UC Davis FOOD ENGINEER PAUL SINGH ELECTED TO NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

University of California, Davis
February 11, 2008

FOOD ENGINEER PAUL SINGH ELECTED TO NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

R. Paul Singh, distinguished professor of food engineering at the University of California, Davis, whose research has applications in areas ranging from food processing to space exploration, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. This is one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers in the United States.

Singh, who holds a joint appointment in the departments of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and Food Science and Technology, is one of 65 new members and nine foreign associates elected to the academy this year.

The National Academy of Engineering is one of four organizations that make up the National Academies, established by Congress to advise the nation on a wide range of scientific issues. Singh is the ninth current or retired faculty member from UC Davis to be elected to the National Academy of Engineering; the late Robert Fridley, Ray Krone and Roy Bainer were also members.

"Professor Singh's research has profound importance to a fundamental human concern -- the safety of our food," said Enrique Lavernia, dean of the College of Engineering. "His contributions to our understanding of technology's interaction with food chemistry has implications for sustenance in daily life as well as extended space travel. The College of Engineering is extremely proud that Professor Singh's achievements are being recognized in this way."

Charles Bamforth, chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology said: "We are so proud of Paul; this is supreme recognition of his brilliance as a researcher. He is also a remarkable teacher, so innovative and productive. He is an inspiration to us all."

Singh, a member of the UC Davis faculty since 1975, has a distinguished portfolio of research discoveries in areas such as energy conservation, post-harvest technology, freezing preservation, and mass transfer in food processing.

His laboratory is currently working on the design and development of food processing equipment for NASA's manned mission to Mars. The research team also is conducting studies related to fluid flow and heat transfer during thawing and freezing and is designing packaging systems that will allow more efficient cooling of strawberries.

He has mentored more than 100 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars while at UC Davis, and now teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses on unit operations in food processing and on heat and mass transfer in food engineering.

Singh earned his doctorate in engineering from Michigan State University in 1974. He also holds a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor's degree from Punjab Agricultural University, India, both in agricultural engineering.

In 2007, Singh received the Kishida International Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The award recognizes Singh's visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to teaching, research and technology transfer in food science and engineering worldwide.

He was elected to the Food Engineering Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2000 was selected as a fellow in both the Institute of Food Technologists and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. He also has taught numerous short courses for members of the food industry in the United States and abroad.

He currently is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Food Engineering published by Elsevier Ltd.

Media contact(s):
* R. Paul Singh, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, (530)752-0811, rpsingh@ucdavis.edu
* Pat Bailey, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu


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Solano County: A Growing Regional Hub

Solano County: A Growing Regional Hub

Solano County is positioned as the hub for Northern California’s expanding biotech industry—expected to double in the next 10 years.

Michael Ammann, president of Solano Economic Development Corporation, told business and government leaders at last week’s Solano Economic Summit (Thursday, Dec.13) in Fairfield, that the cities in Solano are already key players in biotech, but could see that role expanded tremendously in the coming years.

“Is Solano ready to double?” Ammann asked. “It has all the potential to double an already successful posture.

Ammann said Northern California currently has 900 companies in the biotech sector. Some 120 are publicly owned, employing 90,000, with a $6 billion annual payroll. The Average wage is $68,000. Currently there are 393 marketed products, and 400 new products in Phase II and III clinical trials.

The region has four major life science research universities with more than one-half billion dollars in research funding.

“And, all that is expected to double,” in the next ten years,” Ammann said.

Solano County is centrally located to server this expanding industrial sector, Ammann said.

Currently, Genentech, Alza and Novartis have major facilities in Vacaville, and Benicia is home to Bio-Rad. Vallejo will soon see Siemens, and Genentech will build a major R&D facility in Dixon.

Ammann said that with biotech’s expansion, other sectors also will expand. Food and beverage, for example, benefit from the R&D in the life sciences. Currently, with Mariani Foods, Clorox, Budweiser, St. Gobain, Cyto Sports Drinks, Abbott Labs and JG Guittard, Solano County is a growing locating in this economic sector.

“We are a regional hub of opportunity and innovation, built on growth in energy, food/beverage and life sciences,” Ammann said. “We can create a strong diversified economy based on the needs of a growing regional population who must fined a way to turn on the lights, eat and stay health.”

Source: Solano Economic Development Corporation (12/19/07)

The Solano Economic Development Corporation Was Awarded a $5,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Company Grant

The Solano Economic Development Corporation Was Awarded a $5,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Company Grant
February 10, 2008

The Solano Economic Development Corporation was awarded a $5,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Company grant to support economic development programs countywide, EDC officials announced.

The Solano organization was one of 75 local government and community-based agencies to receive PG&E grants, the announcement said.

This is the grant program's sixth year, and in that time $1.7 million has been awarded to 325 projects, EDC officials said. Solano EDC, which celebrates 25 years in the county this year, received its first PG&E grant in 2002, they said.

Vacaville Council To Weigh Office Building Project

Vacaville Council To Weigh Office Building Project
By Ian Thompson | DAILY REPUBLIC | February 08, 2008

VACAVILLE - The City Council is being asked Tuesday to let its redevelopment agency start exclusive negotiations with local developer Greg Banks to build an office building on Opportunity Hill.

Banks wants to build a two-story building on a 1.7-acre site on Wilson Street between Catherine and Mason streets.

The redevelopment agency has been slowly buying up the four-block area of old single-family homes and small businesses around Catherine Street since 1999 with plans to turn it into a mixed-use extension of the city's downtown.

Vacaville Redevelopment Agency Director Cyndi Johnston has said in the past she wants to see that area become a pedestrian-friendly mix of offices, retail and housing.

Bank's proposed building is the first specific project to come forward. He will have a year to finalize negotiations with the city.

The office building's location includes the current Opportunity House homeless shelter.

The City Council approved plans early last year to move the Opportunity House to a new location in the Brown Street area where Solano County also plans to build a new social services center.

'We are working with Vacaville Community Housing, who owns the Opportunity House, and the Vacaville Social Services Corporation for a new location,' Johnston said.

In other business, the City Council will also decide to whether to enter exclusive negotiations with the Solano County Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing on Holly Lane.

Habitat for Humanity wants to build as many as 11 duet or single-family homes on the site that would go to income-eligible families.

This would be the second time Habitat for Humanity has built homes in Vacaville. The international nonprofit group built four homes on an adjacent site 10 years ago.

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in its chamber at 650 Merchant St.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.

Sacramento International was state's fifth-busiest airport in '07

Sacramento Business Journal - February 1, 2008
http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/01/28/daily57.html

Sacramento Business Journal
Friday, February 1, 2008
Sacramento International was state's fifth-busiest airport in '07


Sacramento International Airport was the fifth busiest airport in California in 2007, county officials said Friday, rising up one place from the year before and edging past San Jose International.

Last year the airport saw a 30 percent increase in international travelers and a 4 percent increase in domestic passengers, for a total of 10,748,982 passengers.

The increase in international flights was due to the debut of Air Canada, which began nonstop service to and from Vancouver. The airport's other international flights are to various destinations in Mexico.

"Obtaining a route to Vancouver was the No. 1 air service priority of the Sacramento County Airport System for several years," said G. Hardy Acree, director of airports.

Fairfield's Crime Rate Drops

Fairfield's Crime Rate Drops
Largest Decline Is In Assaults
By Reporter Staff
Article Launched: 02/08/2008

Crime is down in Fairfield, according to statistics released Thursday by the Fairfield Police Department.

Overall, the city saw a 4.3 percent drop in Part I Crimes in 2007 compared to 2006. Part I crimes include violent crimes such as murder, rape and robbery, and property crimes such as burglary, theft and arson.

The largest decreases in crime came in the number of aggravated assaults, where a 10-percent drop was reported and robberies where an 8 percent drop was recorded.

The number of murders and rapes remained the same from 2006 to 2007 - there were 7 murders and 36 rapes each year. However, the overall violent crime rate in the city went down by 9 percent, from 647 violent incidents in 2006 to 590 in 2007. That drop is attributable to the large decrease in robberies (from 241 in 2006 to 221 in 2007) and aggravated assaults (from 363 in 2006 to 326 in 2007), officials noted.

Property crimes were also down across the board. Burglaries dropped 6 percent, theft was down 3 percent, auto thefts declined 4 percent and arsons were down 6 percent.

The overall reduction continues the downward crime trend in Fairfield, officials said. From 20002 to 2007, Part I crimes have decreased by 11 percent.

"I believe our hard-working officers and our continued focus on working in partnership with the community are two of the factors which have contributed to the current reduction in crime," said Police Chief Kenton Rainey. "While there are other elements which also impact crime, we will continue with our COPPS philosophy and proactive commitment to improving the quality of life in Fairfield."

The COPPS, Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving, program is an approach to policing that is more proactive and fosters relationships among the community, government and police. It divides the city into service areas, with each area assigned its own lieutenant, sergeants and team of officers who get to know the area, residents and issues and can deal with problems before they arise.

That crime is down in the city doesn't mean the department's work is done, officials said.

"The Fairfield Police Department will continue to track its service levels to maintain satisfactory staffing standards and ensure quality public safety," a press release on the crime statistics concluded.

Discussion Highlights Fairfield's Potential

Discussion Highlights Fairfield's Potential
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | February 07, 2008

FAIRFIELD - City leaders got their opportunity to sell Fairfield and others also weighed in Thursday as the East Bay Business Times hosted its Growth Cities discussion.

The forum involved moderators and audience members asking questions of a four-member panel, which included Fairfield Mayor Harry Price and former mayor Gary Falati. It was billed as an opportunity for businesses outside the area to become acquainted with Fairfield.

'In the case of Fairfield, we have a city that has tremendous aspirations, tremendous potential and is advancing itself on several fronts,' said East Bay Business Times Publisher Mike Consol, who served as the event moderator.

Throughout the event, Consol and audience members peppered the panel with questions about available industrial land in the city, crime rates, water quality and school quality.

Joining Price and Falati on the panel were Bill Mellerup, vice president of community development for homebuilder Lewis Planned Communities, and Matt Bracco, senior director for the Cushman and Wakefield real estate firm.

Observing that the city has historically done well in luring large companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Clorox and Copart, Inc., Consol asked what aspects of Fairfield attracted them.

High-quality water from Lake Berryessa and access to interstates 80 and 680 have both been major factors, Bracco said. He also praised the city staff in the Community Development Department for being willing to 'take the time to sit down with companies and walk them through the process.'

'They're deal-makers,' he said.

Consol also asked about the city's negatives, of which crime was mentioned prominently. Chamber of Commerce President Leslie Fay said she also hears from members about transportation frustrations and a need for more highly-skilled workers.

Price, a former teacher, and Falati, former president of the Fairfield-Suisun School Board, agreed that schools are improving and said more can be done.

'One question I constantly get is, 'If I move here, will I have to send my children out of county,' ' Price said.

Reach Ben Antonius at 427-6977 or bantonius@dailyrepublic.net.

Grants Give Businesses A Face-Lift

Grants Give Businesses A Face-Lift
By Carol Bogart | Daily Republic | February 07, 2008



The Athenian Grill's new awnings and exterior paint were paid for through Suisun City's Facade Improvement Grant program. Eligible businesses can apply for grants up to 10000 dollars to pay for exerior improvements. Photo by Mike McCoy

SUISUN CITY - If some businesses in Suisun City appear all spruced up, it may be a result of the city's Facade Improvement Grant program.

Athenian Grill and a new dance studio, Just Gotta Dance, have fresh coats of paint and new awnings. The work was funded through h grants awarded by the city's Economic Development Department.

Don and Arlene Grass, owners of Just Gotta Dance, bought their building nine years ago. The grant saved the couple $8,000 on paint, awnings and new gutters.

Arlene Glass said the application process, which involved submitting three bids to the city, was simple. She added that she and her husband found the program to be 'absolutely wonderful.'

Vivien Togonon is project manager for the Facade Improvement Grant program and the Matching Rehabilitation Grant program, which benefits eligible businesses.

To be eligible, a commercial building must be located within the city's redevelopment project area. Togonon said the city's Redevelopment Agency provides the money. To date, four businesses have been awarded facade improvement grants, she said, and one has used the Matching Rehabilitation Grant.

The Matching Rehabilitation Grant matches a business owner's equity investment dollar for dollar up to $25,000. It can be tapped to pay for such items as seismic upgrades, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and tenant improvements.

The Facade Improvement Grant can only be used for exterior improvements to $10,000.

Such improvements, which can include window glazing and signs, must be integrated into a comprehensive architectural theme, according to grant requirements.

With both grant programs, the improvements must be consistent with city zoning ordinance and be approved by the Community Development and Economic Development departments.

Reach Carol Bogart at 427-6955 or at cbogart@dailyrepublic.net.

To learn more about applying for a Facade Improvement Grant or Matching Rehabilitation Grant, go to www.suisun.com. Click on Business and then go to Economic Development. For more information, call project manager Vivien Togonon at 421-7347.

Walking Tour, Book To Retrace Suisun City's History

Walking Tour, Book To Retrace Suisun City's History
By Carol Bogart | Daily Republic | February 07, 2008 15:59



Main Street in downtown Suisun City pictured in a historic picture, above, and how it appears today. A walking tour and book about Suisun City's history are in the works. Photo by Vacaville Heritage Society (top) Brad Zweerink (bottom)

SUISUN CITY - A one-time brothel where women sat on a display in the second-floor windows may be one stop on a Suisun City walking tour now in the works.

Brothels and saloons flourished when Suisun City was a bustling port, said Garry Rowe, board president of the Suisun Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District.

The walking tour is being coordinated by Sandi Hudson, a Suisun City resident who owns a Web site design firm.

The district will pay for the walking tour with money it received from the Heritage Society of West Central Solano when the society disbanded. Rowe said the county had awarded the society a $5,800 grant to use toward a walking tour. The society then gave the money to the district 'to move the project forward.'

Hudson is almost ready to start designing a brochure for the tour that will include historic homes, buildings and points of interest. The brochure will feature a map that matches the numbered sites.

Rowe and Hudson both would love to see Suisun City have a heritage commission of its own, and maybe even Victorian-themed, guided walking tours during seasonal events sponsored by the city. First, though, 'We have to get a self-guided (tour),' Hudson said.

In addition to the walking tour, Rowe is researching Suisun City history for a book proposal he hopes to submit soon to Arcadia Press, which publishes small books depicting a city's history largely through photos with 30- to 50-word captions.

Arcadia Press contacted Rowe two months ago with a proposal.

'In researching the information, I kinda caught the bug,' said Rowe, who added he has learned things he didn't know about Suisun City, even though his family has been in the area for generations.

For instance, he said, the 'military influence' was felt during World War I when the Liberty Train came through the city to sell war bonds. Hudson said the city contributed a regiment of men during the Civil War.

Photos of a train wreck downtown in which the engineer was killed, a schooner being loaded with potatoes, flooded streets and more may be included in the book, which Rowe said will be 128 pages or more.

While Rowe already has 70 vintage shots of Suisun City he acquired from the Vacaville Heritage Council, he hopes current and former residents will have photos to contribute. The book will feature as many as 110 photos.

As photos are selected for the book, Hudson particularly likes those from the 1800s. Rowe also likes those of more recent history. He points to the Pioneer Ballroom, a one-time music venue where, in September 1966, rockers attended a Grateful Dead concert.

Bringing the city's history alive through such projects could attract visitors, Rowe said, and that would be good for business.

Babs Curless, owner of Babs Delta Diner, said the tour and book will be 'wonderful.'

Babs Delta Diner is a Suisun City landmark. Hanging on its walls are 'a couple old pictures of how Suisun used to look,' said Curless, who added that a walking tour will prove popular because 'so many people walk down here at night' to enjoy the waterfront.

Curless' diner overlooks the water. Some of her customers are old-timers who share stories about the city's history, such as how a building where Curless opened her first Suisun City restaurant was once a roller rink.

Rowe said he believes many residents take the city's history for granted. He and Hudson hope the book, tour and other projects now in the 'talking' stage will change that.

Reach Carol Bogart at 427-6955 or at cbogart@dailyrepublic.net.

SUISUN CITY SNAPSHOTS

To submit photos for considered for the book on Suisun City's history, call Garry Rowe at 631-0609 or contact Sandi Hudson at 707-429-9794 or webdiva@hudsonbusiness.net.

Student Center Opens At SCC

Student Center Opens At SCC
By Melissa Murphy/Staff Writer
Article Launched: 02/07/2008

One day after a state proposition that would have benefited community colleges failed at the polls, a spanking new Student Services Center opened Wednesday at Solano Community College.

Gerry Fisher, superintendent and president at the college, welcomed students, faculty, staff and the community to the grand opening of the center Wednesday afternoon.

"A lot of people put a lot of work into this," Fisher said of the center. "This is really all about the students. They're really going to benefit from this."

"This building is in response to what the students' needs are," added Lisa Waits, Vice President for Student Services. "People here care about the students and there is a sense of pride."

Although the building isn't quite finished - there's still landscaping work to be done - Fisher and others are pleased with the outcome.

"It looks pretty good to me," he said. "We're finally here and it works just like we anticipated."

Fisher explained that the building focuses on the services the college provides for the students. The new two-story, 37,000 square-foot facility houses, among other things, admissions and records, a campus information center, counseling, financial aid and six classrooms.

"The open atrium allows students to see all the services from one spot," he said. "It's a great facility.

The people and the layout of the building really work together."
Student Body President Harjot Sandhu agreed.

"Its really the sum of all the different student services," he said. "The students won't have to go all over campus because the services are now conveniently in one place."

The $15.5 million project is fully funded by Measure G, a bond passed in 2002.

"This is really a big thank you to the voters who passed Measure G," said SCC Board President Phil McCaffrey. "This is the second of three crowns."

Solano Community College recently opened a new facility in Vallejo, followed by the opening of the Students Services Center in Fairfield. The college is also looking to expand its facility in Vacaville.

The grand opening came on the heels of a defeated Proposition 92.

The proposition, which failed with 57 percent "no" votes, would have established in the state constitution a system of independent public community college districts and Board of Governors.

Generally, it would require minimum levels of state funding for school districts and community college districts to be calculated separately.

It would also have set community college fees at $15 per unit per semester and would have limited future fee increases.

"I'm sad it didn't pass," Fisher said. "I think it's time for the community colleges to be recognized on their own. We just haven't achieved the support that we deserve."

Fisher credits the failure as a "sign of the times."

"Maybe in another time we could have a different result," he said. "We'll still need the ongoing support. There are a lot of challenges ahead because of the state budget."

Still, the failed proposition didn't damper any moods Wednesday afternoon.

"This is just the beginning for our students," Waits said. "This is a very exciting time for all of us."

Melissa Murphy can be reached at dixon@thereporter.com.

Suisun Valley Prepares To Grow Wine Business

Suisun Valley Prepares To Grow Wine Business
East Bay Business Times - by Judy Jacobs



Wooden Valley Winery's Ron Lanza and Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association's Roger King. Stephanie Secrest | East Bay Business Times

While few people realize that Fairfield has a wine region, the grape growers of Suisun Valley, where vineyards were first established more than a century ago, are determined to grow the region's identity, increase the number of wineries located there and produce higher-value wines. And they're counting on the efforts of the Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association and the Solano County General Plan's update, currently under way, to help them achieve their goals.

The number of wineries claiming the Suisun Valley AVA (American Viticulture Appellation), is growing for the small region, which measures three by eight miles and extends into the Fairfield city limits. In order to be a Suisun Valley wine, "85 percent of the fruit has to come from the area," said Roger King, president of the Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association.

"Five years ago, only three wineries had a Suisun Valley label. Now there are 22 wine labels that are Suisun Valley." The area encompasses 15,000 acres, with 3,000 acres under vines.

Because the area is not as well known as Napa and Sonoma, its grapes fetch lower prices. "Napa gets $5,000 per ton, here it's just $2,000," King said.

Along with the growth in Suisun Valley wine labels has been a growth in wineries.

"We were grape growers, but one of our strategies was to grow more wineries, and that's been a pretty big accomplishment. We now have six wineries," King said. These include Wooden Valley Winery & Vineyards, Ledgewood Creek Winery, Mankas Hills Vineyards and Vezer Family Vineyard.

The development of these wineries has been a longtime effort and partly the result of the attempt to keep Suisun Valley rural. In the early 1970s the city of Fairfield had wanted to annex Suisun Valley, but the Solano Irrigation District, which supplies water to Suisun Valley farms, opposed annexation and filed a lawsuit.

"In 1974, the city of Fairfield and the district agreed not to deliver potable water to Suisun Valley (from 1974 to 2006)," said Rick Wood, Fairfield's assistant director of public works/utilities. "It was intended to help Suisun Valley remain agricultural." The settlement allowed the city to build a pipeline across Suisun Valley and a reservoir, creating a water supply that encouraged Anheuser Busch Cos. to establish a bottling plant in Fairfield. At the same time, the city dropped its intention to urbanize Suisun Valley, Wood said.

In 2002, the city and the SID amended the agreement and extended it to Dec. 31, 2010. They also agreed to create the Suisun Valley Fund, with each entity contributing $100,000 a year between 2003 and 2010. The fund is governed by the Suisun Valley Fund Advisory Committee made up of two members from the Fairfield City Council, two members from the SID and two landowners who are actively engaged in agriculture. The money is to be spent on programs to preserve and enhance agriculture in Suisun Valley.

One of the funding beneficiaries is the Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association.

"In 2003 we called a meeting of the growers and invited 40 growers. Thirty showed up to talk about what to do with the money. We decided to form an association. We knew we had to promote this appellation," said King. "We're 100 percent focused on sales and marketing of grapes using wine to help achieve that goal."

One of the ways to increase the economic impact of the grape-growing business is to make more wine locally.

"Only 3 to 5 percent of the grapes that are crushed here are used for Suisun Valley wines," said Ron Lanza, vice president of Wooden Valley Winery & Vineyards, which was established by is grandfather in 1955. "The Lanza family only uses 10 percent of the grapes we grow. We would like to go in the other direction. Eldorado County is an 80 percent end user, but they have about 20 wineries."

What does the grape drain mean economically? With about 96 percent of the grape output leaving Solano County, the loss would be between about $50 million and $170 million a year based on retail prices, depending on the class of wine, according to King. And that doesn't include sales tax and jobs. Based on wholesale prices, the loss would be between about $33 million and $114 million.

One way to help alleviate the grape drain is to attract more winemakers. And a way to attract more winemakers is to change the agricultural zoning in Suisun Valley from the current minimum 40-acre parcels to 20-acre parcels, something that both the Suisun Valley Fund Advisory Committee and the grape growers association have proposed be incorporated into the General Plan update.

The county expects to complete the draft of the General Plan by March, with public hearings in May and hearings before the Solano County Board of Supervisors in July. Some elements will have to go before the voters at a yet-to-be-determined election date after that.

Meanwhile, another major goal, which is expected to be achieved with the addition of more wineries, is to make Suisun Valley a tourist destination.

"There are tours and tastings at Jelly Belly, Budweiser ... a couple of chocolate rooms have tasting rooms. There are olive oil tasting rooms. Fairfield can position itself as a winery town, if it so pleased," said King.



The Vezer Family Vineyards and Winery's barrel room. Photo courtesy of Vezer Family Vineyards and Winery

jjacobs@bizjournals.com | 925-598-1451

Suisun Valley Branding Itself As Agricultural, Winery Tourism Destination

Suisun Valley Branding Itself As Agricultural, Winery Tourism Destination
East Bay Business Times - by Judy Jacobs

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While Suisun Valley grape growers are trying to put the area on the Northern California wineries map, others are working to preserve the valley as a viable economic agricultural entity.

The Suisun Valley Fund has hired Tracy Ellison as agricultural ambassador to brand and market Suisun Valley as an agricultural tourism destination. She manages www.suisunvalley.com, created to publicize the valley's wineries and farm stands.

"Our big event is the Fun Family Farm Days in August, September and October. Everyone on our Web site or farm trails map - about 20 vendors right now - heightens their activities," Ellison said. The activities include wine tasting, grape stomps, U-pick produce and hayrides.

Meanwhile, Victoria Erickson, owner with her husband of Erickson Ranch and chair of the Suisun Valley Fund Advisory Committee grower subcommittee, has taken the lead in creating the Suisun Valley Harvest Trails Association.

"When the (Suisun Valley) fund ends in 2010, there has to be some kind of organization that will continue what they've started," she said. "We want to continue to make Suisun Valley known to the world outside Suisun Valley."

She is completing the paperwork for the Suisun Valley Harvest Trails Association to become a nonprofit. "When we become a nonprofit, we'll be able to access funds through the Suisun Valley Fund," she said.

"People have been waiting for this association to come along. We can open the (harvest trails) map to more people. We'll also be able to have members and associate members."

Erickson hopes the association will help the valley achieve her vision. "I would like to see Suisun Valley be the type of valley where people can come and get an eclectic mix of farm stands, restaurants and wineries - and maybe eventually B&Bs," she said. "A place where people can spend a day or a couple of days to discover what Suisun Valley has to offer. A combination new and old. We should take the old and build on what's here."

jjacobs@bizjournals.com | 925-598-1451

County Has More State Funding For Rural Roads

County Has More State Funding For Rural Roads
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | February 06, 2008



A bird sits on the Grizzly Island Road one-lane bridge over Hill Slough south of Suisun City Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Brad Zweerink

FAIRFIELD - Solano County has a new $71 million, five-year public works plan to maintain or improve 339 miles of its 470-mile rural road system.

For years, county officials have bemoaned the lack of road maintenance money. But this year, they sounded a more optimistic note, calling the new plan 'the much-improved road program.'

'It's very, very good news this year, compared to previous years,' county Engineering Manager Paul Wiese told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. 'This year I can say it provides reasonable funding of major road maintenance projects.'

The reasons are a voter-approved 2006 state transportation bond and a voter-approved measure that keeps state gas tax money going to transportation needs. Both will send money to Solano County for roads, even as the rest of the state budget faces drastic cuts.

Much of the road maintenance will be doing chip seals, slurry seals and overlays on existing rural roads. The county plans to replace five old, structurally deficient bridges, including the Grizzly Island Road bridge over Hill Slough in Suisun Marsh.

Some of the projects are in well-traveled areas, such as doing maintenance work on a mile stretch of Mankas Corner Road near Fairfield. Others are in remote areas, such as replacing a bridge over No Name Creek in the east county.

However, $18 million of the $71 million must still be found to fund the entire five-year plan. The missing money is for larger improvements in the Fairfield-Suisun-Vacaville area. They are:

- Turning two-lane Vanden Road into a four-lane segment of the Jepson Parkway linking Vacaville and Fairfield at a cost of $12.5 million.

- Improving Peabody Road between Vacaville and Fairfield at a cost of $3.4 million.

- Improving North Gate and Canon roads at a cost of $1.4 million to provide better access to Travis Air Force Base.

- Building a quarter-mile walking path through Old Town Cordelia at a cost of $500,000.

- Building a segment of the Vacaville-Dixon Bikeway on Pitt School Road at a cost of $400,000.

One possible funding source is imposing a public facilities fee for transportation on construction in the cities. The rationale is that growth in cities means more drivers using rural roads. The county is doing a study on the topic that could be finished this summer for consideration by county supervisors.

Solano County is also pursuing federal and state money for the projects.

Wiese sounded one note of caution about the key source for road money, the state gas tax. The tax has remained the same at 18 cents per gallon since 1995, he said, although construction costs have risen.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, Ext. 232, or at beberling@dailyrepublic.net.

Vying For Big New Cancer Centers

Vying For Big New Cancer Centers
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - by Sara Solovitch
February 1, 2008

In the cancer treatment business, proton therapy is a subject you can hardly avoid.
The lucrative cancer treatment offered now at only five proton therapy centers in the U.S. is fast moving to the center of a heated debate about limited health care resources.

With another 25 or so of these $140 million behemoths in development, and ongoing discussions about the desirability of building one at virtually every academic medical center in the country, it's no surprise that several are being contemplated in the Bay Area.

Both Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco are among those in the early stages of thinking and planning, and plans for another in Vallejo have been announced.

"We are seriously investigating the feasibility of it at Stanford," confirms Paul Keall, associate professor and director of the radiation physics division at Stanford Hospital and Clinics.

"There's no shortage of patients, the centers that exist have waiting lists, so from a cost recovery point of view it does make business sense. But," he adds, "with that price tag it's also a little intimidating."

Proton therapy uses a nuclear particle accelerator to shoot protons at nearly the speed of light into cancer tumors. Proponents say proton beams are the gold standard, particularly when it comes to pediatric cancer: proton beams are more precise than the X-rays typically used for radiation therapy because they can be given at higher doses with fewer side effects and a higher cure rate.

But many question the value of building one of these expensive, football-sized facilities as a way of treating various other cancers, including prostate, for which it's heavily marketed by Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California.

"I think the proton machine is in general overrated and too expensive," asserts Dr. Mack Roach, professor and director of radiation oncology at UCSF.

"There's been a big surge of interest in proton beam therapy recently because of reimbursement strategic advantages," he continues. "It's driven by the business model, not by any evidence of clinical need."

Though UCSF has been engaged in talks about building a proton center for two years, Roach says the center -- most likely to be situated at the new pediatric hospital site in Mission Bay -- will be more modestly geared towards cancer in children.
Traditional radiation therapy plays havoc in children, destroying surrounding, healthy tissue and often resulting in growth delays and learning problems. The problem is not nearly so critical, according to Roach, for adults.

Talks at Stanford, meanwhile, are at an even earlier stage of development, though physicists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) acknowledge they have had several discussions with representatives from the hospital.

Though the medical center would reportedly prefer to see a future proton therapy center situated on its own site, available land is so limited that there is a strong possibility that it might be located on SLAC property.

"SLAC has the accelerator and the physicists, and the hospital has the radiation oncologists, so Stanford is in an enviable position," says John Seeman, assistant director of Particle Physics and Astrophysics at SLAC. "The land SLAC is on belongs to Stanford, not the Department of Energy, and it would be fairly easy for Stanford to negotiate with the DOE."

SLAC is a Department of Energy laboratory, operated by Stanford. There are five accelerators currently running full-time at the Menlo Park facility, which is composed of a series of tunnels and support buildings, tightly controlled with hundreds of safety procedures, interlocks, guards, and a water-cooling plant -- all located about a mile from Stanford Hospital.

On April 18, SLAC is hosting a seminar devoted to the subject for the university at large. Nevertheless, discussions are so preliminary that physicists stress that even if the university and U.S. Department of Energy were to give the green light today, an operating facility wouldn't likely be up and running for another 15 years.

Meanwhile, business leaders project that there will be at least 50 proton centers operating across the U.S. within the next 10 years.

"If you run the math, 800,000 patients get radiation in any given year and of those at least 250,000 would benefit from proton therapy," says Hadley Ford, CEO of ProCure Treatment Centers Inc., a privately held company based in Bloomington, Ind., that oversees all aspects of construction.

"A lot of institutions would be well served by calling us," he offers. "We go out to doctors' groups, community hospitals, academic medical centers and say, 'Would you like a proton center for your hospital?'

"We take care of everything: the building design, the construction equipment, oversight, training, financing. We'll even put our own money in there. It is a complete turnkey outsourcing solution."

The company, founded in 2005, was the brainchild of John Cameron, who, as a former physics professor at Indiana University, played a pivotal role in the building of the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute.

Ford allows that there are "probably half a dozen institutions up and down the Bay Area" interested in proton therapy. One interested party is a little-known New York institution called Touro College, which last November announced plans to build a university campus in Vallejo, and finance it with a proton therapy center.

But Touro has one big disadvantage in Vallejo: the lack of a steady source of patients. To help resolve that problem, the college has been in talks with UCSF to discuss some kind of collaboration.

The first proton center in the country was developed at Loma Linda, which treats between 900 and 1,200 patients a year.

Dr. James Slater, vice chairman of the Department of Radiation Medicine, says the number could be significantly more if it weren't for the 20 or 25 minutes it takes to position each patient inside the machine.

With that savings in mind, Loma Linda recently invested in a robot to do the job more efficiently.

"We can easily double -- if not more than double -- the number of patients," says Slater. "There's no limit on the number of patients, by any stretch of the imagination."

Loma Linda has waged a robust advertising campaign to market its proton center and, perhaps as a result, two-thirds of its patients come from outside its catchment area. Patients come from every state in the U.S., and many come from countries throughout the world.

Says Slater: "We treat primarily localized cancers that haven't spread throughout the body, from the brain, eye, head and neck cancers, some lung, early breast -- we plan to expand that in the next few years, to spinal cord, prostate, and children's. Not bowel. But we do do liver. I think the indications will be growing."

A support group of 3,000 men who call themselves the Brotherhood of the Balloon advocate on behalf of proton therapy, crediting it with their survival of prostate cancer.

But Roach and many radiation oncologists challenge that assumption and the rush to proton therapy.

An article published last year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that proton therapy showed no cost effectiveness over traditional radiation or brachytherapy, the method of implanting seed.

"You can put just as much radiation in [prostate] cancer using other technologies for a fraction of the price," says Roach, one of the leading experts on prostate cancer.

"But because of aggressive marketing tactics, you've got health care costs in this country that are spiraling out of control. And it's because of the ability of marketing people to convince the public that this is something that they need."

Sara Solovitch covers health care and biotech for the Business Journal. You can reach her at (408) 299-1841.

Dixon Set To Start Recycling Program

Dixon Set To Start Recycling Program
By Melissa Murphy/Staff Writer
Article Launched: 02/06/2008

The city of Dixon is only about a month away from starting its first curbside recycling program, and city officials say residents are calling in anxious to get the program started.

Dixon is the last city in the county to implement such a program.

The large blue recycle receptacles will be delivered to Dixon residents the week of March 24. The first day of recyclable collection will be March 31.

"It's nice to have a new program," said Martha Jensen, with Dixon Public Works Department. "People have been calling in wanting to know when it starts."

Residents did have the option of opting out of the program. Starting in January, 305 owner occupied residents could choose not to participate in the program before the Monday's deadline.

Jensen said 534 residents turned in the form, but only the first 305 verified residents won't have to pay the monthly fee of $2.

For more information call Dixon Sanitary Service at 678-4026 or Jensen at 678-7051 ext. 105.

Melissa Murphy can be reached at dixon@thereporter.com.

Fairfield's Power Generated by Potential

Fairfield's Power Generated by Potential
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | February 04, 2008

FAIRFIELD - Fairfield will be the next 'growth city' spotlighted in a series of panel discussions sponsored by the East Bay Business Times.

The forum, called the Fairfield Power Breakfast, will be 8-10 a.m. Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn. It will involve moderators and audience members asking questions of a four-member panel, which includes Fairfield Mayor Harry Price and former mayor Gary Falati.

'(Fairfield) is positioning itself as the next premium location for office and industrial space in the Bay Area,' the Business Times stated in a summary of the city. 'Its 12-year supply of industrial land, access to major freeways and proximity to the region's seaports and airports lend credence to the aspirations of this 106,000-person municipality.'

Typically, the majority of the audience is from out of town and attends to learn more about the community's business opportunities, said Business Times Publisher Michael Consol, who will be leading the discussion.

'The point is to educate the East Bay as to what is happening, who are the emerging and turn-around communities in the East Bay and what kind of business opportunities are there,' Consol said.

Previous panel discussions have been held in Pittsburg and San Leandro, Consol said.

Joining Price and Falati on the panel will be Bill Mellerup, vice president of community development for homebuilder Lewis Planned Communities, and Matt Bracco, senior director for the Cushman and Wakefield real estate firm.

In addition to questions from the audience, wide-ranging discussion will touch on 'transportation, the city's effort to create a biotech cluster, the big retail development, we'll be talking about crime and education . . . and the current state of housing,' Consol said.

Registration and pre-payment are required for the event. Tickets are $65, and a table of 10 costs $750.

For more information, call 925-598-1457.

Reach Ben Antonius at 427-6977 or bantonius@dailyrepublic.net.

Fairfield Power Breakfast
Who: City leaders and the East Bay Business Times
What: Panel discussion
When: 8-10 a.m. Thursday
Where: Hilton Garden Inn ballroom, 2200 Gateway Court
Info: 925-598-1457

CITY OF FAIRFIELD, CA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OFFERS 4.29 ACRES FOR SALE

CITY OF FAIRFIELD, CA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OFFERS 4.29 ACRES FOR SALE

http://www.fairfield4business.com


Fairfield, Calif., February 4, 2008 — The Fairfield Redevelopment Agency announces an invitation to purchase 4.29 acres of Agency-owned real property. The site offers prime commercial and residential development opportunities and is at 2030 North Texas Street, the former Fairfield Bowl property. This site is in close proximity to residential neighborhoods and retail. The vacant property is east of the Interstate 80 and Interstate 680 junction, north of State Highway 12 and resides along a major arterial street in central Fairfield.

The Agency will allow the purchaser necessary time to obtain entitlements to develop the property. No sale price has been established for the property; however, information from previous appraisals is available through the Redevelopment Agency. Any proposed development must be attractive, financially feasible and consistent with the Agency’s goal of revitalizing the North Texas Street corridor.

Parties interested in purchasing the property can obtain a one-page Conceptual Proposal Form and Property Information Package from the Agency. Proposal review begins March 3, 2008 and will continue until May 15, 2008, unless an offer is accepted prior to May 15. Upon acceptance of an offer, the property will be sold through the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) process for redevelopment agency-owned property.

For a property information package, call 707-428-7461.

About Fairfield
Fairfield (pop. 106,000) is a growing community with a multitude of commercial and residential development opportunities. Located mid-way between San Francisco and Sacramento, Fairfield is just 20 miles north of Concord, 38 miles northeast of Oakland, 14 miles southeast of the Napa Valley, 45 miles southwest of Sacramento and 42 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Fairfield Offers Important Business Benefits
Fairfield continues to appeal to retail and commercial entities seeking to grow their businesses for many reasons: an accessible Bay Area location, abundant space, value-priced real estate, a diverse workforce, and a unique set of regional amenities. For additional information on the city of Fairfield, visit http://www.Fairfield4Business.com

For Media Information, contact:
Miriam Schaffer
Placemaking Group
510-835-7900 ext. 207
mschaffer@placemakinggroup.com

County Officials Hope Trip Will Lead To Federal Funds

County Officials Hope Trip Will Lead To Federal Funds
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | February 04, 2008

FAIRFIELD - A delegation of Solano County officials spent last week in Washington, D.C., attempting to get federal funds for such things as Nut Tree Airport improvements and disaster preparedness exercises.

Supervisors John Vasquez and Mike Reagan, County Administrator Michael Johnson and Assistant County Administrator Veronica Ferguson made the trip. They met with the area's congressional representatives.

'We are optimistic that this trip will result in more federal dollars coming back to Solano County,' Johnson stated in a press release.

The group also worked on getting the U.S. Forest Service to follow through with a proposed land swap that would give the county ownership of Fouts Springs Youth Detention Facility in Colusa County. Solano County bought land nearby a decade ago for the swap, but the proposed deal stalled.

Fairfield Labors To Build A More Advanced Work Force

Fairfield Labors To Build A More Advanced Work Force
East Bay Business Times - by Michael Fitzhugh



Solano Economic Development Corp.’s Michael S. Ammann says that as new industries come to town, Fairfield will need increasing numbers of skilled workers. (Stephanie Secrest | East Bay Business Times)

View Larger As labor-intensive production gives way to advanced manufacturing, Fairfield's factories are scrambling to meet the demand for more-technically skilled workers. As those factories expand and more facilities come on-line, the number of qualified applicants is not keeping pace, forcing the city's business leaders to take action.

New manufacturing positions are increasingly asking for enhanced qualifications. For example, Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.'s current opening for a quality-assurance analyst at its Fairfield brewery requires a bachelor of science degree. Even an electrical maintenance job at the brewery lists "programming experience preferred."

Manufacturing floors across the nation have changed with the introduction of new technologies, said Cynthia Garcia, management analyst for the city of Fairfield's Economic Development Department. "Today, you could eat off the floor. Now you have process operators, not necessarily laborers."

Investment by companies such as Calbee America Inc. and Anheuser-Busch in new and current facilities is starting to draw and support complementary industries such as Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. that will need even more skilled workers in the years ahead, said Michael S. Ammann, president of the Solano Economic Development Corp.

In June 2006, Fairfield city administrators called together plant managers, engineers, educators and work force service providers to address the changing requirements in the field. When employers learned of the training courses, curricula and money available to help build the work force they needed, they were amazed, said Garcia.

Demand for training is high, said Deborah Mann, who designs training courses for Solano Community College as its program developer. "The employers practically knocked me down with their biz cards," she said of the 2006 meeting.

Solano Community College now offers employers courses in everything from Spanish to electrical work in a variety of formats - delivered online, in classrooms and on-site at local factories. Even at the high school level, career education courses were infused with more technical training to "fill the pipeline," said Garcia.

The regional momentum gained as interested parties collaborated to train new workers. And money to take the effort countywide in Solano came through last month. That's when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded the Workforce Investment Board of Solano County a $135,475 grant to create a Solano County manufacturers work force task force.

The task force will match manufacturers with training programs and work force development professionals to help current employees learn new skills. It also plans to lead development of new training programs and educational curricula to build the county's pool of qualified workers.

Initially, the task force is developing a Web site and a marketing brochure to tell the community about how many valuable job opportunities exist in local manufacturing. It plans to make the materials available through schools, outlet centers, public relations campaigns and even MySpace, YouTube and craigslist. It will also solicit veterans via the Airman and Family Readiness Center at the Travis Airforce Base, which helps Air Force personnel prepare for the transition from military to civilian life.

People responding to the Web site or brochure will be directed to call a line staffed by Workforce Investment Board and local Employment Development Department officials, which will then "catch and refer" applicants, sending those with sought-after advanced manufacturing skills to employers and directing those without such skills to training programs.

Another program still in development at Solano Community College is "Mechatronics," a program that will feature entry-level credit courses for local workers designed to prepare them for advanced manufacturing jobs. Employers will help support the program with donations, said Mann. When she meets with them they're going to share the curriculum plans for the program and look at immediate needs and projected needs for the next five to six years, she said.

Guido Minaya, president of the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is working to advance another segment of the county's work force: Hispanic entrepreneurs.

His organization estimates Solano County is home to more than 300 Hispanic-owned businesses and about 83,000 Hispanic residents.

The Hispanic chamber will receive up to $49,726 from California's Employment Training Panel to train Hispanic small-business owners and senior staff members in its Excelencia in Entrepreneurship workshop series, a bilingual course for which it is recruiting 15 students.

The objective of the course is to enable small-business and micro-business owners to successfully manage their companies and move to a higher level of financial success, said a staff comment on the chamber's application.

Minaya said his chamber has also recently opened discussions with the California ETP about funding information technology and mathematics courses at small Solano manufacturers that could benefit from the application of advanced manufacturing techniques.

"There's a gap in the small manufacturing companies that need improved training but are too small to have their own training programs," he said.

mfitzhugh@bizjournals.com | 925-598-1425

Fairfield City Snapshot

Fairfield City Snapshot
East Bay Business Times - by East Bay Business Times

The area where Fairfield is located was originally inhabited by Suisun Indians 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. The Mexican government sent General Mariano Vallejo to colonize the region in 1835, and two years later gave Chief Solano a land grant known as Suisun Ranch. In 1842, Solano sold the grant to Vallejo for $1,000.

Robert Waterman, a clipper ship captain, mapped out the site for Fairfield, in 1856 and named it after his Connecticut hometown. Soon after that he organized efforts to move the county seat from Benicia to Fairfield. In 1903, Fairfield was incorporated as a city.

The U.S. Air Force created Travis Air Force Base in 1942, and it later became a major departure point for troops during the Vietnam War. Today the base is home to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, which is the largest air-mobility organization in the Air Force and handles more cargo and passengers than any other military air terminal in the United States. Travis has a work force of approximately 7,900 active-duty military and 3,500 civilians.

Besides the contributions made by the Air Force base, Fairfield's economy is based on the activities of a wide range of companies, many of which are in the food industry and were attracted to the city because of its excellent water supply.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abbott Nutrition
2302 Courage Drive
Fairfield 94533
707-399-1100
http://abbottnutrition.com

The Fairfield plant of the Columbus, Ohio-based Abbott Nutrition, produces ZonePerfect nutrition bars and NutriPals nutrition bars.


ABCO Laboratories Inc.
2450 South Watney Way
Fairfield 94533
707-432-2200
www.abcolabs.com

ABCO Labs develops and manufactures custom products for the food and nutritional product industries.


Anheuser-Busch Brewery
3101 Busch Drive
Fairfield 94533
707-429-7595
www.budweisertours.com/docs/calif.htm

One of 12 Anheuser-Busch breweries in the United States, the Fairfield facility annually produces about 136 million gallons of beer, including Budweiser, Bud Light and Busch.


Ball Corp.
2400 Huntington Drive
Fairfield 94533
707-437-5411
www.ball.com

The Ball Corp. Fairfield plant produces aluminum cans for Anheuser-Busch beer and soft drinks.


Calbee America Inc.
2600 Maxwell Way
Fairfield 94534
707-427-2500
www.calbeeamerica.com

Last summer Calbee Foods Co. of Japan moved its North American manufacturing plant from Sebastopol to Fairfield, where it produces snack foods such as Snapea Crisps and Shrimp Flavored Chips.


Copart Inc.
4665 Business Center Drive
Fairfield 94534
707-639-5000
www.copart.com

With headquarters in Fairfield and more than 135 facilities across the United States and in Canada and the United Kingdom, Copart is an online re-marketer of salvage vehicles.


Duracite
2100 Huntington Drive
Fairfield 94533
707-402-1600
www.duracite.com

Duracite manufactures and installs solid surface products, including natural stone and cultured marble, on everything from large commercial projects to household countertops.


GeoVera Insurance Co.
4820 Business Center Drive
Fairfield 94534
800-324-6020
www.geovera.com

GeoVera Insurance, which is based in Fairfield and has offices in Sheboygan, Wis., and Tallahassee, Fla., provides residential insurance.


Jelly Belly Candy Co.
One Jelly Belly Lane
Fairfield 94533
707-428-2800
www.jellybelly.com

Established in 1976, Jelly Belly Candy Co. makes jelly beans and other sweet treats in its Fairfield factory, which offers 40-minute walking tours, along with tastings, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.


NRE World Bento Inc.
2430 South Watney Way
Fairfield 94533
707-427-3127
www.nrewb.com

A subsidiary of Japan Restaurant Enterprises Co., owned by East Japan Railway Co., NRE World Bento produces ready-to-eat frozen Japanese meals at its Fairfield plant.


Papyrus
500 Chadbourne Road
Fairfield 94533
800-789-1649
www.papyrusonline.com

Papyrus, with headquarters in Fairfield, operates more than 150 retail stores across the United States that sell greeting cards, invitations and gift items.


Superstore Industries Fairfield Dairy Division
199 Red Top Road
Fairfield 94534
707-864-0502

Superstore Industries produces Sunnyside Farms and Bayview Farms brand fluid milk and juice products at its Fairfield plant for distribution in California and Nevada.


Trans Bay Steel Corp.
2400 Cordelia Road
Fairfield 94524
707-430-4600
www.transbaysteel.com

Trans Bay Steel is a steel product fabricator with a major focus on heavy-bridge piling and structural and mechanical fabrication.


WestAmerica Bancorporation
4550 Mangels Blvd.
Fairfield 94534
707-863-6471
www.westamerica.com

Fairfield serves as headquarters for WestAmerica Bancorporation, the holding company for WestAmerica Bank, which operates 86 branches and two trust offices in 21 Northern and Central California counties.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Facts & figures

Size: 36.7 square miles
Population: 105,026
Projected population in 2010: 126,100
Labor force: 48,400
Projected jobs (2020): 60,550
Regional labor force: 1,149,300
Percentage of work force that speaks English: 70%
Percentage of population with high school diploma or higher: 84%
Percentage of population with college degree: 25

Fairfield's Diverse Industries, Location May Combat Economic Downturn

Fairfield's Diverse Industries, Location May Combat Economic Downturn
East Bay Business Times - by Jessica Saunders



A city of 105,000 people equidistant from San Francisco and Sacramento, Fairfield has been able to leverage its key location paired with inexpensive land to become an attractive destination for companies ranging from Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. to auto auctioneer Copart Inc.

The Solano County seat is also close to Napa Valley wine country and home to the county's largest employer, 6,000-acre Travis Air Force Base, which employs more than 14,000 people and contributes more than $1 billion to the economy each year.

With 36.7 square miles of land, Fairfield provides ample opportunities for both business expansion and homeownership - it has averaged 750 new housing units annually from 1979 through 2006.

Building off these assets, the city grew an average of 3 percent annually in population between 1990 and 2005. Now the question is whether all those positives will outweigh the negatives of a slowing economy, falling home prices and rising unemployment.

Already, there are signs of trouble. Fairfield has gone from being a darling of home builders, with nearly 1,000 building permits issued in 2004, to not issuing a single permit in the last three months of 2007, which was unprecedented. For the year, the city gave out about 200 permits. Due to funding issues, including revenue impacts from the housing slump, the City Council is preparing to make an estimated $7 million in cuts from its $81 million budget by July 1.

The Solano County housing market has been one of the hardest hit in the state, with home sales down 42 percent in December from the same period a year earlier and foreclosure activity rising by 129 percent, according to DataQuick Information Systems. In December, there were 67 new and resale houses and condos sold in Fairfield, with a median sale price of $415,000, down from $495,000 a year ago.

In the fourth quarter in Fairfield, there were 103 single-family houses and condos sold, compared with 240 home sales in the fourth quarter of 2006, a 57 percent decline, according to multiple-listing service data compiled by Prudential California Realty.

Unemployment is also rising. There were 3,200 unemployed people in the city in December, a non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 6.4 percent, which was above the countywide rate of 5.8 percent, according to the labor market information division of the state Employment Development Department. The city's jobless rate was up from 5.9 percent in November and 4.9 percent in December 2006, when 2,400 people were out of work.

Those statistics might be daunting, but it should be remembered that Fairfield managed to weather the dot-com bust better than other Bay Area cities due to its diverse mix of industries.

The city might be best known for high-profile food manufacturers such as Jelly Belly Candy Co. and the Anheuser-Busch plant looming along Interstate 80, but it is also home to corporate headquarters for the auto auction company Copart, Westamerica Bancorporation and the stationery retailer Papyrus. Other companies - such as Ball Metal Container Group, which makes beer and soda cans, and Pride Industries Inc., an outsourcing company that hires disabled people - have also located in Fairfield

The fact that Fairfield manages to welcome many different industries is another source of civic pride.

"One of the ways to deal with a (budget) shortfall is you try to grow out of it," said City Manager Sean Quinn. "We have been very successful with economic development in the past, and we can build on that."

Diversity remains the plan going forward. The city's five-year economic development strategy, adopted in 2005, calls for recruitment of manufacturers, back-office operations such as call centers, and industries including biomedical, computer and office equipment, communication infrastructure, and industrial equipment and supply. The city will also continue to pursue tax-generating retailers, Quinn said.

"Our overall target is job generators," said Eve Somjen, director of community development for the city of Fairfield.

The foundation of business recruitment is the city's land supply. It has an industrial base of 10.4 million square feet, averaging 385,000 square feet of development a year over the past two decades, said Curt Johnston, assistant community development director. That compares to 4.5 million square feet in Vacaville and 3 million square feet in Benicia, both Solano County neighbors.

Fairfield also has about 3 million square feet of office land, which should be a 20-year supply based on average annual development of 100,000 square feet a year, Johnston said.

Two million square feet of that land base is within the bounds of the 132-acre Green Valley Corporate Park, under development by Quadrangle Development Corp. at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 680 and Highway 12. Another 1 million square feet is within the 72-acre Fairfield Corporate Commons, which is located at I-80 and Suisun Valley Road and serves as home to State Farm Insurance and the Solano County Economic Development Corp.

At Green Valley, insurer GeoVera Holdings Inc. expanded to 27,000 square feet, and Sutter Health leased 15,000 square feet in a new two-story office building, 4830 Business Center Drive, said Glen Dowling, executive director at Cushman & Wakefield in San Francisco. The 57,000-square-foot building is the second of four planned by developer Harvey Shein, with the third breaking ground this summer.

Construction was completed in December on two hotels at Green Valley, an 85-room Homewood Suites and an 83-room Staybridge Suites. NorthBay Healthcare plans to finish its 72,000-square-foot, two-story medical office building this spring, Dowling said.

NorthBay will eventually be joined by a Kaiser Permanente facility on 9.34 acres Kaiser owns. Sutter's newly leased space will be a Northern California regional conference center for doctors, Dowling said. Green Valley's strategic location at I-80, I-680 and Highway 12 is a major attraction for medical users.

Another chunk of Green Valley is owned by Copart, whose 100,000-square-foot headquarters facing I-80 sits on 6.5 acres. Although Copart started out as a tenant, the company's owner liked Fairfield so much he bought the land and has plans to build another 100,000 square feet of offices, Dowling said.

The main target in marketing Green Valley has been employers in San Francisco, Contra Costa and Marin counties who want to move closer to where their workers live. Anyone parked along I-80 in Fairfield at 8 a.m. on a weekday can watch a "sea of cars" heading west, Dowling said.

"We are talking with a company right now that is looking at moving part of their employment base out of the city," he said. The search area? Solano and Contra Costa counties, and outside the Bay Area.

jsaunders@bizjournals.com | 925-598-1427

Power Breakfast Will Shine Spotlight on Fairfield

Power Breakfast Will Shine Spotlight on Fairfield

The East Bay Business Times will kick off its 2008 Growth Cities’ series on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8am with the Fairfield Power Breakfast.

The Fairfield business community is urged to attend.

This event, scheduled for the Hilton Garden Inn on 2200 Gateway Court, will be built around a dynamic panel discussion. The four persons comprising the panel are Mayor Harry T. Price, former mayor and current Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District president Gary Falati, Lewis Development Corp Vice President Bill Mellerup and Cushman & Wakefield commercial real estate broker, Matt Bracco.

The event will include audience participation from start to finish, so come prepared with your comments and questions.

Fairfield – already home to major companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Jelly Belly and Clorox – is positioning itself as the next premium location for office and industrial space in the Bay Area. Its 12-year supply of industrial land, access to major freeways and proximity to the region’s seaports and airports lend credence to the aspirations of our 106,000 person municipality.

The city has established itself as a center of food- and beverage-related businesses, but is also the retail center of Solano County. What’s more, the city is pursuing opportunities to become a biotechnology center.

There is much more to the Fairfield story. Join the discussion. Register for this event now by calling Kristina Zolnar at 925-598-1457. Or, you can send an e-mail to ebevents@bizjournals.com.

Tickets are $65 each; company-sponsored tables of 10 with premium seating cost $750 apiece. Seating is limited so buy your tickets now.

In addition to the event, the Business Times is publishing a special focus section about Fairfield in its Feb. 1 edition.

Fairfield Development Activity

Fairfield Development Activity

Orchard Supply Hardware will soon be occupying the former Yardbird’s building at the corner of Travis Boulevard and Oliver Road. The store is currently under-going renovation and will open in the summer.

Huckleberry’s Restaurant will soon be opening in the former Mel’s Diner space on the corner of Travis Boulevard and Oliver Road, in the Geri-Town Shopping Center. Huckleberry’s will have a Southern theme, with interiors decorated in the style of a Mississippi steamboat and serving such foods as flapjacks with huckleberry syrup, Cajun hot links, and chicken gumbo. It will serve breakfast and lunch only. The chain has other locations in Exeter, Pismo Beach, and Fresno. They expect to open in late February or early March 2008.

Trans Bay Steel. Trans Bay Steel has leased a 130,000-square foot building on Cordelia Road. They are currently in the process of planning their steel fabrication lines. The company is relocating from Napa. They fabricate steel for bridges and large buildings. The steel will be delivered to the site via rail.

West Texas Street Pedestrian Improvements. City staff has been working closely with David Gates & Associates and Caltrans on refining plans for West Texas Street and the gateway area that spans West Texas Street from Beck Avenue to Oliver Road. Staff is currently evaluating resources for a pilot project that would implement key components of the designs at West Texas and Fifth Streets, and the gateway area. Staff plans on presenting refined drawings for West Texas and Fifth Streets, and the gateway area to Planning Commission in February 2008.

Solano EDC Wins Grant

Solano EDC Wins Grant

A $5,000 grant to support economic development programs in Solano County has been awarded to the Solano Economic Development Corporation by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

The Solano organization was one of 75 local government and community-based organizations to receive the grant funding from PG&E.

"We are pleased to receive the grant from PG&E," Solano EDC President Michael Amman said.

"The company has been a long term supporter of our economic development efforts to create quality jobs for the residents of the area by attracting and retaining business firms."

The Solano Economic Development Corporation's mission is to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life of Solano County communities through the attraction, growth and retention of business and industry.

Roofer Firm Nails Down BP Solar Deal

Roofer Firm Nails Down BP Solar Deal
- Friday, February 1, 2008

Vacaville's OCR Solar & Roofing has announced that it has secured exclusive rights through 2008 to install BP Solar's "EnergyTile" solar modules on production homes in Northern and Central California.

An OCR spokeswoman said the company expects this year to install roughly $10 million of the EnergyTiles, which replace concrete roofing tiles and so don't protrude from the roofline. OCR installed $1.7 million of the tiles last year.

Each EnergyTile is 18 inches by 60 inches, or the size of five traditional concrete tiles, and generates 65 watts of power.

OCR is the largest residential roofing contractor in Northern California, installing roofs and solar panels for more than 100 home builders.

BP Solar, a subsidiary of petroleum and energy giant BP PLC, is one of the world's leading solar firms.

– Jim Downing

OCR Solar & Roofing and BP Solar Expand Relationship

OCR Solar & Roofing and BP Solar Expand Relationship

VACAVILLE, Calif., Jan 31, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- OCR Solar & Roofing and BP Solar, a global leader in solar energy, today announced an expanded agreement to provide turn-key solar installations to production homebuilders throughout Northern and Central California. Within the framework of the expanded agreement, valued at over $10 million, OCR Solar & Roofing will receive the exclusive right to offer BP Solar's market-leading EnergyTile roof-integrated solar modules to production homebuilders in Northern and Central California. In addition, OCR Solar & Roofing will also offer BP Solar's low profile Integra(R) framing system for asphalt shingle roofs.

Originally purchasing solar modules under a nonexclusive supply agreement, OCR has seen an increase in its solar revenue by over 300% since offering BP Solar's products, and the company expects the growth rate to more than quadruple in 2008.

"Our agreement with BP Solar is built on a strong relationship which will strengthen the support that we provide to our homebuilder customers," said Aaron Nitzkin, vice president, Solar Division for OCR Solar & Roofing. "It is a great time in California for new home renewable energy solutions, and we plan to aggressively educate homebuilders and consumers this year on the impact and significance of solar energy."

Unlike most solar providers that just install solar panels, OCR installs both the roofing and solar electric systems. OCR provides this turn-key solution to many of the region's leading homebuilders, including Christopherson Homes, Pinn Brothers Fine Homes, Ponderosa Homes, and Tim Lewis Communities.

"This key relationship with OCR allows us to further our goal of becoming a leading provider of solar electric systems on new homes in California," explained Geoff Slevin, vice president of Sales and Marketing for BP Solar, North America. "We are confident that with our solar expertise and products along with OCR's strong roofing reputation, we will be able to make that happen."

The agreement is designed to support new homebuilders by offering roof- integrated solar electric systems for energy-efficient homes. Benefits to the homeowner include dramatically reduced or even eliminated electric bills, improved comfort, federal tax credits and an aesthetically pleasing roof design.

OCR Solar & Roofing

OCR Solar & Roofing is one of the nation's largest installers of fully- integrated solar roofing solutions and the exclusive partner to global leader, BP Solar, for production homebuilding in Northern California. Led by its President, Dieter Folk, OCR provides homebuilders a collaborative approach to roofing by creating innovative solutions that meet their individual needs. The progressive company is ranked one of the top 10 residential roofing contractors in the country and has gained the trust of over 100+ homebuilders through their prompt attention, dependability and highest quality of craftsmanship. For further information, please visit www.ocrsolarandroofing.com.

BP Solar

BP Solar, part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company with over 2300 employees. BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun's energy to generate electricity for a wide range of applications in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 30 years of experience and installations in more than 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world's leading solar companies having 228MW annual manufacturing capacity in 2007, plus another 700MW capacity under construction. BP Solar has solar cell and module manufacturing plants in Sydney, Australia; Bangalore, India; Madrid, Spain; and Frederick, MD, USA; and module manufacturing in Xi'an, China. In Frederick it also has casting and wafering facilities. BP Solar invests more than $10m annually in photovoltaic research and development.

BP Alternative Energy, launched in November 2005, combines all of BP's interests in low and zero-carbon energy including wind, solar, hydrogen power with carbon capture and storage, natural gas-fired power generation, biofuels for low carbon transport and distributed energy for emerging markets. For more information, please visit www.bpsolar.us or www.bpalternativenergy.com.

Solano County team seeks federal aid

County team seeks federal aid
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_8157331

A delegation of County officials walked the halls of Congress last week to deliver requests for Federal assistance on projects and issues of importance to Solano County. Supervisor John Vasquez, Supervisor Mike Reagan, County Administrator Michael Johnson and Assistant County Administrator Veronica Ferguson visited Solano County's congressional delegation, other members of Congress and representatives from America's Promise Alliance. Vasquez and Reagan serve on the Board of Supervisors Legislative Issues Committee.. The delegation carried a dozen requests for appropriations and legislation benefiting the county that the members of Congress could deliver on behalf of the county. The legislative-directed appropriations requests, commonly referred to as earmarks, range from funding to expand the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville to conducting regional disaster preparedness exercises at the Solano County Fairgrounds.. The delegation carried a dozen requests for appropriations and legislation benefiting the county that the members of Congress could deliver on behalf of the county. The legislative-directed appropriations requests, commonly referred to as earmarks, range from funding to expand the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville to conducting regional disaster preparedness exercises at the Solano County Fairgrounds.. The delegation also sought the congresswoman's help in expanding the Solano County Probation Department's ability to monitor and closely supervise high-risk offenders with GIS technology. Reagan emphasized how the program expands the resources to conduct intensive caseload supervision and periodic searches with local law enforcement agencies.

Solano County officials visit Congress to ask for funds

County officials visit Congress to ask for funds
http://www.timesheraldonline.com//ci_8150351?IADID=Search-www.timesheraldonline.com-www.timesheraldonline.com
A delegation of Solano County officials visited Congress this week to deliver requests for federal assistance on projects and issues of importance to the county.. The delegation carried a dozen requests for appropriations and legislation to Solano, such as expanding the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville, preparing for a flu epidemic and other disasters to and conducting regional disaster preparedness exercises at the Solano County Fairgrounds. During a visit with Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, the delegation encouraged him to introduce legislation to compel the U.S. Forest Service to live up to its commitment to give a permanent home to the Fouts Springs Youth Detention Facility.

Solano County sees no midyear budget cuts

County sees no midyear budget cuts
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_8150311

A slowing economy and an unclear picture of the state budget are causing Solano County officials to take a cautious approach in regard to the county's Midyear Financial Report. The report will be presented Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors. Even with a declining housing market, state budget cuts and a possible recession, staff will present a stable outlook because of conservative budgeting and spending in the past. No budget cuts will be made, but a selective hiring freeze is being recommended.. had the county not foreseen the current problems, the situation could have been worse. Ho said the picture will become clearer as details of the state budget become available, but she said economic hardships aren't likely to go away.. the county will have to dip into the reserve fund to cover funding from the state that is no longer coming in. By doing this, Ho said, the county eventually will be repaid, but will lose out on any interest that would have been accrued.. Ho will recommend the board minimizes travel expenses and overtime throughout the county. She will also suggest that all departments stick to the current budget until further notice, even though additional costs may arise..

Repair Work On Interstate 80 Coming Two Years Early

Repair Work On Interstate 80 Coming Two Years Early
By Ian Thompson | DAILY REPUBLIC | February 01, 2008

VACAVILLE - Vacaville leaders are not only pleased their cracked, potholed stretch of Interstate 80 is getting repaved, but it's happening two years earlier than planned.

'This is two years in advance of what the original schedule was,' Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gary Tatum said. 'It is gratifying to know that they are in tune with us.'

State Department of Transportation District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi got a warm welcome from Vacaville leaders Friday morning when he updated them on what was planned for Solano County's highways.

The chamber-sponsored meeting came only a day after Caltrans announced it was going to start the first of four repaving and improvement projects this spring on 27 miles of I-80.

'I want to thank the residents for their patience while we put these projects together,' Sartipi said.

Sartipi described I-80 as a 50-year-old roadway that has done its job as the major transportation corridor between Sacramento and the Bay Area, and needs improvement.

Combined with Caltrans' plans for improving Highway 12, Sartipi said Solano County is one of the top two counties in the San Francisco Bay Area that Caltrans is spending money on.

Caltrans plans to spend $125 million on the highway between Tennessee Street in Vallejo and Leisure Town Road in Vacaville during the next three years.

Caltrans is already getting ready to add one lane in the westbound direction on Highway 12 just west of I-80 to allow trucks to better climb the hill there.

Work will start on the first two sections of I-80 this spring. The work includes:

n Putting in a median barrier and high-occupancy vehicle lanes between Red Top Road and Air Base Parkway.

n Rehabilitating the pavement between Leisure Town Road and Air Base Parkway.

This summer, Caltrans will also start rehabilitating pavement and installing a median barrier on the highway section between Tennessee Street and American Canyon Road.

'You will be seeing a lot of road repair in the I-80 corridor this summer,' Sartipi said.

State budget cuts aren't hurting Caltrans as much as other departments this year because Gov. Schwarzenegger has realized how important it is to keep the roads repaired, Sartipi added.

'This does not mean we have all the funds to address all of the issues,' Sartipi said, noting 40 percent of the state's road improvement and repair needs are still going unmet.

Solano Transportation Authority Executive Director Daryl Halls warned other local leaders to continue to work with Caltrans 'to make sure these projects get delivered.'

While there is some risk that the funding could get yanked away, 'I see the risk as very small,' Sartipi said.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.

Roofer Firm Nails Down BP Solar Deal

Roofer Firm Nails Down BP Solar Deal
- Published Friday, February 1, 2008

Vacaville's OCR Solar & Roofing has announced that it has secured exclusive rights through 2008 to install BP Solar's "EnergyTile" solar modules on production homes in Northern and Central California.

An OCR spokeswoman said the company expects this year to install roughly $10 million of the EnergyTiles, which replace concrete roofing tiles and so don't protrude from the roofline. OCR installed $1.7 million of the tiles last year.

Each EnergyTile is 18 inches by 60 inches, or the size of five traditional concrete tiles, and generates 65 watts of power.

OCR is the largest residential roofing contractor in Northern California, installing roofs and solar panels for more than 100 home builders.

BP Solar, a subsidiary of petroleum and energy giant BP PLC, is one of the world's leading solar firms.

– Jim Downing

'Fresh' Grocery Outlet On Its Way To Vallejo

'Fresh' Grocery Outlet On Its Way To Vallejo
By RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched: 02/01/2008

It ain't Trader Joe's, but it may be close.

Sometime next year, the corner of Vallejo's Oakwood Avenue and Springs Road will be the site of a new market that some have compared to the popular grocery outlet many locals have tried for years to bring to town.

The Vallejo site, along with Beck and West Texas in Fairfield and Napa's Imola and Jefferson, are among a major Bay Area expansion of a relatively new Southern California-based store chain called Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. Company spokesman Brendan Wonnacott said the firm will begin opening 18 stores in the region by 2009.

"It's too early to know exact dates yet," Wonnacott said.

Fresh & Easy, a subsidiary of U.K.-based Tesco, now has 37 markets in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona, according to a company press release. Tesco, among the world's largest international retailers, has invested $2 billion over five years in Fresh & Easy, the release notes. Fresh & Easy will have 50 stores in the United States by the end of next month, the company statement said.

At roughly 10,000 square feet, Fresh & Easy markets are smaller than typical supermarkets to give customers a faster, easier shopping experience, Wonnacott said. The store offers fresh, prepared foods and produce, its own brand and national brand products and household items, he said. The closest comparison is reportedly Trader Joe's, which stocks its 12,000- to 15,000-square-foot outlets with items bearing its own brand.

"That's what sets this chain apart," Wonnacott said. "The focus on fresh, prepared foods, made of the same product we sell."

Fresh & Easy's private brand items have no artificial colors or flavors, no added trans fats, and only use preservatives where absolutely necessary, Wonnacott said.

"The company also offers a range of national brand products, as well as fresh, prepared meals made in our kitchen," he added.

Each Fresh & Easy store employs between 20 to 30 people who work a minimum of 20 hours per week and are eligible for comprehensive health care and other benefits, the news release said.

Entry-level positions start at $10 an hour in California, and offer a 10 percent quarterly bonus, according to the release.

Sites were selected based on a variety of criteria, Wonnacott said.

"Vallejo in particular, is a good fit," he said. "Its population is growing and busy and interested in fresh, healthy food."

For more information visit www.freshandeasy.com.

• E-mail Rachel Raskin- Zrihen at RachelZ@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6824.

Work To Pave Way For Smoother Ride

Work To Pave Way For Smoother Ride
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | January 31, 2008

FAIRFIELD - Recent rains have made the already torn-up pavement on Interstate 80 even worse, giving drivers a jarring ride.

But the state Department of Transportation is working on a solution that will be more than a Band-Aid. Caltrans on Thursday announced that it has begun the first of four projects totaling $125 million that will repave 27 miles of freeway in Solano County by the end of 2009.

That first repaving project already under way is in Vallejo from Tennessee Street to American Canyon Road. Most of the work is to be done between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., with some lane closures and some detours to frontage roads.

Caltrans recently put out to bid the project to repave the freeway from near Lagoon Valley through Vacaville to east of Leisure Town Road. It is scheduled to put out to bid in March the pavement reconstruction from American Canyon Road to the interstates 680 and 80 interchange.

The repaving in Fairfield isn't scheduled for this year. Instead, Caltrans will be building a carpool lane there.

Local transportation officials have been demanding the reconstruction of local I-80 for several years. To date, Caltrans has settled for replacing aging concrete slabs that in some cases sunk several inches.

But the state advanced $70 million for the repaving by two years, Caltrans District Four Director Bijan Sartipi stated in a press release.

In 2006, Vacaville Mayor and Solano Transportation Authority Board member Len Augustine delivered a blunt assessment of what could happen on I-80. At the time, the STA was trying to get some emergency repairs made.

'A motorist hits one of those ruts, somebody's going to be dead,' he said. In Thursday's Caltrans press release, Augustine expressed his appreciation for the upcoming repairs that should end the yearly pothole outbreak.

'Working together to accelerate the schedule for the rehabilitation of this vital transportation corridor has been a cooperative effort and will benefit everyone who travels through Solano County on I-80,' Augustine said.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, Ext. 232, or beberling@dailyrepublic.net.