In her weekly roundup of local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports that Santa Cruz-based Joby Aviation is eyeing late this year or early 2026 for carrying the first passengers aboard its electric air taxis. She also has news on the aftermath of the Moss Landing battery plant fire and national honors for Santa Cruz Metro, plus names, numbers and events to know.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for more than 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 from plane crashes and arts & culture to state politics, including assisting with the coverage of former New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. After getting her master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she moved to the West Coast and covered crime and breaking news for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has also worked for KION and written for a variety of local, regional and national publications on both coasts, including Evanston Patch, The Good Times, Santa Cruz Waves and many others.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
SwellCycle, creator of sustainable surfboard tech, nets new funding to expand to more industries
With an injection of $1 million, the Westside’s SwellCycle aims to pivot from a focus on selling boards directly to consumers to instead working with surfboard shapers and licensing its technology to “micro-factories” to produce the surfboards.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz Area Chamber names former Capitola mayor Kristen Brown new executive director
Kristen Brown, former Capitola mayor and a woman with extensive experience working with a variety of business organizations, takes over this week as the executive director of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New funding for SwellCycle, a deeper dive into the local fishing industry
In her weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko relays word on a boost for a Westside company pioneering sustainable surfboard technology, examines the woeful outlook for the local fishing industry and runs down names, numbers and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New old name for local chamber of commerce; $50M in funding for Santa Cruz-founded beverage company
The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce will once again be known by its original name, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She also notes next steps for Olipop, the prebiotic soda company that got its start in a makeshift lab in CEO Ben Goodwin’s Santa Cruz home.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Watsonville grower settles over labor complaints; local wineries waiting for export updates
Bonnie Plants, an Alabama-based greenhouse growing company, will pay workers who say they were unfairly fired from its Watsonville facility more than $114,000. In her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko also covers area wineries in the tariff crossfire, honors for Driscoll’s and Annieglass and numbers and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Pacific Valley Bank looks north to Santa Cruz; deportation fears stalk Watsonville business
In this week’s local business roundup, Jessica M. Pasko spotlights a move by Salinas-based Pacific Valley Bank to open a branch in downtown Santa Cruz, notes the impact of Donald Trump’s immigration policy on Watsonville businesses and passes along other news, numbers and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: City looks at new ways to fill vacant retail space; wharf restaurants scuffle after shutdown
In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko talks to Santa Cruz’s economic development manager about how the city is trying to boost downtown business, notes struggles for wharf restaurants and passes along names, numbers and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Theft concerns, retail’s downward national trend make Rip Curl latest downtown Santa Cruz closure
Rip Curl joined O’Neill, Forever 21 and New Leaf among retailers vacating Pacific Avenue locations in recent months. A Rip Curl manager cited local safety issues, while others pointed to national trends. “These are the headwinds we’re facing,” one downtown Santa Cruz owner said. “If you don’t support your local businesses, they will close.”
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: More changes ahead downtown, closer look at Wrigley Building and fundraising for L.A. fire relief
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko runs down comings and goings in downtown Santa Cruz, including fintech company Paystand moving its headquarters to the Rittenhouse Building. She’s also got names, numbers and events to know.
