North Bay Business Journal

The draconian changes recently proposed by a coalition of conservation organizations would help destroy the very foundation that makes the Marin weknow and love possible today and sustainable tomorrow. Among other things, the coalition seeks a series of drastic restrictions on our economic vitality, commerce, transportation, development, zoning, and property rights. The result would be [...]

Marin Clean Energy unveiled a new, free energy savings tool available to homeowners in the Marin County and Richmond. … Novato City Council voted unanimously for the city become a customer of Marin Clean Energy ….

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RH), based in Corte Madera, reported net revenues increased 25 percent for its 2012–2013 fiscal year. …

Town Center Corte Madera (shopttowncenter.com) recently completed a renovation of the center’s office building, whose lobby now has what’s possibly Marin County’s first indoor “living wall.” …

North Bay Leadership Council is gearing up for the third year of its Algebra Academy program this summer in San Rafael and Novato. …

AT&T expanded its high-speed 4G LTE cell phone network to include areas of the North Bay. …

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), whose Cardio and Vascular division is based in Santa Rosa, announced Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance and the first U.S. clinical uses of its new Affinity Fusion oxygenation system. …

North Bay Leadership Council is gearing up for the third year of its Algebra Academy Program this summer in San Rafael and Novato. …

Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) visited Quivira Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley to present the winery with his Sustainable North Coast certificate in recognition of Quivira’s work in restoring salmon habitat and healthy waterways. …

AT&T has expanded its high-speed 4G LTE network in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing more customers the latest generation of wireless network technology. …

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance and the first U.S. clinical uses of its new Affinity Fusion oxygenation system. …

Novato’s LumiGrow, Inc. announced a so-called “Cash for Clunkers” program. Through the new program, commercial growers receive a $150 cash rebate for each high intensity discharge (HID) greenhouse light fixture they replace with a LumiGrow LED luminaire. …

SANTA ROSA — State-funded nonprofit First 5 Sonoma County granted $1.38 million to an early childhood and parent education “campus” at Santa Rosa’s Lawrence Cook Middle School, part of $5.13 million in one-time grants to support what educators and employers call the “cradle to career” approach to workforce development.

Most people would agree that if a school, hospital or road project has been subjected to extensive environmental review and met all federal, state and local environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air Act, the project should go forward without being sued for purported environmental reasons. Unfortunately, [...]

A unique summer algebra academy pioneered in Santa Rosa has grown throughout the North Bay, and organizations as far away as Arizona are expressing interest in duplicating the public-private partnership that works to expose English language-learners to real-world applications for math.

The HBO series “The Weight of the Nation” arrives at a key moment in episode four. The CEO of a 1,000 employee construction company was alarmed by rising annual increases in health premiums for his employees. The more he looked into why, the more it became apparent that far too many of his employees were carrying extra pounds — some dangerously so.

He had just spent an entire day in briefings in the state Capitol and was having a hard time staying optimistic.

SAN RAFAEL — An organization representing neighbors of a proposed 270,000-square-foot Lucasfilm digital movie production studio in Lucas Valley northwest of San Rafael has appealed the recent project approval by the Marin County Planning Commission.

Commercial Real Estate Cooke Orthodontics has acquired the “Mrs. McDonalds” building at 3392 Solano Ave. across from Vallergas Market at Redwood Plaza in Napa.  The 4,000-square-foot building will be the new home for Dr. Mary Cooke‘s orthodontic practice. The  opening date is anticipated in fall 2012. Cathy D’Angelo Holmes of Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokers of [...]

Call it a tipping point or an epiphany, but business has found its voice on the critical public policy issues of the day.

A majority of voters in Marin and Sonoma counties said they would oppose the repeal of Measure Q, the sales tax measure funding the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit project, according to poll results released today by the North Bay Leadership Council. Critics say that the level of support has fallen since 2008.

SANTA ROSA – The Mike Hauser Algebra Academy, sponsored by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, is expanding to other cities in Sonoma and Marin counties. Now in its fourth year, the academy has helped more than 200 English language learners going into eighth and ninth grades appreciate the practical value of math in the real world.

Brief business news from the North Bay counties.

SANTA ROSA – Marketing in a down economy can seem like a waste of money, particularly for a startup or a struggling business, but letting consumers know a business is still around may prove to be just the thing to keep it going.

PETALUMA — The North Bay Leadership Council will recognize five honorees at the 2010 Leaders of the North Bay Awards Luncheon Oct. 29 at Embassy Suites Hotel, San Rafael. The event includes a keynote address by early childhood education author and research scientist Dr. Alison Gopnik.

PETALUMA — The North Bay Leadership Council will recognize five honorees at the 2010 Leaders of the North Bay Awards Luncheon Oct. 29 at Embassy Suites Hotel, San Rafael. The event includes a keynote address by early childhood education author and research scientist Dr. Alison Gopnik.

Burr Pilger Mayer is the newest member of North Bay Leadership Council. … The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board released a report summarizing inspection observations of audits of financial institutions and other companies during the economic crisis.

NORTH BAY – Three North Bay organizations have seed-funded the formation of a Jobs & Prosperity Project to educate voters on local candidates and their support of job creation.

PETALUMA – The North Bay Leadership Council is seeking nominations for its 2010 Leaders of the North Bay Awards in the following categories: Caught in the Act of Leadership – Individual Excellence in Leadership, We’re All in this Together – Community Building, Paint the Community Green – Environmental Stewardship, The ‘Light Bulb’ Went On – Innovative/Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Empowering the Latino Community – Leadership within the Latino Community.