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DCA Capital Partners to invest in Decipher
DCA Capital Partners, a Roseville-based private equity fund, has announced the closing of its equity capital investment into Decipher, Inc. of Fresno. Decipher is a leading provider of online marketing research services to corporations and full-service market research firms across the country. The company specializes in online survey programming, data collection, data processing/reporting and custom technology development.
“Decipher is a market leader in providing customized market research services to high-profile clients operating around the globe and has built a strong reputation for quality in this rapidly expanding market,” says Jeremy Wolfe, a Partner at DCA. “They are highly regarded by customers and competitors alike and continue to develop leading services and tools for the industry. We hope our investment and partnership with the company will accelerate that success.”
The proceeds of the financing will be used primarily to pursue additional growth opportunities as well as further expand the operations and development staff. “We are thrilled to partner with DCA in capitalizing on the exciting growth prospects we see ahead of us,” says Jamin Brazil, Co-CEO of Decipher Inc. “We could not be more energized by the attractive growth opportunities we’re seeing in the marketplace and believe this is the right time to raise institutional capital to capitalize on those opportunities,” says Decipher Co-CEO Jayme Plunkett.
Decipher Inc. was first introduced to DCA Capital Partners at the 2006 Central Valley Venture Forum in Fresno, hosted at the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where the company won the “Best in Show” competition.
“We work to support innovation in the Central Valley region and are excited to see private equity firms like DCA dedicated to investing in and supporting growing companies in Fresno,” says Timothy M. Stearns, director of the Lyles Center. DCA’s investment will be the first time Decipher has received outside equity financing.
The complete news release is available at www.decipherinc.com.
Central California SBDC to help local businesses get a share of Caltrans contracts
The Central California Small Business Development Center (CCSBDC) hosted by the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno, has been selected to assist local businesses bidding on Caltrans contracts totaling $20 billion.
The California Construction Contracting Program is a partnership among Caltrans, the California Community College’s Economic and Workforce Development Program and the Small Business Development Center program.
The center at Fresno State will help business owners get ready and qualify to bid on large and small Caltrans’ contracts, said Bryan Moe, director of the center.
The CCSBDC will provide counseling by experts in the transportation contracting and business management fields. Assistance is available in many areas, including cost estimating methodologies, cost proposals assistance, marketing to prime contractors, expectations from prime contractors, proposal development, accounting and cash flow management, business management, plans and marketing, quality assurance, business plan development and successful modification of business practices.
Since 1993, the Small Business Development Center has been serving the counties of Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare, with offices in Fresno and Visalia. The CCSBDC is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, University of California, Merced, and Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno.
For more information, call the center at (559) 625-3051 or (559) 230-4056, or visit www.ccsbdc.org.
CVBI looking for local professionals to share business fundamentals expertise
The Central Valley Business Incubator is looking for local professionals interested in presenting as part of its business fundamentals seminar series.
Seminar topics will cover CVBI’s eight keys for sustaining a successful business. Applications are being accepted for presentations about:
• Management/Leadership
• Operations
• Accounting/Bookkeeping
• Financing
• Marketing/Sales
• Inventory Control/Equipment Purchasing
• Human Resources
• Legal Aspects
Seminar details such as length and date are not fixed, but CVBI has identified the months that certain topics will be presented. Those interested are asked to submit an application with their qualifications, proposed topic area(s) and seminar content.
Applications, fee structure and additional information are available at www.cvbi.org. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Dec. 7.
Enterprise Zone incentives result in new jobs, new expansion
Betts Spring on Nov. 8 held a groundbreaking ceremony for its 130,000-square-foot plant on South Maple Avenue within the City of Fresno Enterprise Zone boundaries.
Betts Spring is keeping its manufacturing plant in Fresno, bringing its Corporate Headquarters from the Bay Area to Fresno and expanding its operation at the new South Maple Avenue location.
The City of Fresno Economic Development Department will continue to work closely with Betts Spring to shepherd this expansion until the doors open. The end result will be an initial capital investment of $10 million and the retention of 75 jobs, with the planned addition of 90 jobs and several hundred more to follow.
Representing the City at the groundbreaking were City Manager Andy Souza, Economic Development Director Scott Johnson and Assistant Economic Development Director Lynn Bowness.
Businesses within Enterprise Zone boundaries are eligible to take advantage of tax incentives and hiring credits. To learn more about the Enterprise Zone and Vouchering Process, plan to attend the December 11 workshop. Visit www.fresnoez.com for more information.
For more information about Betts Spring, please visit www.bettsspring.com. For more information about the City of Fresno EDD, please visit www.fresnoez.com or e-mail Economic.Development@fresno.gov.
Fresno businesses benefiting from the Municipal Restoration Zone
On Wednesday, October 31, exactly one year after launching the Municipal Restoration Zone (MRZ) program, the Economic Development Department along with Deputy Mayor Jeff Eben, presented four businesses with checks for their Municipal Restoration Zone benefits. In all, eight companies have received checks totaling more than $60,000. Another 10-12 businesses will be filing for payments within the coming months.
The MRZ allows new or qualified expanding businesses within the zone boundaries to obtain refunds of business license fees, reductions of building permit fees, and refunds of sales and/or property taxes, in addition to the initiatives already in place as part of the Federal Empowerment Zone and State Enterprise Zone. These incentives are designed to help motivate business development and expansion, and job creation in the City's urban core.
To learn more about Incentive Zones or to sign up to attend a workshop, please visit www.fresnoez.com or e-mail Economic.Development@fresno.gov.
Craig School faculty offers supervisory training
In today’s complex business environment, the role of the supervisor is increasingly important in ensuring results, managing resources, balancing budget issues, and inspiring and coaching others.
Experts from the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno, have designed a series of workshops for employees new to the role of supervisor, those needing a refresher, and others interested in refining their supervisory skills.
The program, Certificate Award in Supervisory Skills Training: Increasing Individual Effectiveness and Impacting Organizational Results, is a six-part series covering topics such as Delegation and Team Building, Employee Selection and Employment Law, Fairness in Management, Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution, Time Management, and the Role of Supervisor.
Offered through the university’s Division of Continuing and Global Education, the program takes place on six consecutive Fridays from 8 to 11 a.m., beginning February 15. Participants who attend all six courses will receive a Certificate in Supervisory Skills.
Cost of the program is $595 per person for all six courses with one optional academic unit available for an additional $60. Enrollment is for the entire series; registration for individual class sessions is not available. For registration details, contact the Division at (559) 278-0333 or e-mail cgeinfo@csufresno.edu.
Attention Manufacturing Companies: Interns now available
Careers in Manufacturing Technology (CIMT) is currently recruiting companies to participate in its internship program.
The partnership between local colleges and businesses has benefits to students and businesses alike. The program presents students with the chance to gain insight into the industry through practical application of skills, and it allows companies to promote manufacturing as a career.
Water, manufacturing, and food processing companies will host students from the Applied Technology programs at Fresno City College and Reedley College. Students will work 40 hours per week during the summer months, visit manufacturing plants to learn about potential work in the Valley, and participate in a summer Training Academy.
For more information, visit www.cimtinternships.org or contact CIMT Coordinator Laura Ramos at (559) 278-2066.
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City of Fresno to host San Joaquin Valley Housing Symposium
The City of Fresno will hold its first San Joaquin Valley Housing Symposium, a one-day event that will bring together housing professionals from across the Valley and state to discuss and exchange ideas about land use topics that are vital to the future of California’s new frontier.
The symposium will be on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Fresno Convention Center, 848 M Street.
The symposium will focus on sustainable growth strategies and include educational tracks on regionalism, compact development and affordable housing. Featured speakers will be Lynn Jacobs, director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and California author William Fulton, President and CEO of the Solimar Research Group.
The Symposium is presented by the City of Fresno in collaboration with the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, the Regional Blueprint Planning Process, and the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.
Registration information is available online at www.sjvhousing.com. Cost of registration is $50 per person. For more information, please visit the Web site or call Leslie Gacad, Symposium Coordinator, at (559) 621-8469.
A variety of sponsorship levels for the Symposium also are available. For more information, please contact Stephen Sotomayor, Project Manager, at (559) 621-8511 or visit www.sjvhousing.com.
Steve Geil: Collaboration a happy ‘unintended consequence’
The following is an excerpt from a commentary by Steve Geil, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County:
“I want to express my appreciation to the RJI for bringing collaboration from just a ‘buzz word’ to an action. The past few years in Fresno have been exciting due to the collaboration between most of the community organizations that previously acted in silos, the EDC being but one of them.
“The old saying, ‘No one is smarter than all of us,’ holds true and is evidenced by the tremendous progress we have made as a community these past four years. Did we meet all of our projected goals or objectives? No. But we found something along the way: the unexpected consequence of merging alleged divergent organizations into a focused force, committed to raising the quality of life of Fresno County and the region.
“This does not mean we all agree with the answers to our challenges. It means we agree to use our power as a united force to tackle them. It means we agree to disagree at times with respect for, and consideration of, someone other than ourselves having the preferable solution.
“Now more than ever in the 30 years I have lived in Fresno County, I am witnessing our region come together to guide our future through collaboration. Whether it is the ’One Voice’ trips to Washington DC and Sacramento, or attending City Council and Board of Supervisor meetings to support important community issues, Fresno County is evolving through the collaboration of many.
“But then again, maybe this was the intended consequence after all.”
Mexicana Airlines resumes daily service for busy winter season
Mexicana Airlines will once again increase flight frequency from five flights per week to daily service to accommodate the busy winter travel season. The convenience of daily service from Fresno to Guadalajara, Mexico, will provide business and leisure travelers with increased seat capacity for 60 days. Daily operations began on Dec. 1 and will continue through Jan. 31, 2008.
Since international service began in March 2006, more than 73,000 people have flown Mexicana through Fresno Yosemite International Airport. During that time, Mexicana has upgraded the aircraft from the inaugural 100-seat Airbus 318 to the 120-seat Airbus 319 and to the currently operated 150-seat Airbus 320.
Nine carriers currently offer Valley passengers 53 daily departures from Fresno.
More information on Fresno Yosemite International Airport is available at www.flyfresno.com.
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