CCO Editor Joe Wallace Pleased to Announce California’s First Innovation Hub Accelerator Campus Grand Opening
The Coachella Valley Welcomes the Grand Opening of California’s First Innovation iHub Accelerator Campus and Celebrates the Coachella Valley iHub Graduation on May 16th from 4pm-7pm in Palm Springs
The Public is Invited to Attend This Landmark Event
Palm Springs, CA (May 9, 2013) The Coachella Valley Innovation Hub (CViHub), will hold an iHub Accelerator Campus Grand Opening and iHub Graduation Celebration on May 16, at the Accelerator Campus, located next to Palm Springs International Airport. The festivities begin at 4pm. This is a free community event and the public is invited to see the latest innovation in “growing a business.†The address is 2901 E. Alejo. Please RSVP to rsvp@cvep.com or call 760-340-1575.
This ribbon-cutting and grand opening marks the launch of the first Innovation Hub Accelerator Campus in California and the first graduation of CViHub businesses now ready to move to the next level of success. “The Coachella Valley iHub is proud to be the first Incubator Network in the State of California to develop and open an Acclerator Campus for CViHub graduates to move on to,†says Wes Ahlgren, Chief Operating Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) which manages the CViHub. “Four companies from the CVIhub incubator offices are graduating and moving to the Acclerator Campus where they can do light manufacturing then taking their business into the community,†Ahlgren explains. They are EV Enterprises, NRG Power Systems, Attune RTD and PSTalent.com.
Mayor Steve Pougnet, City of Palm Springs, states “The City of Palm Springs is pleased to have been in a position to leverage our status as a founding member of the Coachella Valley iHub into the newly formed Accelerator Campus at the Palm Springs International Airport. We are looking forward to the economic advantages that continue the mentoring provided by the CViHub through the manufacturing phase. We are also thrilled to have been a part of attracting a high technology manufacturer from Arizona to become the first client company in the Accelerator Campus.â€
Tom Flavin, President and CEO, CVEP, adds “To help overcome some of the challenges that face California businesses, CVEP in partnership with the cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City are expanding the capability of the CViHub to a one of a kind accelerator campus. This campus will be a real game changer here in the Coachella Valley as we attract renewable, healthcare and creative companies from here in California as well as other states and countries and offer them an environment to create, manufacture and succeed.â€
There are 12 iHubs in California, and the Coachella Valley is pioneering the only Accelerator Campus of its kind in the state that supports sustainable innovation businesses, helps grow the local economy and creates jobs in the Coachella Valley.
The first graduate of the CViHub Program, EV Enterprises (EVE), has already begun manufacturing operations at the new Accelerator Campus. EVE manufactures an assortment of products, including the Canary 100 Radiation Detector and aftermarket automotive battery charging stations. Additionally, EVE converts internal combustion vehicles to electric cars and offers contract manufacturing services to companies in and out of the Coachella Valley. “We acquired a manufacturing operation from Arizona and are able to do ten times the revenue that it was doing there, largely because of the superior facilities here. We have received mentoring, assistance with our business plan and help with fundraising from the iHub and couldn’t have done it without them,†says Bill Schlanger of EVE.
The Accelerator Campus is a cluster of facilities designed to provide CViHub graduate companies continued access to the business support network of the CViHub after they have started production and begun to earn revenues. The Acceleration Campus consists of approximately 50,000 square feet of space in seven buildings on a 3.5 acre lot in a Foreign Trade Zone at the Palm Springs International Airport.
Phase one of the development consists of a 6,000 square foot Advanced Manufacturing Center, a Commercialization Center with two 1,000 square foot working areas, and a Sustainable Product Center with five offices, two reception areas, and a conference room. At this time 80% of the available space in Phase one is either already being utilized or has been spoken for by other CViHub client businesses.
Phase one of the Accelerator Campus is being funded by the City of Palm Springs.
Phase two of the development will be approximately 40,000 square feet of space dedicated to Advanced Manufacturing, Emerging Technology businesses, and sustainable functions to support the core mission. Phase two is dependent on the attraction of funding sufficient to complete leasehold improvements and cover operating expenses during the ramp-up period.
“The Accelerator Campus will enable the CViHub to continue to mentor client companies with proven concepts through the initial stages of production, further mitigating the risks associated with entrepreneurship and laying the foundation for our client businesses to establish a permanent headquarters in the Coachella Valley,†states Joe Wallace, Managing Director, CViHub.
The Coachella Valley Innovation Hub (CViHub) is a California designated business support entity hosted by the cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City, managed by the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP).
IS IT TRUE May 10, 2013
IS IT TRUE May 10, 2013
IS IT TRUE that when it comes to growing the economy it seems as though the adage “what one big company gives the other takes away†rings true across the country but was accented particularly in Evansville this week?…this week on big company with an emphasis on government contracts announced a layoff of just under 50 people and that news was followed up that another big national company that provides cable services announced they will be hiring 25 people?…other big companies in town have published openings for the other 25 that they are having trouble filling due to specialized experience and education requirements but by the end of the summer the 50 jobs lost will be replaced?…the net gains from big company hiring according to the Kaufmann Foundation has been a net gain of ZERO nationwide since the 1980s?…Kaufmann has concluded that all net job creation in the American workforce comes from small and new businesses and has for roughly 30 years?…most people just do not get it that the key to economic growth and prosperity lies in inspiring entrepreneurs and creating an ecosystem that enables them to execute their plans?…that includes for the most part access to capital, talent, and markets?…if you don’t have all three your ecosystem just does not work very well?
IS IT TRUE it has been a week now since the Evansville Police Department published the gunshot map that prompted an unexpected response from the Reverend Adrian Brooks?…Brooks to the surprise of many took a position stating such data should not be released to the public and that the release of this data would retard economic growth in downtown Evansville?…knowing the Reverend Brooks and the good work he endeavors to do in downtown Evansville and parts south, the CCO expressed that his opinions were probably a gut reaction and that given time he would realize that “the truth will set you free†and would come out on the side of transparency and full disclosure?…he has not yet done so but we would welcome a guest editorial from Reverend Brooks on the topic of the good side and the bad side of transparency and full disclosure to support whatever position he has reflected upon after the last week?
IS IT TRUE we are also waiting on Evansville City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr., the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s Office, the Vanderburgh County Treasurer, and the Office of the Mayor to respond to the “financial disaster†that was discovered in Muncie this week?…what we would like to have answered is whether or not Evansville is looking at a similar situation or not?…of course that begs the question WHY?…given the complexity of what caused Muncie to come up $6 Million short it is entirely probable given the recent lack of any appetite for planning and oversight that Evansville will have the exact same problem?…if the folks in charge in Evansville accurately foresaw the double edge sword of property tax circuit breakers blunting the revenue collected from increasing the levy they truly deserve some award for doing so?…this unintended but well defined and easy to calculate problem should have been easily caught?…if Evansville authorities were able to accurately forecast this phenomena at a time they could not even balance the books it may be deserving of economic sainthood?
IS IT TRUE it has been a full five years now since a smiling Governor’s mansion dreaming Mayor Weinzapfel was going through the steps to build an arena without a vote?…during the summer of 2008 the people of Evansville were also offered up pitchers of Kool-Aid with flavors called a 4-Star hotel without subsidy, a refurbished McCurdy, and Centennial Park?…the performance of these projects just proves the depth of delusion that the political world of Evansville was wallowing in after buying a $603,000 parking lot and holding a secret meeting to take away your Homestead Tax Credit?…the old adage “don’t drink the Kool-Aid†would have served Evansville well in the summer of 2008?
Pet Of The Week
Schnitzel is one of the staff favorites here at the VHS! He is a 9-month-old black cat who will win you over with his personality. The staff has described him as being a “funny boy, very outgoing, and social.†One of the VHS staff members found him on the east side of Evansville and brought him to the shelter so that he could find his forever family! Schnitzel’s adoption fee is $30, which includes his neuter, age-appropriate vaccines, nationally-registered microchip, and a bag of food.
Dig into reading at your library this summer
May 9, 2013 – Evansville, IN – The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library invites you to Dig into Reading: Uncover the History of the Library during this year’s Summer Reading Program. Participants of all ages have the chance to read for chances to win prizes.
The program kicks off Sunday, May 19 at Central Library from 1-4 pm. The first individuals in each age category to pick up their reading log that day will receive a giveaway (while supplies last). For those who can’t attend the kickoff event, get started by visiting any EVPL location beginning May 20 to pick up your reading log. The program ends July 29.
Kids can read to win books, toys, and tickets to area attractions. Prizes for teens include cash and gift cards. Adults have the chance to win a Kindle Fire, cash, and gift cards.
In 2012, more than 7,600 kids, 900 teens, and 4,100 adults participated in the EVPL’s Summer Reading Program.
Thank you to this year’s Summer Reading sponsors: Public Library Friends; Berry Plastics Corporation; Evansville Courier & Press; Old National Bank Foundation; Peckenpaugh’s Garden Center; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana; Tucker Publishing; YALSA/Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
Bucshon Votes to Avoid Default on Debt
(Washington, DC) – Representative Larry Bucshon voted “Yes†on H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) that credibly and permanently removes any threat of default on the United States’ Treasury debt. H.R. 807 accomplishes this by requiring the U.S. Treasury Department to assure the full and prompt payment of principal and interest on the debt – effectively eliminating the threat of default as an option during debt negotiations.
This will only go into effect in the occurrence that the debt limit is reached and the Treasury Department does not have the authority to issue debt on new spending.
Representative Bucshon (IN-08) released the following statement:
“Our national debt is reaching $17 trillion dollars. We need responsible solutions that will address our spending problem while preserving the full faith and credit of the United States.
“The Full Faith and Credit Act is absolutely essential to moving forward with meaningful debate on how to address our nation’s growing debt. In previous debt ceiling negotiations, the President and his allies in Congress have used the threat of default to negotiate for increases in taxes and spending. H.R. 807 removes this tool and ensures that default is completely and clearly off the table during these discussions.â€
“Even the threat of default creates instability in our markets, uncertainty with our families, and compromises our role as a global economic leader. This bill makes sure that we live up to all of our obligations.â€
BACKGROUND:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen has stated that, “Our national debt is our biggest national security threat.”
The current debt limit of $16.4 trillion consists of both debt held by the public and debt held by the government, which carry the full faith and credit guarantee.
Public debt includes securities the Treasury Department has issued to investors, which amounts to $11.5 billion. The balance is debt held by the government in the form of non-marketable Treasury securities, the majority of which, $2.7 trillion, is held by the Social Security Trust Funds.
Earlier this year, the House passed, and the President signed into law, H.R. 325, the No Budget, No Pay Act, which included a temporary suspension in the debt limit until May 19, 2013.
On May 19th, the limit will be recalculated to account for amount borrowed through May 18, 2013, becoming the new statutory limit. At this time, the Secretary will more than likely have to utilize extraordinary measures to pay our nation’s obligations. However, with federal revenue up 12 percent to $1.197 trillion for the first half of FY 2013, the Secretary is expected to have enough resources to pay obligations until sometime early fall.
Indiana State Police will Participate in Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) Campaign
Starting this Sunday, May 12, Indiana State Police will be participating in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Ticket Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) campaign to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and passenger cars. Troopers will participate in this campaign through Saturday, June 8th.
The TACT program uses education and high visibility traffic enforcement to reduce commercial motor vehicle related crashes. By participating in TACT, Indiana State Police hope to deter unsafe driving behavior by passenger vehicle and commercial motor vehicle drivers when they interact on the roadway. Troopers will be specifically looking for motorists who drive dangerously around semi trucks and other commercial motor vehicles. Some of the violations troopers will be concentrating on include: unsafe lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, following too closely and aggressive driving. In many crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, the crash is caused by non-commercial drivers operating in an unsafe manner.
“The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division would like to remind everyone that traffic safety is a continuing partnership between the general motoring public, the commercial transportation industry and law enforcement. Together, through safer driving practices, we can reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries,†said Captain Mike Eslinger, Commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.
Indiana State Police encourage all drivers to follow these safety tips when driving around commercial motor vehicles:
• Allow plenty of space between you and the commercial motor vehicle. Drivers should allow one car length between their vehicle and the commercial motor vehicle for every 10 mph of travel or follow at least three to four seconds behind the semi.
• Stay out of the truck driver’s blind spot. If you can’t see the mirrors on the truck, the driver can’t see you.
• Always make safe lane changes around commercial motor vehicles. Use signals and leave plenty of space between you and the truck. It can take over 500 feet for a fully loaded truck going 65 mph to come to a complete stop.
• Always yield the right of way to commercial motor vehicles.
Direct further inquiries to Sgt. Angie Hahn at 317.615.7409 or MCI/District Coordinator Mike Wilson at 317.615.7373.
Governor Pence signs SB 343 Local Government Reorganization into law
Governor Mike Pence signed SEA 343 into law today with representatives of Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau, CORE and Indiana Farm Bureau in attendance.
The bill includes a provision sought by Farm Bureau that separates the votes of rural residents from those of the city residents. SEA 343 provides when a merger of a municipality and another political subdivision is proposed, the votes of the residents of the municipality and the residents who live outside of the municipality must be totaled separately. The reorganization can be approved only if both groups of voters approve the proposed reorganization. The bill was passed by large margins in both houses.
Representatives from Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau and CORE, which successfully defeated the November merger referendum involving Vanderburgh County and the City of Evansville, were among those who testified in favor of the bill.
“We would like to thank the House, Senate and Governor for making these changes to have a much more fair process,†said Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau President Bruce Blackford. “We also want to thank all the residents who have supported us in this endeavor.â€