Daily Business Report — July 9, 2010

General Atomics to Build More Sky Warrior UAVs

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has received $195.5 million from the U.S. Army toward a $399 million contract to produce 34 Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft and support systems. Full funding is expected later this summer. The contract calls for the manufacture of 34 of the unmanned aircraft, 16 ground control stations made by AAI Corp., airborne and ground tactical control data link equipment produced by L-3 Communications West and other items. The company is to deliver more than two aircraft a month through the end of 2012 beginning this December.

“The timing of this contract award is ideal as it allows GA-ASI to enter into low-rate production on Sky Warrior at the same time that Predator A production is concluding,” said Frank W. Pace, president of the company’s Aircraft Systems Group. “Soldiers will benefit greatly from the fully capable Sky Warrior system features, including four HELLFIRE missiles, autoland and takeoff, and de-icing capabilities.”

The company said Sky Warrior Alpha and Sky Warrior UAS have logged 145,000 flight hours in service with the U.S. Army, comprising about 15 percent of all Army UAS flight hours.

100 Businesses in County Were Sold in June

San Diego County recorded 100 sales of small and mid-sized businesses in June, equal to the June 2009 total, according to BizBen.com. The city of San Diego recorded 51 transactions. There were six deals each in El Cajon and Oceanside.

County year-to-date figures are 582 vs. 796 through June 2009. 

While statewide figures were up for the month, California’s year-to-date transaction volume dropped nearly 17 percent compared to the same period last year, according to BizBen.com-businesses for sale in California.

“Monthly volume of transactions has been moving up and down since the mortgage meltdown in fall 2008. And that makes it practically impossible to identify a sustaining trend,” said Peter Siegel, founder and CEO of BizBen.com.

 He noted that California’s June 2010 sales totaled 1,090, up from 986 in the same month last year. Transaction volume of 6,481 so far this year represents a decline from the 7,793 deals closed the first half of 2009.

“The mix of good news and bad news in the small business sales sector demonstrates that we’re experiencing the same uncertainties that impact most parts of our economy,” said Siegel. “It’s a reminder to buyers and sellers, and the professionals who help them, that we’re working in a new business environment.  It’s far different from what we experienced say, two years ago.”

Among those differences, according to Siegel, are “the manner of financing, the calculation of business value, the need for creative deal making and the speed at which market circumstances change.

 “Is SBA-backed funding available with incentives included to encourage financing for small businesses? The answer to that question has been changing week to week,” said Siegel.

Los Angeles County showed a nearly 30 percent increase in transactions with 312 sales last month vs. 241 deals during June 2009. Volume was up substantially in San Francisco, which recorded 61 deals last month, and only 33 in the same month last year. Santa Clara County’s figure also was 61, the exact sales count it recorded for June 2009. 

The figure of 27 sold businesses for June in Riverside County marked an increase from 17 sales during the same period last year. A decline was recorded in Orange County, where 88 deals closed last month, compared to the 94 registered the prior June.

Artist to Present Public Art for Ruocco Park

Roman de Salvo, the artist selected by the Port of San Diego to incorporate public art into the design of Ruocco Park, will present his concept in a July 15 public meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Port’s board room, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego. Ruocco Park is a 3.3- acre park planned for the southwest corner of West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway at the former Harbor Seafood Mart site, just north of Seaport Village. The design will include space for activities, events and gatherings as well as seating, tables and quiet areas.

De Salvo, a San Diego artist, designed and installed several public art projects throughout the region. He will present his public art concept for the park. His concept will complement the designs of the park’s landscape architect, Dennis Otsuji, and will include a sculptural element that will welcome visitors to the San Diego Bay waterfront.

Otsuji is with ONA Inc., a firm that has designed projects at NTC/Liberty Station and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

He will give an update on the design status of the park.

The Port received a $3.5 million grant from the San Diego Foundation, which manages the Lloyd and Ilse Ruocco Fund, to help pay for the park. Lloyd Ruocco was an influential architect credited with starting the modern architectural movement in San Diego. He and his wife, Ilse, started a trust fund more than 25 years ago to help build and maintain parks in the central area of San Diego.

Construction of Ruocco Park is expected to begin in early 2011.

Gubernatorial Appointments

Dayon Higgins, 48, of San Diego, and Molly Kennedy, 41, of Vista, have been appointed to the Developmental Disabilities, Area Board XIII by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Higgins was a catechist for the Diocese of San Diego from 2003 to 2006 and director of Family Karate from 2002 to 2003. She is a member of the Poway Unified School District Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, La Jolla Learning Foundation Parents Advocating Together and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. Higgins is a Republican.

Kennedy worked for San Mateo County as director of health care for the Center on Homelessness from 1997 to 2008 and community program specialist from 1991 to 1997. She is a member of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the United Cerebral Palsy Association board of directors. Kennedy is a Republican.

The positions do not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary.

New Townhomes Planned for Ocean Beach Property

An oceanfront development in Ocean Beach that has 16 rental units has been sold for $3.8 million in cash to a buyer who wants to develop 12 new townhomes on the property, located 1984-92 Abbott St. and 5113-19 Saratoga Ave. The buyer is a limited liability company, 1984 Abbott LLC. Saratoga LLC is the seller. Tim Winslow, Ray Adams, Jason Kimmel and Kelly Strickland of Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial represented both the buyer and the seller in the transaction. The development would be called Ocean Park Villas.

Mitsuwa Marketplace Signs Lease Renewal

Mitsuwa Corp., dba Mitsuwa Marketplace, has signed a 60-month, $4,128,704 lease renewal for 26,098 square feet of retail space in Hawthorne Crossings at 4240 Kearny Mesa Road, Suite 119, San Diego (92111). Hawthorne Crossings is a 140,796-square-foot shopping center fronting the 163 Freeway in Kearny Mesa. The lessor, American Fund US Investments LP, was represented by John Jennings and Aaron Hill of Cushman & Wakefield. Mitsuwa Marketplace represented itself. Other tenants include Staples, Ross Dress for Less, Aaron Brothers Art & Framing, Trek Bicycle Superstore, Sleep Train and Calico Corners.

American Marketing Association Mixer Set for July 28

The San Diego chapter of the American Marketing Association will hold its next networking mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 28 at Karl Strauss Brewing Co., 9675 Scranton Road, San Diego 92121. Chapter members and friends, colleagues and clients are invited. Early registration rate — $35, AMA member discounted rate — $25, register at event — $40. Registration includes appetizers and one drink (wine or Karl Strauss Beer on tap). Cash bar available. Register through the Website at: sdama.org.

Society for Human Resource Management Meetings

Judith L. Enns, executive vice president of HR Solutions, and Timi Gleason, performance consultant for Cox Communications, will talk on “Consulting Competencies for HR Practitioners” at the July 28 meeting of the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management. It will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa. The same program will be presented on Aug. 18 at the same hours at the DoubleTree Hotel Hazard Center in Mission Valley. The breakfast meetings are $30 for members and $45 for nonmembers. RSVP at sdshrm.org.

Small Business Workshops-July

Upcoming SCORE San Diego workshops for small business owners and those who want to launch small businesses:

• July 13 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• July 14 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• July 15 – How to Start a Nonprofit – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• July 16 – Women’s Networking Breakfast and Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $35 by 7/13, $45 thereafter; exhibitor rate: $85 by 7/13, $95 thereafter).

• July 17 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).

• July 20 – Marketing & Contracting with the Federal Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• July 21 – Legal Issues for Small Businesses: Contracts and Leases – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• July 22 – Internet Marketing 201: Build Your Business through Search Engine Optimization – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

•  July 23 – Insurance: What You Need to Know – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• July 24 – Professional Selling: Increase Your Business Sales Now – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• July 27 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• July 29 – Intellectual Property: Promise and Practicalities – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• July 30 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – Carlsbad – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at National University (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• July 31 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).

For more information, call (619) 557-7272 or visit score-sandiego.org.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.