NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL EVENT

Impact Napa

Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 8-10:45 a.m., Napa Valley Marriott, Napa

Best Places to Work 2008 Awards Reception

September 25, 2008, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, Rohnert Park

E-Mail Express

Name:

Company:

E-mail:

Phone:

The News in Brief

CAP, United Way give $265k to nonprofits

NORTH BAY – Community Action Partnership and United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake handed out $265,000 in grants to 22 local nonprofits last week.

The building-capacity grants were the first time the partnership has ever solicited applications. The selection process began about two months ago, and the group received more than 50 applications. A selection committee rated each project and gave awards between about $2,500 and $20,000 on April 30.

The money was used for a range of building purposes, such as buying forklifts and hiring building consultants.

CAP funded the grants though federal funding from the Office of Faith-based Initiatives. It was the only nonprofit in the state to receive funding from that group for the purpose of building-capacity projects.

Supervisor to propose neighborhood shuttles

NORTH BAY – Marin County Supervisor Charles McGlashan told a transportation conference that he will soon propose a county shuttle system to connect low-density hillside neighborhoods with more central areas.

The shuttles, or “jitneys,” would link up with other public transit and could reduce car traffic, he said, speaking at the North Bay Transportation Summit put on by the North Bay Leadership Council, a coalition of the region’s major employers.

The jitneys could increase ridership on the proposed SMART commuter rail if passengers don’t have to drive to a bus stop or train station, Mr. McGlashan said.

“Once the car starts going, we don’t want to stop,” he said.

Mr. McGlashan said he will submit a proposal for a pilot jitney program serving the Tamalpais Valley and Almonte neighborhoods, south of Mill Valley. The program would use the dial-a-ride model– similar to one already running in Muir Beach – where riders reserve a ride for a specific time, and pay a low fee that is comparable to a bus fare.

Mr. McGlashan is chairman of SMART, which will submit a November ballot proposal for a sales tax increase to fund a train between Cloverdale and Larkspur.

His comments came amid others from public officials and business leaders who are seeking to reduce congestion and pollution from cars.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission Director Steve Heminger said his agency wants to address traffic and pollution concerns through congestion pricing and high-occupancy tolls – fees paid to drive at peak times or for single drivers to use carpool lanes.

A representative of the MTC’s 511 Regional Rideshare program, Christy Garland, encouraged companies to help sponsor carpool programs and give employees incentives for using buses.

Construction conference to give industry forecast

NORTH BAY – The North Bay Business Journal’s 2008 Construction Conference will focus on major projects and issues facing the North Bay building industry as well as provide a forecast of what’s to come in the year ahead.

The event will be held May 20 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Tickets are $45 per person and include continental breakfast. Tables of 10, including company signage, are $470. To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-579-2900 ext. 211 or events@busjrnl.com by May 16, or register online at www.northbay

businessjournal.com.

Keynote speaker Eugene Dvorak, director of project development for the Dry Creek Rancheria, will provide an overview of the River Rock Casino expansion, including the size, scope and schedule or the resort as well as its impact on the local construction industry.

Following the keynote, two panels moderated by North Coast Builders Exchange CEO Keith Woods will discuss the state of construction in the North Bay.

First, a panel of industry experts will address major issues and trends, such as the state of construction lending, water, environmental and green construction issues, winery and hospitality activity in Napa County and downtown Santa Rosa projects and city-centered growth.

Panelists include Michelle Gervais of Archilogix, Bill Wilson of Carlile Macy and David James of Ledcor Construction.

Based on the work they’re seeing come down the pipeline, a second panel of local architects will provide a forecast for each of the North Bay counties with an outlook of coming construction projects in those areas.

Architects on this panel are Doug Hilberman of Axia Architects, Colin Russell of Russell & Davis Architects and Paul Kelley of Paul Kelley Architecture.

Air Show seeks sponsors

SANTA ROSA – The Pacific Coast Air Museum is currently seeking sponsors for its Air Show 2008 on August 16 and 17 at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. More than 20,000 people attend this two-day event. For more information, visit www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org or contact Roger Olson at 707-396-3426 or rogerolson427@comcast.net.

Book of Lists Online