Quick Take

With the Murray Street Bridge set to be closed through September, business owners and community leaders have plans to bring visitors to the neighborhoods around the Santa Cruz Harbor this summer. Jessica M. Pasko's weekly look at local business also includes updates on a project to connect four regional airports, including Watsonville's; legal jabs between air mobility rivals; and plenty more names, numbers and dates to know.

Each week, we’re taking a closer look at the movers and shakers, the growth of industries and what’s really driving the Santa Cruz County economy. I’ll be spotlighting some of the biggest areas for opportunity, updates on local development and all things underpinning the regional business scene each Wednesday.

Got ideas? Send them my way to news@lookoutlocal.com with “Business News” in the subject line.

“Buoy Our Businesses” campaign plans upcoming events as another full Murray Street bridge closure dawns

With another full closure of the Murray Street Bridge beginning Wednesday, Santa Cruz city officials, local business owners and community leaders are planning a slate of events aimed at bringing residents to the Seabright and harbor neighborhoods this summer.

The Seabright community will host the neighborhood’s first July Fourth parade, a volunteer-run event that will wind its way from around the 1100 block of East Cliff Drive (down the street from the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History) up Seabright Avenue to Murray Street starting at 10 a.m. Organizers are looking for both volunteers and participants. Organizations, businesses and groups can apply here by June 26 to take part in the parade.

Family-friendly movies will be shown in the parking lot and grassy area outside Day’s Market at Seabright Avenue and Murray Street on six consecutive Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. starting July 9 and running through Aug. 13.

Additionally, two vintage markets are set for the summer. The Saltwater Market will set up outside Day’s from noon to 5 p.m. on July 12 and then again at the same time on Aug. 15 in the Santa Cruz Harbor. More details about the events are here.

Last summer, businesses in the Seabright and harbor areas called on city officials to do more to help them as they navigated decreased visitors as a result of the bridge closure. While the first full closure lasted roughly six months, city officials estimate this next closure will last only through September.

Project to connect four regional airports to support new era of air traffic now underway

Watsonville Municipal Airport from the air. Credit: City of Watsonville

An effort to connect the Monterey Bay region’s four rural airports to support the emerging new era of air traffic that includes electric air taxis, also known as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, and unmanned drones is moving forward, with completion slated for early 2028.

Last September, the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) helped secure $7.45 million in state grants to create special aerial pathways among the airports in Watsonville, Hollister, Marina and Salinas. The goal is for these pathways to work like highways in the sky, helping vehicles avoid collisions as the airspace grows increasingly crowded. Creating these aerial corridors includes installing new equipment such as sensors, signs, charging stations for electric aircraft and digital navigation aids. The project, called the California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative, is the state’s first Federal Aviation Administration-compliant flight corridor.

After some delays, the project is now moving forward, and Lavera Alexander, MBEP’s chief growth officer, said the goal is to have it completed by January 2028. To meet that goal, the organization aims to get all of the equipment and software purchased and installed by September 2027 to allow time for testing and troubleshooting. 

“What we’re doing now is figuring out what equipment we need to purchase for each airport,” she said, as each has different needs, and so does each type of aircraft. MBEP is working closely with two firms, Crown Innovations, Inc., and Woolpert, that have expertise in this space to determine what’s missing, what’s needed and what will need to be changed. “We’re in the process of identifying the equipment and will begin making the purchases within the next couple of months,” Alexander said. 

The initiative comes as the Central Coast has emerged as something of a hotbed for electric air taxis and other innovations in the rapidly growing sector known as advanced air mobility. Santa Cruz-headquartered Joby Aviation also runs facilities in Marina and recently acquired a 47,500-square-foot site next to Hollister Municipal Airport. Joby’s main competitor, Archer Aviation, is headquartered in San Jose but operates a testing facility near Salinas. Another electric air taxi company, Mountain View-based Wisk Aero, operates facilities in Hollister and Salinas.

Electric air taxis and other alternative air vehicles have gotten a boost in recent months from the federal government, which has indicated it would like to see these vehicles in the skies sooner rather than later. As one of the companies selected to participate in the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, Joby expects to start early operations in 10 states as soon as this year, ahead of obtaining FAA certification. 

Federal judge limits Joby Aviation case against main rival, but allows both parties to file amended allegations

A federal court has dismissed some of Joby Aviation’s trade secrets claims against one of its biggest competitors, but left some claims in place.

Last year, Joby filed a suit against Archer Aviation, accusing the company and a former employee of corporate espionage. Joby claimed its former U.S. state and local policy lead, George Kivork, stole privileged information from Joby before departing for a job with Archer, a fellow electric helicopter company. The suit was moved from Santa Cruz County Superior Court to U.S. District Court in San Jose earlier this year, and Archer countersued, accusing Joby of filing the lawsuit to deter competition and accusing the company of misleading federal regulators by concealing ties to China. 

Judge Susan van Keulen dismissed Archer’s counterclaims but gave the company’s attorneys a deadline of June 29 to file an amended complaint. She allowed Joby to continue with its trade secrets claim accusing Kivork of downloading files involving a specific real estate developer that Archer later proposed a new deal with. However, she dismissed some of Joby’s additional claims but will allow the company to amend those allegations. Archer and Kivork have until July 6 to respond to Joby’s amended complaint; Joby will have until July 13 to respond to Archer’s updated counterclaims.

ICYMI: From Westside workshop to world stage: Santa Cruz Guitar Company celebrates 50 years

Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover with a guitar specially made for the company’s 50th anniversary. Credit: Mat Weir / Lookout Santa Cruz

From humble roots, Santa Cruz Guitar Company has carved out a distinct reputation for its hand-crafted, custom guitars. The instruments have earned accolades from some of the industry’s biggest names, from Elvis Costello to John Mayer to bluegrass legend Tony Rice. 

The company, led by luthier Richard Hoover, marks its 50th anniversary this year with a series of events celebrating its long history and esteemed reputation. That includes a special exhibit that opens at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History next week, showcasing the company’s work throughout the decades. 

Read more from Mat Weir here.

Ch-ch-changes

  • West Coast Community Bank hires new vice president: Chad Barbieri is the new vice president and Small Business Administration (SBA) business development officer at Santa Cruz-headquartered West Coast Community Bank. He brings more than two decades of banking and project management experience to the new role. 
  • Woody’s at the Watsonville Airport launches with soft opening: The fourth location of Woody’s restaurant has opened at the Watsonville Municipal Airport. The restaurant, run by Tim Wood, took over the spot formerly occupied at Ella’s at the Airport. Wood also runs outposts of the restaurant at the Monterey Regional Airport and in Carmel Valley. The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event at the new restaurant at 100 Aviation Way on Monday, June 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. 
  • Scotts Valley farmers market moving at end of June: The Scotts Valley farmers market will move to the upper parking lot of Graham Plaza at 219 Mount Hermon Rd. starting Saturday, June 27. The move comes in advance of a planned remodeling project at the Scotts Valley Boys and Girls Club on Scotts Valley Drive, where the market currently sets up outside. The Scotts Valley market runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays between early May and late November.
  • New vintage shop to open in El Rancho Shopping Center: An Oakland-based vintage clothing business will open on July 3 in the El Rancho Shopping Center in Pleasure Point. Junkhead Vintage promises vintage shopping, houseplants and refreshments. A grand opening is slated for July 11.

Got hires, promotions or departures to report? Send them to news@lookoutlocal.com with the subject line “Career changes.”

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Save the date 

  • Thursday, June 11: The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce will host a business after-hours event with Lookout. Attendees will get to tour the newsroom, meet the staff and learn more about Lookout. Tickets for chamber and Lookout members are $10; $20 for non-members. The event takes place at 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, from 5 to 7 p.m. Details and registration here.
  • Thursday, June 11: The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a mixer at the Watsonville Family YMCA from 5 to 8 p.m. at 27 Sudden St., Watsonville. 
  • Thursday, June 11: All Things Meetings and Visit Santa Cruz County will host a daylong workshop for corporate, association and social event planners, featuring networking with representatives from local venues, hotels and more. The event takes place at The Grove (formerly the Cocoanut Grove) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration here.
  • Friday, June 12: Santa Cruz Works will host a company spotlight breakfast at the headquarters of Future Motion, the company behind OneWheel. The event takes place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and includes a tour of the studio at 1201 Shaffer Rd. in Santa Cruz. Attendance is free for Santa Cruz Works members and $10 for non-members. Registration and additional details are here.
  • Friday, June 12: A ribbon-cutting is planned for 11 a.m. to noon at Si Se Puede Behavioral Health Center at 161 Mills Lane, Watsonville. Register here.
  • Saturday, July 18: The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will host its 64th annual awards dinner and auction from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Among this year’s honorees are C&N Tractors and Michele Bassi, the chief development officer for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County. Tickets are available here.

Add your business or networking events to Lookout’s free public calendar, BOLO. Click here to add your event.

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Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for almost two decades. She cut her teeth in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press in her native Albany, New York, where she covered everything...