Daily Business Report: May 1, 2024
General Atomics selected to build
Collaborative Combat Aircraft for U.S. Air Force
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has been selected to build production representative flight test articles of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) for the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). This award exercises the critical design, build, and flight test on the existing CCA contract with General Atomics following an initial six-month phase that culminated in a successful CCA preliminary design review earlier this year.
The CCA program aims to be a force multiplier, developing a low-cost, modular, unmanned aircraft equipped with advanced sensors or weapons and operating in collaborative teams with the next generation of manned combat aircraft.
This program focused on building several aircraft variants from a common core chassis. Since then, this prototype for CCA has successfully completed two additional test flights, laying the groundwork for a successful production and flight test program.
Photo: Collaborative Combat Aircraft
__________________________________
Breeze Airways comes to San Diego with 5 new routes
By City News Service
Breeze Airways will bring five new direct destination flights to the San Diego International Airport this spring, the airline announced. The low-cost carrier will offer flights to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and Providence, Rhode Island starting Tuesday.
In early May, Breeze will start offering flights to Cincinnati, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The flights to Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Raleigh-Durham and Pittsburgh are all new routes for SAN.
“We welcome Breeze Airways to SAN,” Hampton Brown, vice president and chief revenue officer of the San Diego Country Regional Airport Authority, said in a statement. “We look forward to offering nonstop access between SAN and these five new destinations. Breeze Airways will be the first carrier at SAN to offer these routes which will connect Southern Californians to many cities across the country and provide travelers easy access to sunny San Diego.”
__________________________________
A plan to change your utility rate is dividing California
environmentalists. Here’s why
By Ben Christopher | CalMatters
On May 9, the California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote on whether to let the state’s largest power providers slap most customers with a new fixed charge. Think of it like paying for a subscription service, except instead of forking over a monthly fee to watch old Friends episodes, this one lets you enjoy the comforts of 20th century living.
Also, according to the proposed rule, the utilities will be required to lower the rate we all pay for each unit of power we consume.
On average, electric bills won’t go up or down, but most households aren’t exactly average. Under the proposed change, people who use less electricity will pay a bit more as a result of the fee, while those who rack up large power bills will save thanks to the lower usage rates.
The basic idea isn’t novel, even if it’s wildly controversial here in California; Most utilities across the country already collect fixed charges. But this proposed regulation comes with a distinctly California twist: The fixed charges would vary by income, with higher earners paying a $24 fee and lower-income households paying either $6 or $12.
__________________________________
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance leaders
visit China and meet giant panda
pair to be cared for by San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservation and care team leaders recently visited China and met Yun Chuan (pronounced yoon chu-an) and Xin Bao (pronounced sing bao) the two giant pandas to be cared for by San Diego Zoo.
“It was an honor to see Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in person and meet our conservation partners caring for them at the Wolong and Bifengxia Panda Bases,” said Dr. Megan Owen, vice president of conservation science at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Yun Chuan’s lineage has deep connections to the San Diego Zoo and we’re excited by the prospect of caring for them.”
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance leaders were in China meeting with conservation partners from China Wildlife Conservation Association on prospective research programs to protect and conserve giant pandas and their habitat. They also met with giant panda care specialists to discuss and collaborate on specialized care and nutrition programs for pandas.
The date of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao’s exact arrival in San Diego is not yet known, as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working through the necessary steps with its U.S. and Chinese conservation partners, looking forward to a prospective arrival this summer.
__________________________________
J. Walcher Communications promotes Olivia Stafford to account
supervisor and adds Molly Pincherli as account executive
San Diego public relations and marketing agency J. Walcher Communications has promoted Olivia Stafford to account supervisor and added Molly Pincherli as account executive.
Stafford joined the agency nearly five years ago as an account executive. Previously, Stafford began her career at a PR and government relations firm, with duties including community and media outreach in support of San Diego’s diverse communities through the San Diego Asian Film Festival and Pacific Arts Movement, Japan Society, San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, SDG&E community outreach programs for low-income families and more.
Pincherli worked as a news producer at KION in the Salinas-Monterey area and later at number one-rated KFMB in San Diego. She also spent time as an associate producer of Nurse TV, a nationally syndicated television show about nursing and served as managing editor at a website for women ages 18 to 30. Pincherli graduated cum laude from Emerson College with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and minor in magazine publishing.
__________________________________
SDSU initiates Viejas Arena renovation study to enhance fan experience
By Natali Gonzalez | sdnews.com
San Diego State University is taking the first step toward renovating Viejas Arena by surveying students and concertgoers.
Viejas, which opened in 1997, is home to Aztec men’s and women’s basketball and the San Diego Mojo, a professional volleyball team. In addition, the arena hosts concerts, graduations, comedy shows and other events.
The survey aims to collect feedback on fan experiences, which will inform future renovations.
“A renovation study for Viejas Arena isn’t just about upgrading infrastructure; it’s about identifying options for enhancing the social connectedness of our students and our broader campus and regional communities where we can come together, celebrate and create lasting memories at SDSU,” said Tim Ripke, Viejas Arena director for Associated Students.
Currently, 2,500 of the more than 12,000 seats in Viejas Arena are reserved for students. SDSU has a student population of nearly 36,000.
__________________________________
ESET Protect portfolio now includes new MDR tiers and features
ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, today announced the launch of two new Managed Detection and Response (MDR) subscription tiers: ESET Protect MDR for small and medium businesses (SMBs) and ESET Protect MDR Ultimate for enterprises. These offerings are built on the foundation of ESET PROTECT Elite and ESET PROTECT Enterprise, offering businesses of all sizes the most comprehensive, AI-powered threat detection and response capabilities, in combination with expert human analysis and comprehensive threat intelligence.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals announces winners of Rett Sibling Scholarship
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has awarded 10 academic scholarships to eligible recipients of the first Rett Sibling Scholarship. The Rett Sibling Scholarship program, sponsored by Acadia, was established in 2023 to recognize the siblings of individuals with Rett syndrome. This year’s recipients will each receive $5,000 to pursue their goals in higher education for the 2024-25 academic school year. To learn more about the Rett Sibling Scholarship and this year’s recipients, visit RettScholarship.com.
Body Fit Training to open first studio in Little Italy
Body Fit Training (BFT), a global boutique fitness brand offering 50-55 minute group strength training classes in an inclusive, multi coach-led group environment, is holding its grand opening of its first studio in Little Italy on the weekend of May 3-4-5. Located at 2100 Kettner Blvd., Suite 1000, BFT fills a gap in the fitness industry, offering science-based group strength programming built for all fitness levels. The new studio will celebrate its opening with several weeks of discounted memberships and free classes to community members during the Grand Opening weekend.
HCAP Partners releases annual impact report
HCAP Partners LLC released its annual impact report: Advancing Health, Well-Being & Quality Jobs. The report reflects on our 2023 investments, highlighting our unique approach to working with our portfolio companies and summarizing the positive impact we seek to achieve through our capital and our approach to value creation. Since its founding more than two decades ago, HCAP has managed more than $670 million across five funds, providing mezzanine debt and private equity for underserved, lower-middle market companies throughout the United States.
Regulus Therapeutics to take part in Webcast Series
Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs announced that CEO Jay Hagan and President & Head of Research & Development Preston Klassen, M.D., will be participating in the Canaccord Genuity Genetic Medicine for Generalists Webcast Series hosted by Whitney Ijem on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET. Regulus maintains its corporate headquarters in San Diego.
SoCalGas earns ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award
SoCalGas, a subsidiary of Sempra an energy infrastructure company based in San Diego, was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for the second consecutive year for demonstrating exemplary dedication to energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR program. SoCalGas was recognized from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners for the utility’s focus on providing direct engagement and incentives for ENERGY STAR products to underserved communities.
Prebys Foundation announces $7 million ‘Prebys Research Heroes’ program
The Prebys Foundation has launched a $7 million program designed to bring more diverse perspectives into the laboratory and yield ground-breaking medical research. The initiative seeks to address the critical gap in women and underrepresented groups in leading research positions by offering substantial funding to researchers for projects that might otherwise go unsupported. The recipients of the grants are conducting research at key institutions in San Diego.
South 8 partners with NanoGraf on $6.4 million Army contract
South 8 Technologies, the developer of LiGas, a liquefied gas electrolyte for advanced lithium-ion batteries, announced it is collaborating with NanoGraf to deliver higher energy, safer, and lighter batteries for soldiers in the battlefield. South 8’s $6.4 million subcontract with NanoGraf will support the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center (DEVCOM). LiGas is a liquefied gas electrolyte that dramatically improves the energy performance, safety, charging speed, and cost of lithium-ion batteries.
Teradata embraces open table formats Iceberg and Delta Lake
Teradata announced a uniquely open and connected approach to supporting open table formats (OTFs) Apache Iceberg and Linux Foundation Delta Lake, embracing the industry pivot toward open-source technologies and offering unparalleled customer choice in data management. This move adds a forward-looking dimension to Teradata VantageCloud Lake, Teradata’s next-generation, cloud-native analytics and data platform for AI, as well as Teradata AI Unlimited, an on-demand and cloud-native AI/ML engine.
Boston Micro Fabrication launches BMF Biotechnology Inc.
To better support the use of highly precise, microfluidic solutions in advanced drug development, pharmaceutical and cosmetic research, Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) proudly introduces BMF Biotechnology Inc. Headquartered in San Diego, BMF Biotechnology Inc. is dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative BioChips (organ-on-a-chip platforms) through cultivating large-scale tissues in vitro, helping accelerate new drug and cosmetic development.
Toku Inc. secures FDA Breakthrough Device designation to MyKidney AI technology
Toku Inc., a commercial medical device company specializing in imaging technology and AI, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device designation to its MyKidneyAI technology. MyKidneyAI uses AI to analyze retinal images collected at routine eye exams to detect elevated chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk in people with diabetes. Most people with diabetes are not routinely screened for CKD today, resulting in the disease not being detected until it has developed to an advanced stage.
Airgain signs pact with Mouser to distribute its wireless and IoT products
Airgain Inc., a leading provider of wireless connectivity solutions that creates and delivers embedded components, external antennas, and integrated systems across the globe, announced an agreement to distribute its wireless and IoT products through Mouser Electronics, an online electronic component distributor that serves the global electronic design engineer and buyer community. The new agreement will make Airgain’s innovative NimbeLink embedded modems, antennas, and other wireless products more broadly available to design engineers.
