Barry Phegan, Ph.D. of Meridian Group, Company Culture Consultants speaks at the VEDC Annual Meeting. A great turnout this year. Thank you to Dr. Phegan for sharing his enlightening perpectives on simple solutions with remarkable results. Stay tuned for follow-up groups that will assist us all on the road to developing company culture.

• Visalia sales tax figures reported for the latest four quarters and released in December 2012 show cash receipts of $18 million vs $15.5 million for the four quarters reported in December 2011. The $2.5 million increase amounts to about 16%.
• Edeniq reaches deal with Pacific Ethanol.
Written by Business Journal staff
• Commercial building permit activity is up 50 percent; residential activity is up 20 percent.
• SORMA USA has completed its 40,000-square-foot produce packaging manufacturing and printing plant in the Visalia Industrial Park. The Visalia plant will serve the United States, Canada and Mexico.
•MWI Veterinary Supply moved into a larger space in the Visalia Industrial Park.
• Peninsula Packaging has leased 175,000 square feet to warehouse its custom thermoformed plastic packaging products.
• Perfection Pet Food continues to expand, with the addition of
8,540 square feet of food processing and office space.

• Dick’s Sporting Goods opened on Mooney Boulevard, the primary retail corridor in Visalia.

• Kaweah Container Inc. is expanding into a building to make corrugated boxes mostly for the food industry. The expansion will also include 75 jobs.The new plant is scheduled to be fully operational by mid-year.

• Additional new retailers on Mooney Boulevard are Bev Mo and Francesca’s Collection (the nationwide chain’s first store in the San Joaquin Valley). Kirkland’s Home Décor now open.