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– May 25, 2013

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Bay Delta plan met with caution, optimism

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Published on 03/22/2013 - 10:06 am
Written by Chuck Harvey
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A preliminary Bay Delta conservation plan released by California water officials March 14 is ambitious in its goal to rebuild the delta ecosystem, but sketchy on how successful the project will be and to what extent it would improve water flows to the thirsty San Joaquin Valley and beyond.

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Wed, May 1st, 2013
The Blue Tech Valley Water Conference
Wed, May 1st, 2013
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Wed, May 1st, 2013
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Wed, May 1st, 2013
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Tue, May 28th, 2013
Women’s Business Owners Think Tank
Tue, May 28th, 2013
Proteus Community Service Forum
Wed, May 1st, 2013
The Blue Tech Valley Water Conference
Wed, May 29th, 2013
Fresno Sales, Retail, and Management Career Fair
Wed, May 29th, 2013
Proteus Community Service Forum
Wed, May 29th, 2013
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Latest Local News

Westlands files Bay Delta suit

Written on 05/24/2013, 4:33 pm by Business Journal Staff
Raising serious objections to the Delta Stewardship Council's Delta Plan, the Westlands Water District joined the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water...
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Visalia-based Proteus plans local forums

Written on 05/24/2013, 2:04 pm by Business Journal Staff
In an effort to encourage community involvement, Proteus Inc. is inviting farm workers, community members and agencies that serve the community to attend local forums to discuss and give their input on needed services for their families, neighborhood and community. Attendees will have the opportunity to share specific barriers they are facing and give suggestions on how Proteus can better meet their needs. “Community forums are designed to listen to the community and collect information on their perceived needs, said Jesus Gamboa, chief operating officer of Proteus in a release. “The community’s input is very helpful as we plan programs for the future.” Forums will take place in the following communities: Hanford Service Center, 216 W. 7th St. in Hanford, at 6 p.m. May 28. Porterville Service Center, 54 N. Main St. in Porterville, at 2 p.m. May 29. Quail Run Apartments, 13500 Tuolumne St. in Parlier, at 5:30 p.m. June 6. San Joaquin Community Center, 22058 Railroad Ave. in San Joaquin, at 7 p.m. June 7. Proteus Inc. is a private non-profit, community-based organization with over 45 years of experience serving farmworkers and other low-income residents in the counties of Fresno, Kings, Kern, Tulare and Los Angeles. Some of the programs it offers include adult basic and vocational education, job training, employment-related services, family self-sufficiency, energy assistance, gang prevention, childcare and other human services programs aimed at helping individuals and families.   Proteus Inc. is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Additional information on the forums can be obtained by calling Erica Mireles at (559) 733-5423.
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Foundation grants $200K for youth...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:52 pm by Business Journal staff
Ten organizations were awarded a total of $200,000 in grants from the Fresno Regional Foundation to address the social, educational and health challenges of the Valley's youth. Five organizations received the top grant amount of $25,000, including Parent Institute for Quality Education, Helping Others Pursue Excellence, the Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium and the Regents of the University of California, San Francisco. The Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County got a grant of $23,290, while the Boys and Girls Club of the Sequoias received $21,010. Three other grants were given to the Fresno County Superior Court ($9,990), the UCSF Fresno Foundation ($9,500) and Teen Success ($9,500). The activities funded by the grants range from programs to help parents better engage their kids in their school work and helping students ready themselves for college to an after-school woodshop class and a summer biomedical internship. "The Foundation believes we must invest in the next generation to ensure the San Joaquin Valley sees the positive changes we desire in the coming years," said Dan DeSantis, CEO of the Fresno Regional Foundation, in a release. FRF understands our youth are our future leaders and we need to support them to reach their greatest potential." The awards will be officially presented to the organizations during a ceremony on May 30 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Farmersville Community Center, 623 N. Avery Ave. in Farmersville.
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Forecast: Valley economic growth to be...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:36 pm by Business Journal staff
The Central Valley economy is expect to remain behind the rest of the state but grow at the same rate through 2016, according to the May 2013 edition of the California and Metro Forecast released by the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific on Thursday. The study anticipates the nonfarm payroll employment in the Fresno metropolitan statistical area to grow by 1.2 percent in 2013, then approximately 2 percent each of the following three years. The projected unemployment rate for the area is 13.8 percent in 2013 and that is expected to drop to 11 percent by 2016. In the San Joaquin Valley, Stockton is expected to grow at faster rate in the coming years. “We are projecting the unemployment rate in the Stockton MSA will finally dip below 10% in 2017 after a decade in double digits,” said Jeff Michael, Director of the Business Forecasting Center, in the study. The Fresno area unemployment rate in 2012 was 15.2 percent, while it was 15 percent in the Stockton area. At the state level, real gross product is expected to grow by 2.1 percent this year, followed by 3 percent in 2014, 3.2 percent in 2015, 2.8 percent in 2016 and 2.8 percent in 2017. Also, 275,000 new construction jobs are projected to be created across the state in the next four years. Single-family housing will grow from 40,000 units this year to 100,000 units in 2016.
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Comcast offering free access to WiFi through...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:18 pm by Business Journal staff
Comcast California announced starting today that its WiFi hotspots are free to use for anyone with an enabled device through July 4th. Normally, non-Comcast Internet subscribers must pay a fee to use the hotspots. There are hundreds of Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Fresno alone. Non-Xfinity Internet customers should search for the "xfinitywifi" network name and click on the "Not an Xfinity Internet customer" link on the right side of the login page. They should then select "Summer Promotion" from the drop down list.
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Reedley student advances to national biz...

Written on 05/24/2013, 11:51 am by Business Journal staff
The Valley's most competitive business plan competition wrapped up yesterday in Fresno with top honors going to Reedley High School senior Katie Olsen for her dreams of starting a wedding and event planning service. The announcement came after more than 1,000 students from 18 Central Valley high schools spent the last several months developing and pitching their business ideas as part of the "Dream It! Start It! Own It" business plan competition. Helped along by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) program offered by Fresno State's Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, five top qualifiers waited anxiously last night during a banquet at the Sunnyside Country Club in Fresno before judges declared the best among them that would advance to the national competition in New York City. Olsen won first place with her business plan for Hidden Hollow, a wedding and event planning business. Now, $10,000 in seed money to launch the business will be coming her way if she wins the NFTE National Business Plan Competition in October. AyeeJaee Rios, a senior from Carter G. Woodson Public Charter School in Fresno, earned second place for a business plan for Lost Souls Apparel, a customized clothing line. Third place went to Orlando Lopez, a junior at Roosevelt High School in Fresno for his business plan on Leticia's Mexican Food Catering. Students pitched their business ideas before a panel of eight judges, including Matt Damore, creative director for CBS 47, Juan Ortega, owner of Grilled Chz, Louie Avila, owner of Avison Construction Inc. and Michelle Asadoorian, board member for the Fresno Unified School District. Founded in 1987 by Steve Mariotti, NFTE has worked with nearly 450,000 youngsters from low-income communities, encouraging them stay in school and follow their aspirations of starting their own business ventures. More information about the event or NFTE can be found by contacting Casey Lamonski at clamonski@csufresno.edu or (559) 917-7971.
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Raisin committee to fill vacant position

Written on 05/24/2013, 11:40 am by Business Journal Staff
The Raisin Administrative Committee will hold a meeting at 4 p.m. June 7 at 2445 Capital St., Suite 200 in Fresno to receive nominations for a District 3 independent producer member. District 3 covers all of Fresno County. The nominated member would serve the remainder of a term that began May 1, 2012 and runs through April 30, 2014. Subsequent to the meeting, ballots will be sent to all independent producers to vote for the new member. Eligible nominees cannot be members of the Raisin Bargaining Association or Sun-Maid. They are also ineligible if they sold raisins for cash to Sun-Maid during 2010, 2011 or the current crop year. The Raisin Administrative committee offers the opportunity for all segments of the California Raisin Industry to be represented and invites qualified women, minorities and physically challenged candidates to attend district nomination meetings and request membership.
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Valley Business Bank declares dividend

Written on 05/23/2013, 1:58 pm by Business Journal staff
Valley Commerce Bancorp, parent company of Valley Business Bank in Visalia, announced a cash dividend of six cents per share. The dividend, payable to shareholders of record on June 7, will be distributed on or around June 28. With just more than 2.81 million shares outstanding, the dividend totals approximately $169,000. "We greatly appreciate our shareholders who were so supportive during the years when there was uncertainty in both the economy and the community banking industry," said Walter Dwelle, Valley Commerce Bancorp's board chairman, in a release. "It was truly gratifying to see the market price of our stock trend higher as a result of our strong, steady performance since the recession ended, a trend we will work tirelessly to maintain going forward." Valley Business Bank reported a net income of $743,000, or 26 cents per share, in the first quarter of the year compared to earnings of $859,000 or 27 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2012. Founded in 1996, Valley Business Bank has locations in Visalia, Fresno, Tulare, Tipton and Woodlake. Valley Commerce Bancorp trades on OTC Markets under the ticker symbol VCBP.
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Mayor scheduled for yogurt store opening

Written on 05/23/2013, 1:40 pm by Business Journal staff
Yogurt Etc. will cut the ribbon next to its downtown Fresno location next Thursday. The startup frozen yogurt store is located at 2311 Kern St., just north of the Fresno Convention Center. The ribbon cutting will begin at 10 a.m. It will offer dozens of flavor choices and toppings, along with vegan chili and all-beef Hebrew National hot dogs. Sugar-free and fat-free frozen yogurt options are also available. The owners of the new business are David Goldberg and Hector Parra. Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin and City Councilmember Blong Xiong are scheduled to be in attendance for the ceremony. 
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Latest State News

Damage reported from magnitude-5.7 quake in...

Written on 05/24/2013, 2:03 pm by Associated Press
(AP) — Residents in rural northeastern...
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Netflix looks to hook subscribers with...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:26 pm by Michael Liedtke, AP Writer
(AP) — Netflix is hoping this weekend's...
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Pandora posts in-line 1Q loss, upbeat sales...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:22 pm by Ryan Nakashima, AP Writer
(AP) — Internet radio company Pandora...
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Repairs begun on San Francisco-Oakland Bay...

Written on 05/24/2013, 12:32 pm by Associated Press
(AP) — Repairs have begun on the San...
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Latest National News

Stocks fade, post first weekly loss in a...

Written on 05/24/2013, 2:05 pm by Associated Press
(AP) — Stocks prices are closing mostly...
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Kid Rock, Rolling Stones on scalping, summer...

Written on 05/24/2013, 2:02 pm by MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer
(AP) — Kid Rock is a scalper. The...
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News Corp. OKs poison pill, buyback before...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:47 pm by RYAN NAKASHIMA, AP Business Writer
(AP) — News Corp. said its board of...
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Schumer urges look at security in Sprint...

Written on 05/24/2013, 1:40 pm by PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer
(AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer urged...
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