North Bay Business Journal

Marin County’s largest city and civic hub, San Rafael, wants to boost its appeal as a commercial center, and a number of interrelated local government and business group efforts are in motion with the goal of making that happen.

SAN RAFAEL – Two business incubator programs are now working to foster entrepreneurial companies in San Rafael, after “Renaissance Marin,” a project of San Francisco-based Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, opened its doors to clients.

Marin Clean Energy is poised to significantly expand its customer base in the coming months, with the city of Richmond likely to pass a final measure on Tuesday to join the renewable energy-focused power agency.

CORTE MADERA — After 17 years of making environmentally and health- conscious personal care products in Marin County, EO Products seriously considered the better economics of taking the 40-person company to the East Bay, but the manufacturer is choosing to stay in Marin after an opportunity arose to convert a former Industrial Light & Magic sound stage to a much larger production plant plus local and regional economic boosters and a state legislator jumped in to help navigate permit processes.

An effort to foster a mutually beneficial partnership between the business and education communities in San Rafael reached an important milestone this month, after the formation of a 12-member business advisory group and the first meeting between that group and leaders from the San Rafael City Schools.

NORTH BAY – Green building performance, or rather failure to perform, has long topped the list of legal risks related to sustainability-minded construction, but developers face even greater stakes this year as government-mandated LEED standards loom and achieving certification becomes more difficult.