Daily Business Report-June 15, 2020
Qualcomm program
Qualcomm launches Small
Business Accelerator Program
Supported by Best Buy Business, Microsoft, Verizon Business and others
Qualcomm Technologies Inc. unveiled the Qualcomm Small Business Accelerator Program, designed to help small businesses convert to a mobile-first work environment necessary to thrive in today’s business climate.
The comprehensive program will provide small businesses with products powered by Qualcomm Technologies solutions, along with collaboration tools and technical and integration support, so they can continue to maintain operations throughout the current global pandemic and beyond.
With the launch of the program, Qualcomm Technologies and its partners have committed to provide technology products, services and support to U.S.-based small businesses across various industries. Approximately 25 small businesses will be selected and each will receive a selection of products and technical support valued at up to $25,000.
Customized to the needs of the selected small business, the program will provide a variety of devices powered by various compute and connectivity solutions from Qualcomm Technologies, such as Always-Connected PCs (cellular-connected laptops), Wi-Fi systems, mobile phones, Bluetooth enabled headsets and active mobile hotspots, along with technical / device integration and support. With more businesses depending on cloud-based solutions, these connected products offer enhanced productivity and security for small businesses.
“Small businesses are very important to the country’s economic growth and prosperity,” said Cristiano Amon, president ofd Qualcomm Incorporated. “Qualcomm Technologies creates products and services that enable users to stay mobile and connected, which will help small businesses remain competitive as the way we work changes.”
The company’s partners in the program include Citrix (digital workspace solutions), Lenovo (5G-enabled PCs), Linksys (Wi-Fi networking devices), Samsung (PCs and mobile devices), Sophos (security software solutions), and Targus (mobile docking stations). Best Buy Business is also planning to provide technical support.
To apply for the Qualcomm Small Business Accelerator Program and view its T&Cs,
applications should be submitted here.
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City of San Diego offers new online
zoning and parcel information map
The city of San Diego Development Services Department launched its new Zoning and Parcel Information Portal to make it easier for customers to research zoning and property information. The online service helps users conveniently access real-time information from their computer or mobile device 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Using a city property address, the new interactive portal allows customers to research more than 60 layers of information needed to plan and design development of a property. Those layers of information include assessor parcel numbers, zoning maps, City Council districts, school districts, historic districts, fire risks, earthquake fault buffers and various regulatory areas.
The public can access ZAPP by visiting sandiego.gov/development-services/zoning.
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Recovery of sea otter populations
yields more benefits than costs
By Sachi Wickramasinghe and Mario Aguilera
Since their reintroduction to the Pacific coast in the 1970s, the sea otters’ rapid recovery and voracious appetite for tasty shellfish such as sea urchins, clams and crabs has brought them into conflict with coastal communities and fishers, who rely on the same valuable fisheries for food and income.
But the long-term benefits of sea otter recovery—such as healthier kelp forests, higher fish catches, carbon storage and tourism—could be worth as much as $53 million per year, according to new research led by scientists at the University of California San Diego and the University of British Columbia (UBC).
If well-managed, these economic benefits could offset commercial losses to shellfish fisheries of $7 million per year.
The study, published June 11 in Science, offers a new modeling framework to evaluate the significant long-term ecological changes driven by a top predator like the sea otter. The study was conducted on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Canada, and is representative of otter-driven impacts across their entire range, from Alaska through California.
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Cue Health raises $100 million
to develop rapid COVID-19 tests
San Diego biotech Cue Health raised $100 million to develop tests for the novel coronavirus and influenza that could give results in as fast as 25 minutes. Cue Health’s testing device fits in the palm of a hand, and sends results to a user’s phone.
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San Diego Comic-Con will be held
virtually this year — and it’s free
San Diego Comic-Con announced its Comic-Con@Home event will take place on the originally scheduled dates, July 22-26, and the event will be entirely free. An online exhibit hall will still sell merchandise, and multiple panels and presentations about comics and popular culture will be available for attendees. Activities such as a masquerade and gaming competitions will also be available, and badges can be printed from home. There is no limit to the number of attendees.
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Rory Linehan has joined civil engineering
team at Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering
Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering has welcomed Rory Linehan to its civil engineering team. Linehan brings nearly two decades of experience as a naval officer and a civil engineer.
As Latitude 33’s newest project manager, his experience with military, residential, and commercial developments will be an asset for the firm.
Latitude 33 serves clients in numerous sectors, including residential, educational, healthcare, commercial, civic, military, and hospitality throughout Southern California.
For the past 14 years, Linehan has worked in the construction and engineering fields, managing projects, performing and authoring drainage studies, preparing water quality technical reports, coordinating multiple contractors and vendors, and ensuring projects were in compliance with engineering and architectural plans.
Linehan serves in the Navy Reserves. During his active duty in the U.S. Navy, he served in multiple roles, most recently as the officer-in-charge for the Naval Coastal Warfare Center at NAVSTA Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also served as a construction manager and as an engineering division officer.
Linehan earned his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Cornell University and his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University.
