Wow

Whether it’s a breathtaking view, a teacher’s use of technology in their classroom, 3rd graders working on building a robot in class, an incredible athletic endeavor, what we are now able to do with our phones and tablets or personal triumph persevering through a struggle, there are certain events, accomplishments and practices that bring out the WOW response in us!

There is definitely a WOW factor associated with our project and it is that factor that differentiates us from everywhere else.

In a time of global and domestic economic instability, uncertainty as to the direction of government policy with respect to business, and a broken public bureaucracy, we have gone above and beyond normal practices so that it is evident what differentiates it from everywhere else. We have not let any of the external elements mentioned above distract us from our vision and mission of transforming a community and the lives of those that live and work here for the better.

These differentiators speak to the commitment, the perseverance and the integrity from which we operate, make decisions, execute and deliver on our mission and vision. You can count on us to continue to find ways to differentiate ourselves as we collaborate with you and your company in becoming part of this vision coming to life.

We have brought many of these items to your attention in the individual sections but here they are as a summary:

Our Location

We are at the heart of where you want to be! WOW!

We are positioned to be the center of the next core employment center for Northern California and provide you, the forward thinking company with the opportunity to be in on the ground floor of creating a new core employment center at River Islands Technology and Education Center. WOW!

Through offering a number of housing options to match all income levels at the River Islands at Lathrop master planned community your employees can commute to work in minutes and have all other necessary living services available to them, including schools for their children minutes away without ever having to get on a freeway. Talk about reducing the environmental footprint. No other location can do this as well as we can. WOW!

We provide immediate access to over 1,600 miles of navigable waterways and the myriad of recreational opportunities the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, San Francisco Bay, Yosemite, the Gold Country and Lake Tahoe offers. WOW!

We provide easy access to the world-class Sandia and Lawrence Livermore Labs, the I-Gate Innovation Hub, University of Pacific, University of California campuses at Berkeley and Merced, Stanford University, UCSF, UC Davis, University of Santa Clara and San Jose State. WOW!

We have access to a number of transportation options, with great access to freeways, airports and trains providing you and your employees the flexibility and ability to get to wherever they need to go quickly and with the least amount of stress. WOW!

Economic Incentives

There are several economic reasons for your company to locate at RITEC.

The River Islands project is unique in that all the homes in the development will pay a $5000 per unit Economic Development Fee. Over $55 million will be generated by this Fee. The Cambay Group as the developer can use this fund to help offset the costs of capital construction or start-up operations for the first companies to locate at RITEC. WOW!

Since we are located outside the urban core, certain costs of construction and operation are lower. With respect to construction, hook up fees are minimal and are subject to negotiation with the River Islands master developer. Other City fees may be reduced as incentives for locating to the area. With respect to operations, studies have shown that employees are willing to accept reduced salaries as their cost of living is lower and their commute costs are reduced. Additionally, Lathrop Irrigation District will supply electricity at 20% to 40% lower rates than PG&E. WOW!

School System

We represent an opportunity to integrate education, the private sector, the local school district and the developer into a powerful entity that has the ability to transform Lathrop, San Joaquin County, companies that call us home and most importantly the lives of the people and children that call the area home. The foundation of this entity is our commitment to developing a strong school program anchored by magnet Charter Schools . We have placed transforming lives through a relevant education in partnership with the thought and innovation leaders in their industry before return on investment! WOW!

The first two schools in the project are currently under construction. We are ensuring that schools are in place before homes and office buildings are built. WOW!

We have the advantage of being located within the Banta Elementary School District, a 300 student school district with over 150 years of history. Our project will add up to 8,000 new students to the district and nine new schools. Because River Islands is the only growth area within the Banta District, we will essentially be our own school district with all new schools. New technology, new approach, new excitement, new results! WOW!

We will implement a Charter School system instead of a traditional school system benefiting everyone in River Islands because magnet Charter Schools have more flexibility in funding and teaching methodologies. The non-union Charter School system is expected to receive final approval in early 2012. When approved it will have a charter that would cover just the River Islands development and would provide classes from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Providing relevant education from kindergarten through high school and beyond. WOW!

Higher Education


We intend to partner with one or more institution(s) of higher learning to develop a new or expanded campus in our community to provide college and graduate level education and research in the applied sciences. Higher education plus a vision of how to transform lives equals a positive impact on community! WOW!

The institution will partner with companies that locate their operations here. These partnerships will facilitate the transfer of technology and leverage the strengths of all parties involved. Private sector thought leaders partnering with institutions of higher learning means jobs, innovation and transformed lives! WOW!
The institution(s) will partner with our school program to provide faculty and graduate students as guest instructors as well as provide their laboratories for research by our students. Our young students learning from the older students and staff of our institution of higher learning. Learning and giving! WOW!

The result will be that we will create new commercial ventures, expand existing commercial ventures, attract new businesses and create new jobs in the region. The next center of innovation, employment and education. It’s really possible. Really! WOW!

Our Financial Capability and Commitment


The project is owned in fee and there is no external debt on the property except for a Community Facilities District. In this time, with the economic environment being what it is…this is a WOW!

We have been involved in this project since 1989. The focus changed in 2001 to the current master plan and has involved the expenditure of our own capital building infrastructure to and for the project. We are currently funding construction of a new bridge and two schools prior to any corporate or residential commitments. We are committed to providing you with that unique environment where you and your company can be a positive impact on the local community. We believe that what our vision is for the project is worth every penny. WOW!

Public financing for infrastructure, in the form of bonds is provided by the River Islands Public Financing Authority (“RIPFA”) which is separate and distinct from the City of Lathrop and is only for the River Islands at Lathrop community. To date, RIPFA has funded public infrastructure for the project, including potable water and wastewater treatment and disposal facilities. Besides conventional financing methods, RIPFA is a vehicle that can provide financing for a host of infrastructure and related facilities for the project that is not tied to the City, County or any other public agency’s credit or financing capabilities. This is a unique capability in this economic environment and
insures that availability of funds is not tied to the financial capabilities of the city or county. WOW!

Entitlements

RITEC and the greater River Islands development has entitlements for the entire project site and has a Phase One tentative map that includes 200 acres of RITEC. Phase One is ready for construction. WOW!

All you and your company need are your architectural plans and approval and you’re ready to go. WOW!

Commitment to the Environment

We have negotiated agreements with several environmental groups that prevent future opposition to the project and bring about the opportunity to work together in the spirit of mutual cooperation. These groups include the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Natural Heritage Institute, Sports Fishermen and Delta Keeper Chapter of the Bay Keeper. A Developer that’s friendly with the environmentalists! WOW!

The project is in an environmentally sensitive location within one of the world’s largest estuaries. Developing here is a huge responsibility and River Islands is leading the way in integrating urban development in an eco-sensitive environment. We are a developer who is embracing the responsibility for the environment. WOW!

Habitat preservation and restoration are important elements of the River Islands development, since the natural delta setting that nurtures wildlife also contributes to the our companies and residents’ quality of life. Carefully selected areas along the Stewart Tract perimeter have been designated and reestablished as shaded riverine aquatic habitat for protected fish species. We are a developer who cares about the river, fish and fishermen! WOW!

Another unique opportunity for resource conservation for the project is the existence of Lathrop Irrigation District (“LID”). As a land owner controlled public agency, LID is not governed by the California Public Utilities Commission. In particular, LID is expected to be a partner with the project in providing integrated renewable energy and influencing conservation though tiered rate structures. LID is currently governed by three of The Cambay Group officers who sit as the Board of Directors. The potential for less expensive power! WOW!


Sometimes certain things are taken for granted and the availability of and our access to potable water is one of them. But the truth is that there is a shortage of potable water in the state and it is one of the most difficult things to get access to for any developer of any type of project. But not so with us at RITEC. We have secured and paid for potable water for the entire project, ensuring that companies and families that locate here have potable waters for their corporate and home use. WOW!

Enhanced Flood Protection

Inherent to the project design is the super-levee system. The project has 18 miles of river frontage and will be protected from flooding by 300 foot wide levees. This high-ground system affords the opportunity to build homes on top of the levee which can take advantage of the river views. The first 900 acres of development has already been protected in this manner. In addition to the enhanced level of flood protection and the view amenity it creates, this design allows for the restoration of water side vegetation that will help restore the natural health of the surrounding river system. River Islands’ achievement of the 200 year level of protection is the first in the state and is the level of protection that will be required of all development within the next decade. We are a developer that has gone the extra mile on our own dollar to address a long standing issues for the region that is now sets the precedent for the future! WOW!

Connectivity


Companies and schools today need more Internet, fiber and other communications capacity than ever before. To insure that our partner companies, our schools and institutions of higher learning have the capacity that their employees, students and instructors need, we have made available very high bandwidth options to the project. In providing options we provide a competitive environment with competitive choice resulting in fair pricing and higher quality of service for our partner companies, schools and institutions of higher learning. Three fiber optic based providers are building capacity into RITEC, with connections available to another seven providers through a fiber optic super pipe that is being installed to the project. What other location will allow you to choose between 10 or more telecom providers for price, service and redundancy/disaster recovery? WOW!