Construction
As part of the implementation of the Local Vendor Preference policies adopted by the Napa County Board of Supervisors, the county will host a Contracting Opportunities Workshop for Professional Services Consultants and Construction Contractors in May. The workshop will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Napa City-County Library, 580 Coombs Street, in Napa. The Board of Supervisors has expressed a commitment to active competition in the purchase of professional and other services, with a goal of selecting the best qualified firm(s) to provide services at the least cost to County taxpayers. The Local Vendor Preference policies were designed to improve opportunities for local vendors to fully participate in the County’s contracting process and to encourage larger, out-of-county firms to partner with local firms.Education
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials presented College of Marin with a check for the energy efficient design and construction of the new Science, Math, Nursing Building. The $305,000 incentive check was presented to the college at the grand opening ceremony on May 10. The College has been working with PG&E since 2008, earning benefits and incentives from the company’s New Construction Incentive Program. The college has saved more than 1.6 million kilowatt hours in the past 12 months and received a total of $620,000 in PG&E incentives. PG&E estimates the College of Marin will save about 708,000 kilowatt hours and 119,000 therms per year. The building was designed to meet sustainable building practices and has been submitted for Gold Certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program by the U.S. Green Building Council.Health care
Direct Flow Medical, Inc., the Santa Rosa-based transcatheter heart valve company focused on improving patient outcomes, announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an investigational device exemption to begin the SALUS feasibility trial of the Direct Flow Medical Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve System. The device encompasses a distinctive transcatheter aortic heart valve with a metal-free frame and flexible, low-profile delivery system that virtually eliminates aortic regurgitation. It is designed to improve the long term survivability of patients by resolving the clinical issues associated with current commercial valves. With receipt of IDE approval, Direct Flow Medical plans to commence its U.S. clinical study evaluating the use of the Direct Flow Medical Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve System. The system includes a distinctive heart valve with a metal-free frame that will be delivered transfemorally via a flexible, 18 French delivery system. The SALUS Trial is a 30-patient feasibility trial that will be conducted at up to six U.S. clinical sites. Six-month results from the company’s DISCOVER CE Mark Trial presented at the American College of Cardiology 2013 Annual Meeting, which studied the Direct Flow Medical system, demonstrated excellent survivability, sustained hemodynamic improvements and few adverse events, with minimal occurrence of aortic regurgitation. The Direct Flow Medical system received the CE Mark in January 2013 and is currently available commercially in Europe.Retail
Phoenix, Ariz.-based Sprouts Farmers Market is getting closer to opening its first store in Sonoma County. The 25,100 square-foot store at 401 Kenilworth Dr. at Washington Street in Petaluma is set to open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29. From 9--11 a.m. the day before the grand opening, two lucky winners will participate in the Sprouts Sprint, a two-minute shopping spree. From 4--6 p.m., the Petaluma store will host local businesses, community leaders, Facebook fans and members of the media.Solar
Petaluma's Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) announced its support of Team USC in the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, a biennial competition powered exclusively by the sun. Team USC has received a donation of the Enphase Microinverter System to compete in the design and construction of a solar-powered house that brings sustainable living to the public. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The competition will take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine from Oct. 3--13.
