Mike Cox founded Anaerobe Systems in 1978. The company produces the world’s only true pre-reduced anaerobically sterilized (PRAS) culture media; sterilized, poured, and packaged under strict anaerobic conditions (never exposed to oxygen). The process and machinery have been custom designed by Mike and Steve, and follow a meticulous oxygen-free process resulting in the culture media having a 3-month to 3-year shelf life without requiring refrigeration. Mike also invented and patented the first gloveless anaerobic chamber over 40 years ago and is the recipient of the Anaerobe Society of Americans Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mike has been repurposing organic byproduct from growers in the Salinas, Watsonville and Gilroy areas for years now. He developed a patented method to fully recycle tomato, cabbage and water hyacinth byproduct into a solution that is reintroduced back into the soil growing the next series of plants two times as fast and as large. The fertilizer not only has the ability to be a game changer for farmers to comply with AG Order 4.0 regulations, but could also play a significant role in organic recycling and greenhouse gas reduction worldwide.
Anaerobe Systems is underway with expansion plans here in Morgan Hill. Visit the company’s website HERE to learn more!
Have questions? Contact City of Morgan Hill Economic Development Director Matt Mahood at Matt.Mahood@morganhill.ca.gov
Since 1995, Joint Venture Silicon Valley has published the Silicon Valley Index, a nationally recognized publication that tells the story of Silicon Valley. The Index indicators measure the strength of our economy and the health of our community, highlighting challenges and providing a data-rich foundation for decision making.
The State of the Valley is an old-fashioned “town hall” meeting. This year’s State of the Valley was held at Stanford University and included a briefing of the Index by Russell Hancock, a panel discussion with Michele Lew from The Health Trust and Jim Wunderman from Bay Area Council, and a keynote presentation from the Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson. Performances by the Stanford Taiko, Stanford Talisman and a poetry reading by Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Tshaka Campbell, highlighted the spirit of togetherness.
We hope you are off to a positive start to 2022. In this eNewsletter, you will find information about key efforts that impact our business community, including:
-Quarterly Sales Tax Update,
-Housing Element Plan,
-Industrial Preservation & Optimization Policy Town Hall,
-Downtown Lane Reduction and Place-Branding Update, and
-Business Resources.
Read the January 2022 eNewsletter HERE and reach out to the team if you have any questions or want to connect with us. We look forward to working with you in 2022 and thank you for continuing to "Choose Morgan Hill."
The January 19, 2022, City Council decision approves the Monterey Road Downtown Lane Reduction implementation. After months of community meetings and gathering feedback, City staff brought forward recommendations for the Downtown Lane Reduction Design, a Traffic Mitigation Plan, and a Project Implementation Schedule. A synopsis of the meeting actions and next steps can be found below. To read the complete staff report and project overview, please visit the project's website page.
What happened?
On May 19, 2021, the City Council voted on and approved moving forward with the Monterey Road Downtown Lane Reduction. Therefore, the decisions made during the January 19, 2022, City Council meeting were related to project implementation, design, and timeline. After much discussion, deliberation, and community input, the City Council voted 3 – 2, accepting all seven recommendations outlined in the staff report:
· Approved the proposed Traffic Mitigation Plan Implementation Schedule to support the Monterey Road Lane Reduction Program;
· Approved the re-design of traffic lanes for Monterey Road from Dunne Avenue to Main Avenue to be implemented as approved in the Implementation Schedule;
· Directed staff to install pedestrian safety bollards at pedestrian crossings on Monterey Road and First, Second, and Fourth Streets;
· Directed staff to bring forward a review of the Parklet Program and develop a Parklet Fee Financing Assistance Program;
· Directed staff to explore the creation of a community parklet that incorporates an interactive art installation;
· Directed staff to bring forward a consulting contract to implement a Property-Based Improvement District (PBID); and
· Adopted a resolution to amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Budget and appropriate $210,530 from the General Fund.
What's next?
Beginning in February, staff will begin collecting current traffic counts on Butterfield Blvd and Downtown Monterey Rd. Traffic mitigation plans, which include the installation of 13 new signal controllers to synchronize the flow of traffic on Butterfield Blvd and three electronic signs to communicate the new traffic pattern, will be implemented in early Spring 2022. Updated traffic counts will be collected again three months after implementing the Traffic Mitigation Plan. City Council will review the data and choose one of the following actions:
· Implement the Downtown Lane Reduction without further delay, or
· Delay the Downtown Lane Reduction until the Hale Avenue Extension is completed (estimated late 2023)
What about the initiative petition?
In June 2021, an initiative petition titled "Citizens’ Initiative amending the General Plan to require voter approval of any future Monterey Road Lane Reduction" was submitted to the City. Following the signature-gathering process, the completed Initiative signature packet was submitted to the City Clerk on December 21, 2021. On Thursday, January 20, 2022, the Registrar of Voters Office notified the City Clerk that the results of the random sampling signature verification process fell between 95 – 110% requiring a full count of the signatures submitted until the minimum number of signatures needed is verified. The Registrar of Voters has an additional 30 business days to verify the initiative packet and signatures. If the initiative packet and signatures are verified, then the Initiative will be brought before City Council for certification and one of the following actions:
Order a report pursuant to Section 9212 at the regular meeting at which the certification of the initiative is presented. When the report is presented to the legislative body, the legislative body shall either adopt the ordinance within 10 days or order an election pursuant to subdivision (b).
· Adopt the Initiative as written, reversing the prior decision to support the Downtown Lane Reduction
· Place the Initiative on the November 2022 ballot (estimated City cost $50K-$80K)
Note: If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, the Initiative would prohibit any future Downtown Lane Reduction actions without a voter majority. If approved, the Initiative would not be applied retroactively to any lane reduction actions that had already taken place prior to voter approval.
Have questions? Contact City of Morgan Hill Economic Development Director Matt Mahood at Matt.Mahood@morganhill.ca.gov
We hope you are enjoying the season and looking forward to a prosperous New Year. As we close 2021, we wanted to express our gratitude for your contributions to make Morgan Hill a beautiful, vibrant, and healthy community, much of which is attributed to the passion, commitment, and resiliency of our local businesses.
In this eNewsletter, you will find information about key efforts that impact our business community, including:
· Buy Local Campaign,
· Updated Development Fee Study,
· Downtown Lane Reduction and Place-Branding Project,
· Industrial Lands Preservation Efforts,
· Climate Action Plan, and
· Business Resources
Read the December 2021 eNewsletter HERE and please feel free to reach out to the team if you have any questions or want to connect. We wish you happy and safe holidays and thank you for continuing to "Choose Morgan Hill."
Have questions? Contact City of Morgan Hill Economic Development Director Matt Mahood at Matt.Mahood@morganhill.ca.gov
Morgan Hill based company Paramit Manufacturing, a leading OEM developer and manufacturer of medical devices and life sciences instruments, was acquired by the TECAN Group earlier this year. The TECAN Group plans to not only retain the business in Morgan Hill but expand the existing footprint and workforce. Under their growth projections, Paramit will become one of the top 2 largest employers in Morgan Hill.
TECAN is a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics and clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development, production and distribution of automation solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments, forensic and diagnostic laboratories. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Tecan is also a leader in developing and manufacturing OEM instruments and components that are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both Europe and North America and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries.
Have questions? Contact City of Morgan Hill Economic Development Director Matt Mahood at Matt.Mahood@morganhill.ca.gov
