Life Coach in Avondale, AZ

OnePointOne Inc. operates technology-driven vertical farms out of an 80,000-square-foot warehouse in Avondale. The company recently moved its headquarters to Arizona from California.

After relocating its San Jose, California facility and headquarters to the Phoenix metro, Silicon Valley vertical farming startup OnePointOne Inc. is already working on building its presence in the Grand Canyon State.

Sam Bertram, co-founder of the company, said its 6,000-square-foot production and research and development facility in San Jose will be shut down in the next 45 days, meaning the company will no longer have a footprint in California.

Now, the company is operating its headquarters out of an 80,000-square-foot warehouse in Avondale, which is located at 855 N. 107th Ave. just south of Interstate 10 in the city's growing industrial corridor. The company's executive team also is working out of office space in Old Town Scottsdale.

"Our headquarters are going to be here, we're going to be scaling artificial intelligence teams, plant science teams, typical engineering teams, business teams here," Bertram told the Business Journal. "There's also a decent chance that farm manufacturing, for some period of time, will be in Arizona as well, so if someone buys a farm in New York, the farm will be manufactured here and then shipped to New York, as an example."

The Avondale facility uses plant science, vertical plane aeroponics systems, robots and artificial intelligence to grow food plants indoors. Companies or entities can buy and virtually operate their own farms at the facility or in other locations using OnePointOne's technology.

OnePointOne also is using the building as a production hub for its affiliate operation, a personalized vertical farming service called Willo. Bertram said Willo, the direct-to-consumer brand, now has hundreds of members, mostly on the West Coast, who will start receiving their first shipments of plants this week.

First customer in Avondale

Since building its facility in Avondale, OnePointOne has also partnered with California Giant Berry Farms, which made an equity investment in the startup, to produce vertically-farmed strawberries through OnePointOne's "Opollo Three" technology for berries. These farms can total 2,000 square feet and produce more than 125,000 pounds of strawberries per year, the startup said.

Through this technology, IMEX Organics purchased its first strawberry farm at the Avondale location with plans to build another 12 farms by the end of 2025. IMEX said it will deliver berries to restaurants, resorts and retailers across the globe as it expands. Its first three farms will be located in Arizona.

So far, Bertram said they've received interest from a variety of businesses such as growers, retailers and entrepreneurial farmers. He added that he expects the Avondale facility to fill up with farms quickly in the next year.

"It's been fascinating to see where the interest comes from, and they each latch on to different value propositions, some really care about the supply chain surety, some care about the quality and shelf life," Bertram said.

In addition, Bertram said they plan to expand their research facilities and the plant science division of their company to serve as a "control center" for their farms. It's also in discussions and looking to partner with local universities such as Arizona State University.

Bertram said about 20 to 30 employees including growers, engineering technicians and more are moving from California to Arizona, while the company also has plans to triple its on-site team over the next two years. OnePointOne currently has about 70 employees.

Growing advanced technology industry in Avondale

Ken Chappa, Avondale's economic developer director, said OnePointOne is the "next wave" of advanced manufacturing sustainability and high-tech jobs that the city, and the region, wants to attract.

"Their investment in Avondale and their partnership has been completely invaluable to us," he said.

In the 107th Avenue industrial area of the city, Chappa said more manufacturing companies have been moving to the area. Photocentric, a developer of photopolymers and additive manufacturing, recently moved its headquarters to Avondale.

The Universal Technical Institute also recently unveiled plans to relocate its Phoenix-based Motorcycle Mechanics Institute to Avondale to consolidate UTI's Arizona training programs in one location.

Keep Digging

By City of Avondale

The City of Avondale, in partnership with Brookfield Residential, invites the public to attend the grand opening of Alamar Park, the newest Parks and Recreation facility in Avondale. Opening day activities include fitness fun, sports demonstrations, food trucks, music, crafts, and a self-guided home tour.

Alamar Park is located at 4155 S. El Mirage Road, in Avondale. The grand opening event is free to attend and is open to the public on Saturday, October 8, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m., presided by the Avondale Mayor, Council members, and representatives of Brookfield Residential, the developer of Alamar.

The new park features baseball/softball and multi-use fields, tennis, four pickleball courts, three playgrounds, a lake, splash pad, amphitheater, dog park, and picnic ramadas for everyone to enjoy. The new park amenities will also include an outdoor Fitness Court® providing residents and visitors safe, free access to the “World’s Best Outdoor Gym” to keep active and stay healthy. This installation makes Avondale the third city in Arizona to join the National Fitness Campaign trend.

For the grand opening festivities, families are encouraged to bring their furry friends to the park’s dog park to experience a first-time event called Barks & Treats. Pups can partake in treats, photo opportunities, and a costume contest at the new dog park.

“Quality of life has always been a top priority for residents of Avondale, and that means places to recreate, gather, and be active,” said Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise. “The city is proud to add Alamar Park to our recreational spaces in Avondale, situated adjacent to the newest community of Alamar.”

Brookfield Residential contributed $6.9M towards the design and construction of Alamar Park, with an additional $2.7M for the donation of 40 acres of land and the adjacent half-street infrastructure for a total contribution of $9.6M. Coupled with the City of Avondale’s $8.1M construction contribution, the investment for Alamar Park totals nearly $18 million.

Roger Theis,Vice President of Development for Brookfield Residential Arizona states, “We are so excited for Alamar Park to become one of Avondale’s most popular public venues for hosting large events, concerts, recreational competitions, urban fishing, company picnics, and popular programming. This park is truly designed to be the hub for Alamar residents and the surrounding community.”

For more information about Avondale Parks, contact the city Parks and Recreation office at 623-333-2400, visit www.avondaleaz.gov/parks, follow on Facebook or Instagram for updates @AvondaleAZParksandRecreation, or sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter at www.avondaleaz.gov/activeavondale.

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By City of Avondale

The Avondale City Council voted on August 22 on a contract to hire Ron Corbin as its new City Manager. Corbin, who currently serves as City Manager of Cottonwood, Arizona, will start work in Avondale in November.

“The City Council and I were seeking someone with strong, steady leadership who understands and believes in our core purpose of making lives better for the residents and business community in Avondale,” said Mayor Kenn Weise. “Avondale has built great momentum over the past few years, and we are just getting started.”

Weise said: “I am grateful to the employees of Avondale and as well as the residents and stakeholders who participated in providing input on the candidates for the city manager position. I am confident that Ron will fulfill the Council’s vision and goals, and be the visionary leader to move the organization ahead.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to become Avondale’s city manager, and I am humbled and honored that the City Council selected me for this role. I look forward to working closely with the Avondale team to build upon the incredible success this city has achieved,” Corbin said.

The Avondale City Council used a process to select a new city manager that included a nationwide search, and a thorough interview process for the finalists. City residents and employees were invited to participate in the evaluation process.

Ron Corbin has been City Manager of Cottonwood for the past three years. Previously, he served in the United States Army and for almost ten years as Deputy HR Director, HR Director, and Deputy City Administrator for the City of Yuma, AZ. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Teaching, a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology, from Eastern Washington University, and a Master of Administration degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University.

Cherlene Penilla, Assistant City Manager, currently serves as acting City Manager for Avondale.

The City of Avondale is governed by a city charter. The City Manager acts as the CEO of the city, executing the policy goals set by the City Council, overseeing all daily operations, representing the city to other governments, and performing other executive duties as outlined in the city charter. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the Council.

For more information, please call (623) 333-1600.

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Monsoon storms started early in the afternoon for the Arizona High Country, and triggered flash flood warnings in the Flagstaff area.

And the storm system moved into the Valley later in the afternoon. Here's a recap of the weather activity from the weekend.

This is a blog with the latest information. Check back for updates.

7:50 p.m. - 12News viewer Garret Boykin sent this video from Chandler showing gusting wind and rain.

6:19 p.m. - A flash flood warning spanning Maricopa and Pinal counties will continue at least until 9:30 p.m.

5:46 p.m. - The thunderstorm warning for the Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek areas will stay in effect until 6 p.m.

5:16 p.m. - Watch the latest update from 12News Meteorologist Jamie Kagol.

4:46 p.m. - More thunderstorm warnings are in effect for the Laveen area.

4:41 p.m. - A flash flood warning is in effect for Maricopa County.

4:14 p.m. - A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for the West Valley.

4:02 p.m. - Severe thunderstorm warnings are in place for Glendale, Peoria, and Surprise until 4:45 p.m.

Let's get ready for some rain!

3:47 p.m. - A flash flood warning is in place for areas including Camp Creek until 7:45 p.m.

3:40 p.m. - Blowing dust has been seen on Loop 303 near I-17.

Remember, if you get caught in a dust storm while driving, pull over and wait for it to pass. Visibility can drop to near zero in minutes.

3:12 p.m. - Getting closer! NWS Phoenix has announced a severe thunderstorm warning for areas including Anthem, New River, and Cave Creek.

3:03 p.m. - Stormy weather is moving south towards Phoenix.

NWS Phoenix announced a flash flood warning that reaches Cave Creek, in place until 7:00 p.m.

2:45 p.m. - NWS Flagstaff announced a flash flood warning for parts of Coconino County until 6:45 p.m.

The warning includes:

2:33 p.m. - US 89 southbound has reopened at milepost 433, said ADOT officials.

2:24 p.m. - Rain is coming down on I-40! Remember to slow down on wet pavement, and never drive into flooded roads or washes.

2:05 p.m. - NWS Flagstaff announced a flash flood warning for parts of Yavapai County including Black Canyon City until 5:00 p.m.

The warning also includes:

1:40 p.m. - NWS Flagstaff announced a flash flood warning for parts of Yavapai County until 4:45 p.m.

That warning includes Bagdad, and the Bagdad Airport.

1:38 p.m. - Residents in Flagstaff are really under the weather now! Christina C. on Twitter shared this video of rain literally shaking her gutters:

1:23 p.m. - The APD Outage Map shows roughly 3,320 customers without power in the Flagstaff area.

Officials said that the outages were caused by storm related damages, and field crews will be sent out to the area to start assessing and repairing the damage once it is safe to do so.

1:17 p.m. - NWS Flagstaff has announced that flash flood warnings are in effect until 4:00 p.m. for parts of Yavapai and Coconino Counties.

Those locations include:

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced that US 89's southbound lanes are closed at milepost 433 north of Flagstaff due to flooding.

Drought, wildfires, heat and monsoon storms: Arizona has seen its fair share of severe weather. Learn everything you need to know about the Grand Canyon State's ever-changing forecasts here:

On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.

On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

If you're one of the lucky souls who gets this Monday off from work thanks to the Labor Day holiday, this weekend will offer three straight days of relaxation or entertainment. For club kids, electronic dance music fans, or anyone else in the mood to let loose, it means an extra day and night for drinking, dancing, and debauching.

Nightlife hotspots like Tempe, Scottsdale, and downtown Phoenix will offer social events, pool parties, and other celebrations during the four-day span from Friday, September 2, to Monday, September 5. It’s also your last chance to party poolside at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, which is wrapping up its summertime Release After Dark series.

Here’s a rundown of the best LDW parties happening around the Valley in 2022. Read up, get down, and make it home safe.

Devault at Darkstar

Electro-pop DJ/producer Devault will kick off Labor Day weekend with a high-energy set on Friday, September 2, at Darkstar, 526 South Mill Avenue, Suite 201, in Tempe. Hit the dance floor starting at 9 p.m. when Gobbs, Sozo, and Elevate get things going with their opening sets. Admission to the 21-and-over gig is $18 per person.

All White Party at The Ainsworth

Still waiting for your invite to P. Diddy’s place out on New York’s Long Island? You can keep staring at your mailbox or make plans to attend this Hamptons-esque White Party happening from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, September 2, at The Ainsworth, 3 South Second Street, Suite 117. The “grown and sexy” event will feature DJ sets by Sir-Plus and Holdem. An exclusive VIP area will be open, and a full menu will be available until midnight. General admission is $130. More details are here.

Toga Scandal Party at BS West

If you’d like to party like Josh Belushi in Animal House, Scottsdale LGBTQ bar BS West, 7125 East Fifth Avenue, will host this toga-filled affair on Saturday, September 3. L.A.-based DJ Arno Diem will perform at the event, which starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $20.

Release After Dark Pool Party at Talking Stick Resort

Scottsdale’s Talking Stick Resort, 9800 East Talking Stick Way, will wrap up its summer-long pool party series with one last blast on Saturday, September 3, headlined by electronic dance music superstar Steve Aoki. The DJ/producer/party monster will likely bust out with all his usual tricks, including tossing giant sheet cakes into the crowd. (Pro-tip: wear something you won’t mind getting covered in frosting.) R3LL and Peachy Keen will perform opening sets. Gates open at 5 p.m. and tickets for the 21-and-over party are $50.

Flume at Phoenix Raceway

This 18-and-over outdoor EDM event at Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive in Avondale, on Saturday, September 3, will feature a festival-like atmosphere with an enormous stage, multiple DJs in the mix, and a vast crowd. Australian-born DJ/producer Flume will headline, and is likely to spin up a set filled with electro, deep house, trap music, and other genres. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $54 for general admission and $120 for VIP tickets.

Labor Day Weekend Pool Parties at Maya Dayclub

The pool area at Maya, 7333 East Indian Plaza in Scottsdale, will be busy throughout the weekend Friday, September 2, through Monday, September 5, as four straight days of EDM-filled parties are planned. DJ superstar RL Grime will work the sound system on Sunday, September 4, with support from local DJs. Gates open at 11 a.m. and admission is $75. Former Valley resident Ghastly will headline the daytime party on Monday, September 5, which starts at noon. Tickets are $26. Click here for the rest of Maya’s Labor Day weekend schedule.

Labor Day Extravaganza at Luckys Indoor Outdoor

This Roosevelt Row crowd can head to Luckys, 817 North Second Street, for its evening-long affair on Sunday, September 4, featuring live music from The Retro Connection until 9 p.m., food from MozzArepas, and a special music video set from DJ Soloman and OH Allen the DJ continuing until 2 a.m. The event begins at 6 p.m. and also goes until 2 a.m. It’s free to attend.

Labor Day Pool Party at The Clarendon Hotel

Patrons of this laidback affair on Monday, September 5, at The Clarendon, 401 West Clarendon Avenue, can partake in craft cocktails, private cabanas, music from DJs, and other distractions and amenities. Food can also be purchased from the hotel’s Fuego Bistro. The 21-and-over party runs from noon until 5 p.m. Admission is $25 per person.