Residential Real Estate
Burbank Housing Development Corporation, Community Housing Sonoma County and their financial partners -- the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment and California Community Reinvestment Corporation -- gathered on Friday, March 30 to celebrate the grand opening of Fife Creek Commons in Guerneville. The event was sponsored by Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment/Wells Fargo Bank NA, who provided $9.1 million for construction financing and $13.4 million in equity. Additional funding includes $5.03 million from the Sonoma County Community Development Commission and Russian River Redevelopment Area, $521,000 from the California Community Reinvestment Corporation for permanent financing, $1 million in Mental Health Services Act funding jointly administered by the California Department of Mental Health and the California Housing Finance Agency, and $470,000 in Affordable Housing Program funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.Business awards
SpoiledBitch.net, an online lifestyle company for dog lovers with headquarters in St. Helena, has received the 2011 All Star Award from Constant Contact, Inc. Each year, a select group of Constant Contact customers are honored with the All Star Award for their exemplary marketing results. SpoiledBitch.net’s results ranked among the top 10% of Constant Contact’s customer base.Commercial Real Estate
Kirk Hull of The Wiseman Company, a commercial brokerage offering services in Napa, Solano and Yolo counties, announced that he leased the last available prime corner space at their First & Main building in downtown Napa to Jeff and Becky Berger who will be opening a Yo’Belle Yogurt shop in May 2012. David Fishbein of Innovative Retail Partners, Inc. represented the lessee and Kirk Hull of The Wiseman Company represented the lessor in the transaction. Yo’Belle is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop where customers get to “create their own creation” by choosing from 10 to 16 different flavors and over 50 different toppings.
Community Housing Opportunities Corp. will relocate their corporate offices from Davis to a suite in Fairfield's Green Valley Executive Center, home to a variety of professional firms. Established in 1984, the company is a community development corporation that offers programs that seek to increase of affordable housing, jobs creation, health and education, and social support. Find out more by visiting www.chochousing.org.Nonprofits
The Santa Rosa-based Drug Abuse Alternatives Center and San Rafael-based Center Point, Inc. have announced a strategic regional partnership effective May 1, 2012, which will capitalize on the respective strengths and organizational capabilities of both agencies. The Drug Abuse Alternatives Center and Center Point are both long-established non profits focused on substance abuse, mental health and social service agencies. There will be no disruption in programs for clients during the transition, and leaders at the agencies said they hope the partnership will help provide financial stability and strengthen services.
Children in the North Bay can learn about clean and renewable energy thanks to a $100,000 grant from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) recently awarded to the Children's Museum of Sonoma County. The grant is being used to design and sponsor a hydroelectric exhibit in the outdoor nature education area of the new children's museum called Mary's Garden. The exhibit will show children how hydroelectric plants work and how PG&E uses this clean energy source to power homes and businesses.Retail
Customers strolling through Oliver’s Markets will soon have the opportunity to place yet another homegrown product in their shopping carts. The grocery chain already stocks about 5,000 items from Sonoma County growers and producers, but it is taking the homegrown concept to a new level with the launch of the Sonoma County Real Music program. The multifaceted campaign promotes local music and musicians to further the Oliver’s tradition of supporting the local community.
At the cornerstone of the program is a series of compilation CDs that will be sold at Oliver’s Markets with profits benefiting the Redwood Empire Food Bank (www.refb.org). Submissions are now being accepted for The Sonoma County Real Music Compilation Vol. 1, the first of three slated for 2012. The sampler CD will feature 14 acts and is expected to be available for purchase at Oliver’s Markets by April 20. (See below for submission information.Green
Assemblymember Jared Huffman presented his March Sustainable North Bay Award to Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, in recognition of the company’s environmentally responsible business practices and consumer products.
Located in the Sonoma County community of Freestone, Osmosis incorporates sustainability throughout their spa including recycling, composting, onsite vermiculture, reduced water and energy usage, and environmentally friendly products throughout the spa. Personal health, longevity, and planetary sustainability all connect in the spa experience at Osmosis.Awards
The San Rafael Chamber of Commerce recently acknowledged twenty chamber businesses on their nominations for Small, Large and Green Business of the Year awards. Awards will be announced at the annual State of the City dinner on Friday, April 27th at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael.
Nominees for large business of the year are Buckelew Programs, Hospice By the Bay, Lifehouse, San Rafael Joe’s, Sol Food and Treemasters. Nomination for small business of the year are Bellam Self Storage and Boxes, Dotto Glass and Rayner Landscaping. Green business award nominees are Autodesk, Bank of Marin, Bellam Self Storage and Boxes, Building Care Systems, California Film Institute, Circle Bank, Delicious Catering, Embassy Suites, Marin Center/Marin County Fair, Marin Sanitary Service and The Tamalpais.
