San Rafael – North Bay Business Journal - North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties

New life for ex-ILM studio in San Rafael

February 6th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL — Movie industry veterans led by longtime Dolby executive Tim Partridge have reopened the legendary sound stage at 3210 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael.
At last, a lunch box that is green

February 6th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL – Along with the flourishing food scene in the North Bay comes a sustainable way to tote and munch it.
ECOlunchboxes – plastic-free stainless containers and cotton bags to carry them in – are a surprise bestseller in Whole Foods, Container Stores and retail outlets across the U.S. and abroad.
Nurses, NUHW hold daylong Kaiser strike

January 31st, 2012

NORTH BAY — The National Union of Healthcare Workers is holding a day-long strike at Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout Northern California, including hospitals in Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Vallejo and Vacaville, as the union negotiates a new contract with the health system.
Lifehouse to relocate in Marin, expand services

January 16th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL — Lifehouse, a nonprofit organization that assists the developmentally disabled in Marin and Sonoma counties, is relocating from its existing Smith Ranch Road location to a 5,880 square-foot space at 899 Northgate Dr. in San Rafael, a move that will accommodate three years of continuous growth.
BioMarin to move ‘several hundred’ to San Rafael

January 6th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL — Novato-based BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today said it plans to relocate several hundred employees from its Bel Marin Keys headquarters plant to downtown San Rafael by the end of this year.
New Bradley at the helm of Bradley Real Estate

January 5th, 2012

SAN RAFAEL — Bradley Real Estate, one of the North Bay’s largest home brokerages, is under new leadership after founder and CEO Melissa Bradley announced her retirement Wednesday.
National ’114th Partnership’ begins effort in San Rafael schools

December 19th, 2011

The effort seeks to reproduce the success seen in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.
Major private construction projects on tap in 2012

December 19th, 2011

A number of major private-sector construction projects will be under way or are set to begin in 2012: Grady Ranch, San Rafael; Madera Vista, Corte Madera; East Washington Place, Petaluma; Marin County Emergency Operations Facility, San Rafael; Safeway expansion, Petaluma; Bell Village, Windsor; Multitenant warehouse, Napa; Kaiser data center expansion, Napa; The Barlow, Sebastopol; and Napa Century Center, Napa.
$50 million Marin Commons renovation set for 2012 start

November 28th, 2011

SAN RAFAEL — As the county of Marin prepares to take ownership of a 328,000-square-foot office building in north San Rafael in December, preparations are under way to start the estimated $53.1 million transformation of a large portion into the county’s Emergency Operations Facility in mid-2012.
Commercial real estate: Madera Vista apartments get $65 million investment

November 21st, 2011

Denver-based Apartment Investment and Management Co. (NYSE: AIV) is betting about $65 million on the renovation of the 126-unit vacant apartment complex in Corte Madera, amounting to $516,000 a unit. Also: Rowland Plaza to be refi’ed not sold; San Rafael Corporate Center gets medical office rezoning; Deer Creek Village courts Friedman’s, Home Depot; Santa Rosa office short-sale lands big tenant.
County to spend $82 million on Marin Commons building

November 15th, 2011

SAN RAFAEL — The Marin County Board of Supervisors today approved an $81.9 million plan to purchase a 328,000-square-foot mostly vacant office building and renovate up to 110,000 square feet over the next three years to accommodate a new county Emergency Operations Facility.
Autodesk third-quarter earnings increase 22 percent

November 15th, 2011

SAN RAFAEL — Design software maker Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today reported its third-quarter net income increased 22.9 percent in the previous 12 months, and net revenues rose 15.1 percent in that timeframe.
Autodesk acquires Canadian gaming software developer

November 7th, 2011

SAN RAFAEL — Design software developer Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) has acquired the assets of Montreal-based GRIP Entertainment Technology, which makes artificial-intelligence tools for game software.
A Dominican ‘Venture Greenhouse’ first: A startup is acquired

October 31st, 2011

SAN RAFAEL, NOVATO — Novato-based green energy contractor Evolvelectric has acquired the LED lighting consultant Illumalighting, making it the first company to “graduate” from Dominican University’s Venture Greenhouse.
Westamerica increases dividend; earnings $22.4 million

October 27th, 2011

Westamerica Bancorporation’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.37 per common stock share on Thursday, a one-cent increase per share from the previous quarter.
Non-profit Buckelew to open ‘People’s Harvest’

October 17th, 2011

PETALUMA — Buckelew Programs, a non-profit behavioral health organization that provides jobs and training for people with mental health and substance abuse disorders, has leased over 18,000 square feet of space near East Washington and North McDowell Boulevard where it will open its newest location, People’s Harvest.
Education: Dominican ‘Venture Greenhouse;’ $110,000 for Schools Plus

October 10th, 2011

Dominican University’s Venture Greenhouse in San Rafael officially opened Wednesday with the goal of becoming a hub for green business in Marin County. … Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute has announced a series of fall classes for its Tasting Room Management Certificate Program. … Extracurricular activities at Santa Rosa middle and high schools will receive a financial boost after the volunteer fundraising organization Schools Plus held its second-annual “A Night Under the Lights” event on Sept. 24.
Commercial real estate: OnTrac makes big North Bay courier hub expansion

October 3rd, 2011

As part of a ramp up of Bay Area service, Phoenix, Ariz.-based regional overnight package courier OnTrac is expanding its North Bay hub. … The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday could postpone a decision to purchase part of a large San Rafael commercial property to be the new home for the Sheriff’s Department and other emergency services currently located at the Civic Center to the south in San Rafael. … Fairfield-based developer, owner and property manager The Wiseman Co. acquired the 30,000-square-foot class A Westside Professional Building at 2480 Hilborn Road and an adjacent pad. … Groskopf Warehouse & Logistics found a large Napa Valley warehouse for its expansion. … Steve and Judy Mahrt, owners of Petaluma Farms, which produces Judy’s Family Farms organic eggs, are back to buying Petaluma office buildings and converting them back to industrial buildings for business expansion, according to local real estate sources.
Business news: Week of Sept. 19, 2011

September 19th, 2011

Brief news about companies and organizations in the north San Francisco Bay Area
Autodesk bolsters its BIM software line

September 12th, 2011

SAN RAFAEL — While a number of suppliers offer a range of BIM-related software, the leading North Bay developer is Autodesk of San Rafael, a firm that has been expanding its portfolio of advanced 3D building design software modules since 2002 when it acquired the Revit Technology Corporation.