Outstanding Business Honoree

PORTER STREET BBQ

Selected for the company's continued commitment to providing delicious food with outstanding service and for their recent investments in acquiring another well respected restaurant in the community, Porter Street BBQ has been named a City of Porterville Outstanding Business.

Theo Tobie, an Oklahoma native, found his way to Porterville when he was recruited to play football for Porterville College. After meeting his wife, Jenifer, at PC and becoming involved in the community, he decided to make Porterville his home. Theo always had a dream of running his own business, so in 2001 he jumped on the opportunity to purchase the popular Porter Street BBQ and the rest is history.

Since the beginning of their management, Porter Street BBQ has always been a family business. Theo's parents relocated to Porterville to assist at the Porter Street location and all of the Tobie children have gained invaluable experience working for the business. Porter Street has always been well known for the food cooked over an outdoor wood fire which produces a smoke aroma that attracts residents and visitors far and wide to the strategically located eatery on Henderson Avenue and Porter Road.

After running the business for ten successful years, Theo was looking to expand his business to an indoor restaurant. While having dinner at Randy's Restaurant on Olive Avenue with his brother- and sister-in-law, Jeff and Judie Bochat, Theo was provided with yet another opportunity to purchase a well-established restaurant. The Bochats became partners with the Tobies to invest in Porter Street, keeping Randy's successful menu of pasta and steaks but adding the popular Porter Street BBQ items.

With the acquisition of Randy's and the opening of Porter Street 2, it was extremely important to the partners to be able to offer the employee's at Randy's the opportunity to remain on as staff. The partners are very proud of the fact that they have been able to increase their staff from four to fourteen employees, providing jobs in a difficult economic environment.

Investing their time and resources in the community in which they live and work, the partners at Porter Street BBQ believe strongly in supporting activities for the youth and thereby improving the quality of life of the entire community. The business helps with fundraisers to assist a variety of organizations including hosting drive-through dinners for local schools.

Congratulations to Porter Street BBQ for being recognized as a Porterville Outstanding Business.

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Outstanding Business Honoree

HOOPS PRESCHOOL

While working as the Leisure Services Coordinator for the Porterville Parks and Leisure Services Department, Nathan Wobrock had a vision of opening a preschool that placed an emphasis on the social skills of children as well as the needed academic skills to make them successful in kindergarten and beyond. Wobrock, who describes himself as a "big kid," researched preschools in northern and southern California to develop a business plan to make Hoops Preschool unique.

Working with a local draftsman, the unique design of the Hoops building took three months to develop. Bright colors, geometric shaped windows and front facade, are only a few design components that make the preschool distinctive. Construction of the 7,500 square foot facility was approximately $1.2 million, a figure that surprised Wobrock. But rather than cutting back on the facility, Wobrock was able to secure a Small Business Administration loan and capital from an "angel investor" to build his dream. Wobrock is pleased to state that from design to construction, all work was done locally - including the installation of solar panels to reduce the utility costs of the facility as well as being environmentally friendly.

Hoops opened its doors on April 3, 2006 with a mission to provide a faith-based education with emphasis on social skills and academics. The preschool enrolls children ages 2 through 6, with a license for 120 children. Hoops currently has 117 students enjoying a range of activities such as reading, writing, math, arts, drama, physical education, and religion. Wobrock contributes the success of the Hoopsters (as the students are called) to his energetic, full-time staff of 15 employees. To keep the children engaged in activities and learning, Hoops maintains a 10:1 student to teacher ratio.

Wobrock, who was a recipient of the "30 Under 30 Rising Star" award in 2007, beams when he talks about Hoops and the community. He expressed that the business community is generous in their support of Hoops activities and Hoops gives back to the community by supporting local sports leagues, high school sports clubs, and a number of non-profit organizations. Hoops has participated in the Porterville Adult Services Rocking for Alzheimer's and sponsors a food drive during the holidays. These events help to teach the Hoopsters the satisfaction of charitable giving.

Congratulations to Hoops Preschool for being a Porterville Outstanding Business.

 

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City Council Approves Adoption of California Building and Fire Codes

The various building codes in use by most jurisdictions in California are updated periodically to reflect the latest materials and construction techniques available to the construction industry. 

The last published building and fire codes, specifically the California Building and Fire Codes, were updated in 2007.  The State of California has since adopted the 2009 International Codes as the State Codes for Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Energy, and Fire. 

In addition to these Codes, the State of California has mandated the adoption of the newly published 2010 Green Building Standards Code, the 2010 Residential Code, and the 2010 Referenced Standards Code.  These codes become State mandated as of January 1, 2011. 

The 2010 California Green Building Standards Code encourages sustainable construction practices.  Appendices A4 and A5 are currently listed as voluntary measures for both residential and non-residential construction.  The measures contained in Appendices A4 & A5 are not mandatory unless adopted by the City. 

To review Appendix A4 click here.

To review Appendix A5 click here.

City Council has approved the adoption of the 2010 Editions of the California Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Fire, Green Building Standards, Residential, Administrative, Reference Standards, and Energy Codes.

In addition the City Council adopted the voluntary measures contained in Appendices A4 and A5 as voluntary requirements of the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code. These codes become effective 30 days after the second reading of the adopted ordinance on December 7, 2010.

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Direct Install - Lighting Exchange

The City of Porterville and the Valley Innovative Energy Watch (VIEW) have joined with other agencies in Tulare County to form a partnership with Southern California Edison. The partnership is offering a no-cost program to help qualified businesses save money through lower energy costs. The program targets businesses that can save energy by replacing their existing lights with modern, more efficient lights. 

The main qualifying requirement is that the business must use 100 kilowatts or less per month. Each project is limited to a maximum of $10,000 for materials and labor. The program will enable qualified businesses to realize substantial savings over the course of the new lights useful life. 

Download the Direct Install Fact Sheet.

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The 2010 California Green Building
Standards Code
By Dave Walls

There’s a new building code coming to your city.  The 2010 California Green Building Standards Code referred to as CALGreen goes into effect in January 2011.  CALGreen is the first-in-the-nation statewide mandatory green building code.  The new mandatory measures set sensible minimum standards that all new structures can realize to significantly minimize the state's overall carbon output.  It is important to underscore that each local jurisdiction retains the administrative authority to exceed the CALGreen standards..................................... Continue Reading »

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Local Firm Awarded Construction Management and Inspection Services Contract

At the May 4th City Council meeting, Porterville based Dee Jaspar & Associates, Inc. was awarded the construction management and inspection services contract for the Martin Hill and Rocky Hill water reservoir projects. The purpose of the Martin Hill and Rocky Hill water reservoir projects is to provide additional water pressure and operating capacity for Porterville's hillside and airport sections of the City's water system to allow for development to occur as described in the City's 2030 General Plan.................. Continue Reading »

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SEQUOIA VALLEY ENTERPRISE ZONE ANNOUNCED

The City of Porterville was excited to learn that soon local businesses will, once again, be able to take advantage of the State's Enterprise Zone incentives.

On Wednesday, August 19, 2009, the California Department of Housing and community Development announced conditional designation of the Sequoia Valley Enterprise Zone, which will include the cities of Dinuba, Exeter, LIndsay, Farmersville, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake and parts of the unincorporated communities in Tulare County. The Sequoia Valley Enterprise Zone is one of five new zones that were announced. The others are Hesperia, Pittsburg, Sacramento, and Taft. The new Sequoia Valley Enterprise Zone will replace the existing Business Incentive Zone (BIZ), California's only Targeted Tax Area, which is due to expire in 2012.

In 1990, the City of Porterville was one of the first Enterprise Zones in California. The Porterville Enterprise Zone expired in October 1006 and the City did not reapply for a new zone designation, instead opting to take full advantage of the BIZ. However, the new Sequoia Valley Enterprise will broaden the types of businesses that can take advantage of state and local incentives, which were restricted to certain manufacturing and transportation businesses under the BIZ.

Porterville City Manager John Lollis stated, "The designation of the Sequoia Valley Enterprise Zone is an integral component to our efforts to recruit and retain business in Porterville. Once the final designation is received, local businesses will be able to benefit from tax credits, including hiring credits, sales and use tax credits, and preference points on state contracts. Local benefits include a permit fast tracking and development fee deferral programs."

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REVOLVING LOAN FUND

The City's Business Assistance Program provides funding of $35,000 per every NEW job created by the project that is funded by the City. These funds may be provided to the Business by a low-interest loan. Determination of the loan is made by a project basis, utilizing a variety of criteria to determine the level of assistance that may be provided to the business.

At least 51% of the full-time equivalent permanent jobs created must be made available to moderate-income individuals. A Non-Financial Employment Plan will be made a part of the Assistance packet. New jobs must be listed with the California Employment Development Department and/or Tulare County Workforce Investment Department.

The City's Revolving Loan Fund Program is funded by Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funds. CDBG funds are federal dollars; therefore, construction projects using CDBG funds are subject to prevailing wage.

Limited funding is available and priority will be given to projects creating employment opportunities and/or benefits to the community. Approval for the use of these funds is subject to the Community Development Financial Review Committee.