IN THIS ISSUE...

Frontier Communications Acquires Verizon Wireline Operations, Announces 100 Percent U.S. Workforce

Elk Grove-based Frontier Communications Corporation tripled in size after the recent acquisition of Verizon wireline operations and other assets in 14 states.

High School Students Prepare for Real Life High-Tech Careers through 'Green' Academies

Elk Grove high school students have outstanding opportunities to explore real life high-tech careers through a number of "green" academy programs offered by the Elk Grove Unified School District.

News From the EGEDC

· Report: Elk Grove is Fastest Growing City in Sacramento County
· Worldwide Home Builder Franchise Opens in Elk Grove
· Kaiser Permanente Opens New Helipad at Elk Grove Area Facility

Property Spotlight: Elk Grove Brokers Offer Affordable, First-Class Office Space

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Frontier Communications Acquires Verizon Wireline Operations, Announces 100 Percent U.S. Workforce
Elk Grove-based Frontier Communications Corporation tripled in size after the recent acquisition of Verizon wireline operations and other assets in 14 states. The combined operations provide voice, High-Speed Internet, wireless Internet data access, satellite video, FiOS and other services to more than 4 million residential and business customers in 27 states using the Frontier Communications brand. This transaction makes Frontier the largest pure rural telecommunications carrier in the United States. The Elk Grove facilities also house the laboratory for the creation of new equipment and services.

As the acquisition caused Frontier to triple in size, the company assured the City of Elk Grove that the their regional headquarters will continue operations here as the company continues to expand.

"Frontier Communications completed a transformation transaction in 2010 that tripled the size of our business, propelling us into the Fortune 500. The West Region also tripled in size as we acquired new customers in suburban Oregon, Washington and Idaho," said Denise Baumbach, president. "When faced with the decision of moving our regional headquarters to a new, larger market we chose to maintain our operations here in Elk Grove due to the technically savvy workforce we have and Frontier's investment in our emerging and new technology lab here."

Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Communications, stated in a press release: "Frontier continually defines its success in terms of customer and employee satisfaction, and it's obvious they care deeply about the communities they serve. Under the leadership of Maggie Wilderotter (Frontier Communications chairman and chief executive officer) and her senior team, Frontier is the right partner for these markets. Customers will continue to be served by some of the best employees in the industry."

Frontier is also committed to a 100 percent U.S.-based workforce and has brought back 500 jobs from India as part of the acquisition with Verizon.

"In addition to voice customer service, our broadband Internet help desk jobs will continue to be staffed by a 100 percent U.S.-based workforce.  This will include the creation of 500 new U.S.-based jobs replacing work that Verizon sent overseas," Maggie Wilderotter, Frontier's Chairman and CEO announced in a press release.

Last year, Frontier completed a $1.3 million project to upgrade its data network to a state-of-the-art Internet protocol based network that meets the increasing needs of High-Speed Internet users throughout the Elk Grove area. The project added new equipment that eliminates slow-speeds during peak traffic times and adds capacity due to the growing demand for bandwidth in Elk Grove.

Frontier Communications is one of the largest employers in Elk Grove as well as ALLDATA LLC, the leading provider of manufacturers' repair information for the automotive service industry. Apple Inc. is the largest high-tech employer with nearly 2,000 employees and is Elk Grove's third highest employer overall.

Elk Grove's distance from the Bay Area's major earthquake fault lines make this city one of the most attractive places to locate high-tech business in the northern California region. Lower operating and real estate costs, a more affordable superior quality of life for business owners and employee families, easy access to interstate highways, transcontinental rail, an international passenger and freight airport, cargo port, and a fiber-rich telecommunications infrastructure, and the City's aggressive economic development incentive program makes the decision to locate a high-tech business in Elk Grove an easy one.

Elk Grove also continues to generate a large, diverse pool of highly skilled workers with most graduates awarded degrees in business, management, marketing, engineering, legal, and computer and information sciences. Higher education opportunities are abundant in the Elk Grove region with enrollment and degree awards nearly matching or surpassing levels seen in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley markets. Higher education facilities in the region include California State University, Sacramento, University of California, Davis, Cosumnes River College and more than a dozen private universities, colleges and vocational schools.

In continued support of the development of Elk Grove's expanding technology community, the Elk Grove Economic Development Corporation also recently formed a partnership with the Elk Grove Technical Discussion Group to facilitate interactions among those in the scientific, engineering and medical technology fields. Founder Steve Barnett is one of more than 2,600 entrepreneurs (many of them in the technology field) working from a home-based business in Elk Grove.

For more information on expanding high-tech business to the Elk Grove area, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895 or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org.

 

High School Students Prepare for Real Life High-Tech Careers through "Green" Academies

While universities, private colleges and other higher education facilities in the area continue to nurture and grow Elk Grove's highly skilled and talented work force, Elk Grove high school students have outstanding opportunities to explore real life high-tech careers through a number of "green" academy programs offered by the Elk Grove Unified School District.

EGUSD was one of the first districts in California to create career academy programs with a "green" mission. Through these programs, students can explore architectural design and urban planning, renewable sources of energy through engineering, solar and wind energy, bio-fuels, electric vehicle conversions and work as interns in local businesses. Students develop deep understanding of ecological and environmental issues through these programs, real-life skills for the work place, and even college credit. Some academy programs even produce products that help impoverished villages around the globe. The EGUSD currently supports four "green "academies:

The Architectural Design and Urban Planning Pathway (AD-UP) Career Academy, Cosumnes Oaks High School
The AD-UP Career Academy focuses on "green" architecture, engineering, and construction, using an integrated approach to the "Design and Build" philosophy used in today's building industry. Students design and produce solar suitcases that help power medical clinics in impoverished villages around the world. The solar suitcases plug into a large solar cell to offer immediate power to charge a 12-volt battery and include charging stations for police radios and electrical outlets for lights or medical equipment. The devices are used in birthing clinics, eliminating the necessity of using flashlights during a C-section during power outages. Academy team members are also planning a "Green Certified" home to be built on the COHS campus that will become a learning tool and field trip destination for students to study a fully sustainable and "green" home of the future. Plans for the home includes solar power options, wind power, geo thermal heating and cooling, green building products, environmentally friendly landscaping and appliances, reusable water, and many other environmentally friendly options.

Green Renewable Energy Engineering (GREEN) Career Academy, Franklin High School
The GREEN Career Academy allows students to explore renewable sources of energy through engineering and core academic courses, and encourages academic achievement and environmental awareness while developing an understanding of ecological issues. Students gain knowledge from local engineering and environmental firms through guest speakers, site visits, and community service experiences, and are required to provide a performance-based project on a renewable source of energy or ecological issue. Coursework provides students with opportunities to prepare for post-secondary course work at a college or university or for advanced learning. Throughout the three-year program, students participate in mentorship and internship programs with local businesses.

Green Energy Technology Career Academy (GETA), Laguna Creek High School
The GETA Career Academy allows students to study the technology of renewable energy. Upon graduation, GETA students will have the opportunity to be certified with one or more green energy certifications through Cosumnes River College, and some will have earned college credit through a Green Energy ACE curriculum developed in conjunction with California State University, Sacramento. Students study solar and wind energy, bio-fuels and electric vehicle conversions, and explore green energy careers, listen to speakers, participate in field trips, and develop the skills and character needed to work effectively in today's job market. Seniors have a opportunity to become interns with partnering companies and earn credits at CSU Sacramento, conduct independent research with sponsoring organizations, and/or become certified in one of the many green energy certification programs available to them through local companies, junior colleges and four-year institutions. All students will be prepared to enter the labor force upon graduation or continue their studies in a post-graduate institution with the intent that they remain in the energy sector.

Computer Aided Drafting/Design and Digital Communications (CADD/COMM) Career Academy, Pleasant Grove High School
The CADD/COMM Career Academy is a "green" program with two academic pathways: Computer Aided Drafting/Design and Digital Communications. CADD students learn the fundamentals of both architectural and mechanical CADD, experience a hands-on engineering lab and create 3D models. Communication students explore digital animation, video production, broadcasting, live video productions, 3D interactive games and academic and school-wide service projects. Each year the academy focuses on an essential question relating to a "green" issue. Guest speakers and field trips are planned to give students knowledge and resources when formulating answers. Throughout their four years in the academy, students also learn current workplace skills they can then apply to a wide range of future jobs.

"EGUSD continues to develop and implement rigorous career technical education academies as part of our educational system," said Superintendent Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D. "Career technical education academies are not an either/or question, but a value added characteristic for our students. Public education, working collaboratively with our business community, is an important economic driver."

For more information on these "green" education programs, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895.



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News from the EGEDC

Report Shows Elk Grove is Fastest Growing City in Sacramento County

The Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization's current Sacramento Regional Report shows an 18.1% increase in Elk Grove's population since 2005, making Elk Grove the fastest growing city in Sacramento county. The city of Sacramento showed a population increase of only 7.2%, while Sacramento county showed an increase of 5.6% overall.

Worldwide Home Builder Franchise Opens in Elk Grove

Custom homebuilder, G.J. Gardner Homes, opened a new franchise in Elk Grove this month. The company offers tract home alternatives and competitive pricing with other custom builders, while sill offering several floor plans, design aspects and custom materials. Dennis Hendricks owns the new franchise office.

Kaiser Permanente Opens New Helipad at Elk Grove Area Facility

Kaiser Permanente opened a new helipad this month at its Elk Grove area medical center. Five to 10 air ambulance landings per month are expected. The facility was designated as a Level II trauma center in 2009.

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Property Spotlight: Elk Grove Brokers Offer Affordable, First-Class Office Space   

Local property brokers know that tenants locating to Elk Grove not only enjoy a more affordable way of doing business than in other metropolitan areas, they also have a superb advantage of being easily accessible from Highway 99 and Interstate 5-both north/south freeways that run through Sacramento and the Central Valley of California. For more information on the following brokers and their samples of available properties in Elk Grove, please contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895. 

 

Steve Griffin, Senior Vice President Investment Service Group

Grubb & Ellis Company, Sacramento office

Grubb & Ellis is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment firms in the world, and one of the major commercial real estate companies in Elk Grove. Steve Griffin consistently serves as top investment agent and top producer, specializing in the selling of office, retail and industrial real estate, and national tenant representation of Fortune 500 companies. Griffin has also been nominated several times as Broker of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year for Association of Commercial Real Estate (ACRE). He has earned numerous awards including the Circle of Excellence Award, Most Sales in a Year, Largest Sale in a Year, Top Producer, Broker of the Year, and President's Council Member.

Laguna East Business Park
9370 Studio Court, Elk Grove
Grubb & Ellis Company

Property Features:

• Three available suites: 1,293sf; 2,091sf and 3,352sf
• Lease rate: $1.85psf/full service gross
• Located next to Elk Grove City Hall
• Easy access to Hwy 99 via Laguna Blvd. or Elk Grove Blvd.

Lisa Stanley, Vice President

CB Richard Ellis

CB Richard Ellis is the largest commercial real estate company in the world, and operates five offices in the Sacramento region with a large presence in Elk Grove. The company has 123 producers and more than 235 employees making it one of the largest real estate services firm in the area. Lisa Stanley specializes in the sale and leasing of office property in the Greater Sacramento area and Northern California. Stanley advises an array of companies from small business owners to international firms with respect to lease negotiations, relocations, expansions, consolidations, subleases, building acquisitions and dispositions. Some of Stanley's notable client relationships include: US Bank, Northrop Grumman, Wells Fargo, American Diabetes Association and Comerica, and she has completed more than 350 lease and sale transactions throughout her career.

Laguna West Business Center
2208, 2212 & 2218 Kausen Road, Elk Grove
CB Richard Ellis
Property Features:

• Attractive Class A professional business park campus
• Comfortable & professional business-class environment
• Unsurpassed surface street and freeway accessibility
• Close proximity to local area retail amenities and residential housing
• Located in one of the more dynamic growth areas of the Greater Sacramento Region

Zack Cheney, Vice President

PDF Commercial, Inc.

Ranked as one of the top commercial real estate development firms in the region for more than 20 years, PDF Commercial concentrates its efforts on small to midsize retail and office projects in six western states, creating high quality projects that contribute to both the client and the community. PDF properties feature attractive, well-designed structures and artistic amenities. As the Vice President for PDF Commercial, Zack Cheney specializes in selling and leasing office, retail, industrial, and investment properties in the Greater Sacramento region and Northern California. His experience stems from numerous assignments in marketing commercial properties and land, as well as consulting on commercial REO and short sale properties for both lenders and sellers alike. Over the course of his career, Cheney has successfully represented national, regional, and local buyers, sellers, and tenants in a shifting and dynamic commercial real estate market.

Elk Grove Corporate Center
9355 E. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove
PDF Commercial
Property Features:

• $1.95psf full service office/medical use
• +/- 2,187rsf to 15,020rsf available
• Two story, +/-56,000sf Class A Building constructed in 2005
• Impressive reception area
• Fronts Hwy. 99
• 20 minutes from downtown Sacramento with easy freeway access
• Between Bond/Laguna Blvd. and Elk Grove Blvd., two of Elk Grove's main business districts
• Hotels, restaurants, banking and other retail services located within one mile of Center
• Upgraded interior finishes throughout the common areas with an outdoor seating area
• Security: after hours electronic key fob entry system
• Parking ration: 4.5/1000
• Zoning: BP per city of Elk Grove

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