By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani will take his show to the Economic Development Board Wednesday, explaining to members the progress of the Business Resource Incentive Program.

The program, through which Industrial Park businesses can receive a free analysis of their energy and water use, as well as opportunities for low- to no-interest funding to support renewable energy generation, water efficiency, solid waste and recycling, and other business practices, was approved by the City Council in April 2012.

The total funding for BRIP is $625,000, which comes from the Valero-Good Neighbor Steering Committee Agreement Settlement. “Of that total $100,000 is to be used for BRIP Assessments and Program Development and the remaining $525,000 is for program implementation,” wrote Karen Majors, contract staff for the city Economic Development Division.

Giuliani will tell the EDB that companies that have taken advantage of the BRIP and have completed their projects are Dunlop Manufacturing, All Points Petroleum, Suba Manufacturing and Alfred Conhagen Inc. He will add that BRIP assessments have been completed and improvement plans are being finalized for Signal Solutions, Sepcialty AC Products Inc. and R3Builders.

Meanwhile, Giuliani will say, assessments are under way for Gibbs Plastic and Rubber, Conco, Schoenstein and Company, Bebe Distribution, Cytosport and Swan and Associates.

“The BRIP is gaining momentum with the assistance of PG&E,” wrote Karen Majors, contract staff for the city Economic Development Division, in a report to the EDB.

PG&E staff have identified the top 50 energy users in the Benicia Industrial Park, and have contacted those businesses with information on the BRIP and requested business visits, Majors wrote.

“PG&E staff accompany city staff of these business visits,” she wrote. “This is a successful partnership. Additional business visits are planned for the coming months.”

She added that BRIP has already received awards and recognition. “The city’s BRIP received the coveted and prestigious International Economic Development Council (IEDC) ‘Excellence in Economic Development’ award in September 2012, and more recently the CALED Award of Merit in the Programs category in April 2013.

In other business Wednesday, the board will review a PowerPoint presentation that outlines recent economic accomplishments from the last two fiscal years. It also will review goals for the next two fiscal years and review the proposed Economic Development Division budget.

New Benicia businesses, or businesses that have moved or made any changes to their business name, will be acknowledged in a presentation. The businesses are: Simply Gorgeous; All Points Manufacturing; Johns Auto and Truck Repair and Bay Valve Service & Engineering.

If You Go
The Economic Development Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Commission Room at City Hall, 250 East L St.

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