating improvised scenes and developing the why of the scene and to reinforce the basic concepts of improv. The course will wrap with a live performance on stage at the Point Loma Playhouse.
San Diego MLS adds industry veterans
Jen Bower and Mark Morris
SAN DIEGO — San Diego MLS, the newest team in Major League Soccer, has named industry veterans Jen Bower and Mark Morris to oversee partnerships, premium, and ticketing for the club. Bower who will serve as EVP, partnerships, premium and ticketing at Legends for San Diego MLS, while Morris will be SVP, global partnerships for both San Diego MLS and Right to Dream properties. This news follows the club’s recent multi-year partnership with Legends, a global premium experiences company, for services across partnerships, premium and ticket sales that will maximize revenue generation for the club through a streamlined, data-driven sales approach.
Armed Services YMCA announces
new executive director of San Diego branch
SAN DIEGO —The Armed Services YMCA of the USA announced the appointment of Capt. Frank Martin, U.S. Navy (Ret.) as executive director of its San Diego branch. With over a century of experience in enhancing the lives of military members and their families in spirit, mind, and body, the ASYMCA San Diego branch has been a vital support system for the community it serves. “We are thrilled to have Frank join the leadership team, overseeing our San Diego branch,” said ASYMCA president and CEO William French.
Keith Fisher named chief operating officer
for Meals on Wheels San Diego County
SAN DIEGO — Meals on Wheels San Diego County announced the appointment of Keith Fisher as its chief operating officer (COO). Fisher started in his new role with Meals on Wheels San Diego County on June 12. As COO, Fisher will oversee all operational aspects during a unique and exciting post-pandemic period of growth and opportunity. Fisher’s leadership and expertise will be instrumental in furthering the organization’s mission to combat senior hunger, isolation, and neglect. The pandemic growth was only the beginning of what is to come with the growing older adult population. By 2030, one out of four San Diegans will be a senior citizen.
Deputy City Attorney Jordan DuBois
named Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year
SAN DIEGO — Deputy City Attorney Jordan B. DuBois, who prosecuted two high-profile cases against ivory traffickers operating in San Diego, has been named California Fish and Game Commission’s 2022 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year. The award honors a courtroom champion with exceptional skill and an outstanding commitment to protecting California’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources. The commission selected DuBois, who has been prosecuting such cases for the San Diego City Attorney’s Office since 2018. DuBois’s nomination received a unanimous vote from the commission.
