Daily Business Report-May 11, 2020
Visual Capitalist illustration
The Hunger Pandemic:
Globally, COVID-19 could double the number
of people on the brink of starvation
While COVID-19 is dominating headlines, another kind of emergency is threatening the lives of millions of people around the world — food insecurity.
By the end of 2020, 265 million people could be in crisis-level situations.
A Visual Capitalist infographic explains the situation around the world. Click here.
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Illumina donates $1 million
to front-line workers, students
San Diego biotechology company Illumina donated $1 million to the region’s front-line workers affected by COVID-19 and local K-12 students. The donation is composed of $300,000 for front-line workers’ “critical needs” such as personal protective equipment, and $700,000 to support distance learning, technology, and STEAM education for San Diego-area students.
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Genalyte and blood bank partner to test
San Diegans for coronavirus antibodies
Genalyte, a local health care diagnostics company, will partner with the San Diego Blood Bank to enable thousands of San Diegans to get antibody testing for the novel coronavirus. In the absence of a vaccine or widely available therapies, antibodies from COVID-19 survivors could be an important stopgap treatment.
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San Diego startup Access Trax wins annual
FedEx Small Business Grant’s grand prize
Accessibility startup Access Trax recently won the FedEx Small Business Grant’s grand prize – $50,000 in funding and $7,500 in office and printing supplies. Founders Kelly Twichel and Eric Packard will use the funds to market the company’s product – a portable beach access mat for wheelchair users – and hire its first employee.
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Sorrento Therapeutics and Mount Sinai Health
System to jointly develop COVID-19 treatment
San Diego-based Sorrento Therapeutics Inc. and Mount Sinai Health System have agreed to join forces in the investigation and development of an antibody cocktail to potentially treat COVID-19.
A research team screened approximately 15,000 individuals who may have had and recovered from COVID-19 for the presence of anti-COVID-19 antibodies.
The screening used a diagnostic test developed by Florian Krammer, professor of microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System, and authorized for use in Mount Sinai’s laboratory under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Sorrento will have access to plasma containing antibodies against COVID-19 for the purpose of identification and production of monoclonal antibodies with potential neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2.
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Herman Construction finishes fast-track
build-outs of COVID-19 field hospitals
Herman Construction Group has completed several fast-track build-outs of COVID-19 emergency response field hospitals and surge hospitals in California, one in Escondido and a second in Tulare County. The company began the projects early in April and completed both within two weeks.
The projects included a build-out of the 203-bed Federal Medical Station at Palomar Medical Center Escondido and construction of a 246-bed Alternate Care Facility at the Porterville Developmental Center in Tulare County for the state and federal government. The Alternative Care Facility will care for non-COVID-19 patients who are less sick, allowing hospitals to treat more severe cases. The projects add nearly 450 hospital beds to the state’s inventory to treat COVID-19.
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Free to Thrive launches program
to assist survivors of human trafficking
Free to Thrive has launched a program to better connect victims and survivors of human trafficking with extra resources during the COVID-19 crisis.
Human trafficking survivors are at an increased risk of severe setbacks during the pandemic response as they become more vulnerable to domestic violence, financial hardship, homelessness, hunger, unemployment, and re-exploitation.
STEER (Survivors of Trafficking Essential Emergency Resources) is a new program that provides survivors with one-on-one guidance from experts who understand their trauma and can help them navigate complex systems to access services that address their needs holistically.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Free to Thrive has served more than 65 clients with 278 emergency needs, including help getting their federal stimulus check, food, clothing, shelter, and mental health services. Even with courts closed for most matters, Free to Thrive’s attorneys also continue to provide current and new clients with free legal services, such as filing restraining orders and assisting clients with emergency child custody matters.
Free to Thrive is also preparing for an increase in demand for help with eviction or debt due to the economic impact of COVID-19 by seeking pro bono attorneys and community partners who specialize in these areas. Learn more about Free to Thrive’s new STEER Program here.
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Cori Manthorne Austin named COO
at Center for Community Solutions
Cori Manthorne Austin has been named chief operating officer at Center for Community Solutions (CCS), a local nonprofit organization that provides prevention and intervention services for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. In Austin’s new role, she will be responsible for overseeing CCS’ day-to-day operations, including program staff and contract compliance, facilities, strategic development, and operational and financial performance.
Austin brings with her more than two decades of violence prevention experience, which includes forming strategic partnerships with community leaders, providing training and technical assistance to nonprofits focused on the development of trauma-informed practices, and culturally-responsive programming. She previously worked at CCS from 2002 to 2008, to assist with the expansion of the North County office. Prior to her return, Austin served for nearly a decade as director of programs at the Bay Area-based nonprofit CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse).
Austin has held numerous leadership positions including the board of directors for the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (2012-2018), the Steering Committee for the San Mateo County Continuum of Care (2008-2017), and was a member of a Citizen Review Panel under the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention (2014-2018). Austin earned a Master’s Degree in clinical psychology-forensics and a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology with a minor in human resource management.
