North Bay Business Journal

California’s latest casualty: The young family

The political class in Sacramento is obsessed with raising taxes, enacting new regulatory schemes and green economy pipedreams. But they should be focused on this stunning trend.

Memorial set to begin $15 million upgrade to emergency department

SANTA ROSA — Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the only level II trauma center in the region, said it will soon begin site preparation work on a $15 million renovation to its emergency department, a project that was delayed with the financial collapse of 2008.

Access to financing easing for wine industry, lenders say

NORTH BAY – Borrowers in the wine industry have found it easier to access financing recently, with industry lending experts citing a warming approach to commercial lending from traditional sources and an uptick in interest for specialty non-bank lending.

Smaller employers increasingly explore partial self-funding

NORTH BAY — As employers continue to grapple with ever-increasing health care costs — with or without federal health care reform — those with fewer than 100 employees are increasingly looking for affordable options, with the idea of partial self-funding gaining traction in the past few years, insurance experts said.

You can try, but you can’t fake authenticity

                    “If you seek authenticity for authenticity’s sake you are no longer authentic.” –Jean-Paul Sartre Years ago I was traveling regularly to Asia, and wanted to buy my wife a Cartier tank watch, a style that was very popular at the time. I visited a reputable jeweler where most of my partners had been shopping [...]

Calendar: Week of April 23, 2012

This Week Spring Healthcare Employment Fair Sponsor: Opperman & Sons; Clos Du Bois Date: Apr. 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Place: Kentfield Campus Student Services Building, First Floor Info: 415-485-9410 Spring Healthcare Employment Fair Sponsor: Opperman & Sons; Clos Du Bois Date: Apr. 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Place: Kentfield Campus Student Services [...]

North Bay unemployment rates rise slightly in March

Unemployment rates across the North Bay increased slightly in March, but the still-high rates were well below rates a year ago, according to state figures released this morning.

Report: Fine-wine sales to grow 7 percent to 11 percent in 2012

ST. HELENA — After strong sales growth last year, U.S. makers of fine wine could see somewhat moderated growth this year as an improving domestic economy and shrinking supply of grapes and wine may allow planned luxury bottle price increases stick in the marketplace, while global economic problems together with an increasing supply shortage may boost imported wine sales for the next few years, according to a highly watched annual wine industry forecast released today.

After Hours: SSU 2012 Economic Outlook Conference

Feb. 23, 2012: Sonoma State University held its annual Economic Outlook Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Rohnert Park.

This time is different: A transformative recession

This recession (and the subsequent slow recovery) is different. It is a transformative event. The economy that ultimately emerges from these difficult times will be fundamentally different from the economy that existed before the recession.

Calendar: Week of April 16, 2012

Send Calendar items to the North Bay Business Journal, Attn: Calendar, 427 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401; fax 707-521-5292; or email news@busjrnl.com. This Week SRJC Hosts Lecture: “The Politics of Division” Sponsor: SRJC Foundation David Del Monte Lectureship Endowment Date: Apr. 16, 12:15 p.m. Cost: $4 parking fee Place: Newman Auditorium, SRJC Santa Rosa [...]

Business News: week of April 16, 2012

Banking Bank of Marin has signed a corporate sponsorship deal with the San Rafael Pacifics baseball team. The deal makes Bank of Marin the first major sponsor for the team’s inaugural season leading off with opening day on June 4th. Terms of the Bank of the Marin deal include on-field signage and ongoing advertising in [...]

Foreclosure rate rises in Lake Co., falls elsewhere in North Bay

The proportions of homes in foreclosure in the North Bay last month was below the state average in four of the six counties, and the number of properties at risk of going back to lenders fell in all but Lake County over the past six months, according to data released today from foreclosure data compiler RealtyTrac.

Construction on new Sonoma Co. courthouse could start in 2014

The State Public Works Board in Sacramento today approved acquisition of three Santa Rosa properties needed to build a $178.7 million new Sonoma County criminal courthouse. It’s one of an estimated $380 million in projects for two new courthouses and one major renovation in North Bay counties in the next few years.

April 18 forum of experts to tackle shrinking supply, globalization, finance

SANTA ROSA — As the supply of raw materials for wine are evaporates around the globe, emerging economies become thirstier for the beverage, the U.S. emerges as the world’s top wine market and the complexities of international trade, investment and economics multiply, 13 top California wine industry executives will be defining the challenges and opportunities at the Business Journal’s 2012 Wine Industry Conference on April 18 in Santa Rosa.

The supply puzzle: Experts weigh in on how a shortage will impact industry

Wine consumption is growing worldwide and particularly in the world’s new largest wine market, the U.S. Trouble is, shocks to the global economy and to the wine business in particular over the past several years along with tough growing seasons have dramatically limited the supply of grapes and wine sold in bulk to supply the thirst.

The Business Journal asked members of the 2012 Wine Industry Conference panel on grape and wine supply panel at the about some of the hotly discussed topics in the wine business in California.

Navigating the global markets: Plan on a long-term commitment

More wine is moving in and out of this country, which recently grabbed the distinction of being world’s largest wine market away from Europe. Foreign producers and investors are interested in U.S. wineries and brands, often for the prestige or gaining a platform for U.S. distribution of portfolio brands. The Business Journal asked experts set to be on the globalization panel at the 2012 Wine Industry Conference on April 18 about major factors affecting the success of U.S. wines abroad, imports and acquisitions of domestic producers by multinational companies.

Winegrape shortage could last six to eight years

After nearly 10 years of oversupply and low prices, California winegrapes and bulk wines are suddenly in a position of scarcity. Wineries are scurrying to find grapes and secure vineyard assets, while négociant wineries see their wine sources dwindling. How did we come to be in this situation, and what lies ahead for growers, wineries and consumers?

Experts: winegrape shortage to persist for years

NAPA — Not enough winegrapes have been planted in California, leading to a shortage of fruit for wine in the next several years, so growers and wineries should be actively working together to boost that supply, according to two major industry experts.

Employers urged to stay the course on health care reform — for now

NORTH BAY — With the federal health overhaul hanging in the balance of what will most certainly be a politically charged U.S. Supreme Court decision, insurance brokers in the North Bay offered a familiar refrain to employers on what changes, if any, they should make to their health plans: wait and see and stay the course.