Welcome LBNL

GREAT NEWS FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND! We are excited to announce that that Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) has chosen the Richmond Field Station as their choice for expansion of the LBNL campus!

Congratulations to the City Staff, the City Council and to the community of residents, business, and industry that supported these efforts.

The selection of the City of Richmond by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a signal to all who demonstrated unity for the project that our community can work together to achieve a common goal that reflects a big tent with everyone having a role and a responsibility. The City will benefit in untold ways: not only with economic development for decades to come, but with a new prestige for the placement of a national asset in our midst.

The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is anxious to partner with everyone to create jobs and training opportunities for youth and adults that lead into careers at the new LBNL campus. Congratulations to all of us!

Here are some helpful links for more information:

The story on SF Gate
The story on KQED
The story on Mercury News/CC Times
Visit the Richmond Field Station website

Member Highlight: Omega Pacific Electrical Supply Inc.

Established in 1990, Omega Pacific Electrical Supply, Inc. is an Electrical and Lighting Distributor based in San Francisco, California with offices in both San Francisco and Richmond. The company was founded by Ivy Reid Lewis, an African-American Woman and Native Californian, and incorporated two (2) years later. The mission was to form an Electrical Wholesale Distribution Company, which focused on material and project management, with emphasis on supplying high quality and energy-efficient products, competitive prices and excellent customer service.

Representing well over 500 Manufacturers directly, the company distributes Lighting and Electrical Materials in the Bay Area and throughout California. Learn more about Omega Pacific by visiting www.omegapacific.com.

Last week at our annual Super Mixer, we were honored to have Todd Lewis, Principal at Omega Pacific Electrical Supply, Inc. as one of our local business exhibitors. Throughout this last year, Omega Pacific has been the proud recipient of two awards from the California Department of General Services for outstanding achievement. Most recently, LEDs Magazine featured the San Francisco International Airport Terminal Project on the cover of its September edition. Other projects include the GAP Headquarters, the St. Regis Towers, the Elihu Harris State Office Building, the Moscone Center West, San Francisco Muni Third Street Light Rail, the California Academy of Sciences Building, the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Richmond Parkway.

We are also looking forward to Omega Pacific hosting a Chamber Mixer sometime this year! You won’t want to miss that one!

As a good community partner and a local business that delivers quality lighting projects, it is most appropriate to recognize one of our local companies for their success and contribution to our community. Congratulations Omega Pacific.

Keep in mind – the Super Mixer takes place every year in January. Don’t miss another opportunity to advertise and network your business!

HELP STOP THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S ATTACK ON RICHMOND BUSINESS

What’s happened?

On January 17, the city of Richmond City Council will consider amendments to the General Plan update proposed by Planning Commission (see Resolution linked below).  The proposed amendments, provided by Oakland-based Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), were passed by Planning Commission on November 3, 2011 with no public notice, review or comment.  The proposed amendments, if adopted, are very harmful to economic development and jobs.

What’s the concern?

Richmond cannot afford to adopt public policy that stops or discourages new businesses and other enterprises from locating in Richmond, or encourages existing businesses to leave.  Most importantly, the lack of transparency for passage of the proposed amendments undermines a multi-year public review process for the General Plan. Read More »