Daily Business Report — Feb. 27, 2012

Supervisor Roberts Seeks Letter Grades for Food Trucks

County Supervisor Ron Roberts will ask the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to approve a feasibility study for implementing a letter grading system for food trucks that sell food. According to Roberts, 550 of the 1,100 mobile food operations inspected by the county prepare food for sale to the public. While the inspections ensure that operators comply with the highest levels of food safety, especially when it comes to refrigeration and preparation, the results are not prominently displayed for customers.

“The County of San Diego does a great job of ensuring food safety and our scheduled and surprise inspections are effective,” Roberts said during a press conference. “Now we need to get in step with this growing trend and provide the public with visible, letter grades so customers can quickly and easily see the trucks have passed food safety inspection.”

Since the trucks already are undergoing inspection, using the results to develop a letter grade will not be a complicated matter, said Roberts. He anticipates the Department of Environmental Health will work closely with food industry representatives on developing the new procedures.

Roberts on Tuesday will ask the Board of Supervisors to direct the chief administrative officer to report back on the feasibility, timeline and potential impacts of putting into place a letter grading system for mobile operations that prepare food. The president of the San Diego County Restaurant Association and owners of Trucked Up Productions, which operate the Chop Soo-ey and Ms. Patty Melt food trucks, are supporting Roberts’ proposal.

Cubic Gets New Contract for Lithuania Force Modernization

Cubic Corp. has been awarded a new five-year contract to continue its support of force modernization in Lithuania. The U.S.-funded Foreign Military Sales effort is a continuation of Cubic’s constructive simulation and force modernization programs in Lithuania, with a primary task being the development of a modern Combat Training Center. The contract, from the U.S. Army’s Robert Morris Acquisition Center, is with the Kingstowne, Virginia-based Defense Modernization Division of Cubic Applications Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cubic and operates as the lead business entity of Mission Support Services, Cubic’s military services segment. The contract, for about $600,000 a year, extends through April 2016. Under the agreement, Cubic will assist with the design and an equipping plan for an integrated Combat Training Center and help stand up the center after its completion.

SDSU to Offer Hospitality and Tourism Master’s Degree

The L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism at San Diego State University will host an open house for its new Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management on March 6 from 6-7:30 pm at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center on campus.
 Starting this summer, the Payne School will offer the master’s degree that is designed for working hospitality, tourism and recreation professionals who have at least five years of demonstrated leadership in the profession. The customized program is administered by SDSU’s College of Extended Studies and is designed to provide a competitive edge for career movement, advancement and progression to all enrolled students. The degree program is pending approvals. For more, visit neverstoplearning.net/htm.

California Community Bank Reports 2011 Income

Escondido-based California Community Bank reported net income of $864,000, or earnings per share of 41 cents, for 2011, compared to net income of $1.7 million, or earnings per share of 80 cents, for year 2010. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $176,000, or basic earnings per share of 8 cents, versus net income of $544,000, or basic earnings per share of 26 cents, for the comparable period last year. The Bank finished the fourth quarter of 2011 with an asset base of $243,775,000, an increase of $21,610,000, or 10 percent, from the end of December 2010. Total deposits were $217,128,000, up $23,416,000, or 12 percent, over the same period a year ago.

Breast Care Cancer Center Earns Accreditation

The Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital has earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program of the American College of Surgeons. The Breast Care Center at Scripps Green demonstrated compliance with all 27 standards established by NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with breast disease. The standards cover the areas of patient care, quality improvement, center leadership, research, community outreach and professional education. Last year, Scripps Green earned accreditation in radiation therapy from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American College of Radiology.

Cuyamaca College Offers Green Construction Industry Training

Cuyamaca College will offer a six-week introductory course May 7 through June 25 for persons interested in careers in the “green” construction industry. The course is free to eligible students through a training program sponsored by the San Diego Workforce Partnership. The Introduction to Green Building Careers is funded through the State Energy Sector Partnership, an offshoot of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and will help displaced workers, the long-term unemployed, new workers, military veterans, and older youths gain the skills to compete for jobs in the expanding green economy. Those interested in taking the classes must go through an eligibility process that includes basic skills assessments and various workshops that must be completed prior to the start of class. Students must be 18 years of age or older, be able to read and speak English, registered for selective services, and hold legal status or have authorization to work in the United States. Attendance at an informational orientation on March 6 or 7  is mandatory to learn more about the program and eligibility requirements is required. To register for an orientation, email:camille.currier@gcccd.edu.