Chronicle Food Critic raves about oakland

"Oakland is on fire,” says San Francisco Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer in his May 8th blog. “In the last year or so the city has come into its own as a dining destination.” Bauer’s favorite new spots include Flora, Miss Pearl’s Jam House, Marzano, Camino, Barlata, Adesso, Ozumo, Pican and Sidebar. Source: sfgate.com

Town Hall of Oakland Coming Soon

San Francisco small business commissioner Michael O’Connor plans to open five new businesses in the Uptown building he’s dubbed Town Hall of Oakland. The planned live music venue, 120-seat restaurant, two clothing stores and coffee shop/art gallery will be open day and night to boost this rapidly revitalizing area. Source: San Francisco Business Times

Lake chalet Opens in August

The historic Lake Merritt Municipal Boathouse will soon house the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill restaurant, giving diners a chance to appreciate the long dormant lakeside location and bringing investment and jobs to Oakland. The original 1909 design has been updated to achieve the prestigious LEED Silver certification. Source: CIRE Magazine

New $156 Million building opens

Kaiser Permanente opened its $156 million medical office building at 3701 Broadway in Oakland in May, housing 50 physicians, a cancer center, a regional pediatric rehabilitation center and specialty services. Source: San Francisco Business Times

federal building to be renovated

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has designated $8 million to renovate the Oakland Federal Building. Funds are intended to convert federal buildings into higher performing green buildings. Source: cbs5.com

Port gets $9.7 million for oak improvements

The Port of Oakland received $9.7 million for improvements to the Oakland Airport and sees growth ahead for shipping. “With the Port of Oakland’s already completed maritime improvements combined with the Oakland Harbor Deepening Project and plans for new rail access at the Port, we will be able to grow our cargo business,” said the Port’s Maritime Director, James Kwon.

Kema Expands in oakland

Kema, a fast-growing utility and energy technical consulting firm in the “smart grid” and energy efficiency sector has consolidated and expanded its offices at 155 Grand Avenue. The company is hiring and expects to house 150 employees in the new offices by year’s end. Source: istockanalyst.com

Blue bottle moves to oakland

The Blue Bottle Coffee Co., which offers small-batch, organic coffees, is shifting business operations from Emeryville to a warehouse at 300 Webster Street in Jack London Square, where they’ll house a roasting facility and retail coffee bar. Source: sfgate.com

legacy shipping renews lease

Legacy Shipping Inc. signed a lease renewal for 34,755 square feet of industrial space in the Coliseum Business Park from Coliseum Enterprise LLC. Source: California Real Estate Journal’s Daily Deals

Oakland ranked 16th in innovation

Oakland was ranked 16th in innovation by the Milken Institute when compared with 393 metropolitan areas in the U.S. and Canada. Oakland got special kudos for concentrations in biotech and software.

pandora announces new funding

Popular Internet radio service Pandora confirmed it will receive millions of dollars in new funding in the wake of clinching a deal on music royalty rates. Greylock Partners is investing a reported $35 million in Oakland-based Pandora. Source: AFP

OAKLAND NOTIFIED OF GRANT AWARDS

The City of Oakland has been informed of three exciting grant awards.

	•	The State Water Board has given a $4.5 million rain & storm water grant
	•	The East Bay Green Corridor Partnership received about $1 million from the State Green Jobs grant, which included half of the funds for the Oakland Green Jobs Corp
	•	Oakland has received a $19.747 million COPS grant -- the largest COPS grant award in the entire nation.

These award announcements bring the total of commited funds to date to $55.147 million; the 31 City applications submitted totalled $166.77 million in funding requests.

OAKLAND IN THE NEWS

	•	Oakland was featured in a New York Times article about urban homesteading. Click here to read the entire story that appeared in the July 5, 2009 New York Times Magazine.
	•	July 2009's issue of Fortune Magazine proclaimed, "This west coast port city has way more to offer than its reputation suggests." Click here to read the article entitled "Oakland: The other city by the bay."
	•	Oakland was named 4th Most Sustainable City by National Resources Defense Council.

Update on jobs and business tax incentives

Oakland City Council directed City staff to bring the Jobs and Business Tax Incentives Program to Council in September.

Master developer selected for

former Oakland army base

At its July 28th meeting, the Oakland City Council voted to enter into a 360-day negotiating period with the AMB/CCG development team on its plans for the 135 acres on the former Oakland Army Base. AMB/CCG presented a plan for logistics and industrial uses to support the Port of Oakland. The AMB/CCG team is also in exclusive negotiations with the Port of Oakland to develop the port's 168-acre portion of the former base.