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CIDFAC News

CIDFAC Project Wins Green Certification - April 18, 2008

The California Industrial Development Finance Advisory Commission (CIDFAC), which is chaired by State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, in April 2007 unanimously approved the issuance of Industrial Development Bond (IDB) financing for Contessa Premium Foods, Inc. Proceeds of the bonds were used for the purchase of food processing equipment for Contessa’s facility in the City of Commerce, which is the world’s first environmentally conscious, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified frozen-food manufacturing plant. The Contessa facility is certified by the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED New Construction (NC) green building rating system and achieved the Gold-level certification. Contessa’s “Green Cuisine Plant” uses advanced design, technology and processes to reduce environmental pollutants and thereby reduces the company’s environmental impact. Some of these innovative features at the Green Cuisine Plant include:

  • A solar-power array that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 730,000 pounds each year, producing an effect similar to conserving nearly 300 acres of pine forest.
  • A water preheating system that saves energy by using waste heat from refrigeration compressors to preheat water used for sanitation purposes.
  • An innovative loading dock that prevents the loss of refrigerated air, reducing temperature fluctuation — and energy use — in the loading dock area.
  • Variable frequency drives that adjust the amount of power supplied to motors at specific times or under specific conditions to minimize energy use.

The innovative technology used by Contessa’s Green Cuisine Plant has been featured on CBS News Sunday Morning in a segment titled “The Next Hot Invention”.

For more information, please see Contessa’s web site.

Community Fuels will get tax-exempt funding to develop a biodiesel facility at the Port of Stockton from the California Industrial Development Financing Advisory Commission (CIDFAC). - August 28, 2007

“Any step we can take now to fight climate change and reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum is a step in the right direction,” said Treasurer Lockyer. “With this project, Community Fuels will benefit our environment, create jobs and boost the local economy, and offer a product increasingly in demand.”

CIDFAC Approves $25.8 Million to Finance Expansion of Three Food Firms; Projects Create or Retain 662 Jobs – July 24, 2007

CIDFAC approved $25.8 million in tax-exempt financing, under its core industrial development bond (IDB) program, to help three California food companies expand their operations. Combined, the businesses expect to use the funds to create 220 new jobs and retain another 442. The approved projects include:

Cantare Foods, Inc. - $10 million to help the company build and equip a new manufacturing facility in Otey Mesa (San Diego County), and conduct distribution and manufacturing operations at its current facility in Baldwin Park (Los Angeles County). Cantare plans to retain 102 current employees and, within two years, hire an additional 89 to work at the Otey Mesa facility.

Cantare makes baked brie, Italian cheeses, salsas, marinated salads and other products. Its customers include major grocery chains such as Vons, Ralphs, Safeway, Albertsons, Trader Joe’s and Costco.

Le Pafe, Inc. - $7.3 million to improve a second, 45,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in the bakery’s hometown of Montebello (Los Angeles County), and to buy and install new equipment at both the new and existing facilities. Le Pafe will retain its current workforce of 220 employees, and plans to hire an additional 110 workers within two years of the project’s completion.

Le Pafe is a wholesale producer of baked and frozen desserts and breads, including croissants, muffins, bagels, scones and cookies. The company supplies retail stores, hotels, entertainment venues and restaurants. Customers include Whole Foods Markets, Denny’s Restaurants, 7-11 Stores and Hilton Hotels.

Semper Virens Bakery Food Cooperative (Alvarado Street Bakery) - $8.5 million to help the Rohnert Park-based bakery acquire, renovate and equip a new, 68,800 square-foot production facility in Petaluma (Sonoma County). The company will retain 120 current workers and hire an additional 21 within two years of the project’s completion.

Semper Virens makes and distributes organic, whole grain breads, bagels, rolls, tortillas and other products. Its customers include Raleys, Safeway, Costco and Whole Foods Markets.

Note: After CIDFAC approves projects under its core IDB program, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) must approve the actual allocation of the tax-exempt financing. Bonds for CIDFAC-approved projects cannot be issued without an allocation from CDLAC.