Xwing, which develops autonomous flight systems for aviation and defense, is now under the Joby Aviation umbrella as the company eyes its 2025 goal for launching its electric air taxi. Elsewhere on the local business scene, Watsonville has a new supermarket, the City of Santa Cruz looks for a new tenant for the Colligan Theater and happenings, names and dates to know from Jessica M. Pasko.
Jessica M. Pasko
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 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
After years of holdups, luxury La Bahia hotel project moves closer to spring 2025 debut
“We don’t just want to be another luxury hotel on the California coast; we want to be Santa Cruz’s luxury hotel,” says an exec at one of the companies spearheading the La Bahia Hotel & Spa along Beach Street on the Santa Cruz waterfront. La Bahia will include 155 guest rooms, as well as four restaurants and bars.
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This week in Santa Cruz County business: La Bahia progress, new hotel for Pleasure Point, Bay Fed adds assistant VP
In this week’s roundup, Jessica M. Pasko has updates on leadership and construction of the beachfront luxury La Bahia Hotel & Spa and on accommodations proposed for 41st Avenue, plus comings and goings and numbers and dates to know in Santa Cruz County business.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Downtown prepping for new retail spaces, local berry company gets fair trade certification
In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko examines the future of retail in rapidly redeveloping downtown Santa Cruz, news from California Giant Berry Farms and numbers and dates to know in local business.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Santa Cruz County Bank’s merger, local tourism flying high and Humble Sea’s trend-bucking expansion
A merger between two regional banks, big numbers for Santa Cruz County tourism and Humble Sea Brewing taking on San Francisco lead off Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly look at local business. You’ll also find other notes, numbers, dates and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County tourism industry marks state’s biggest post-pandemic recovery
In 2023, visitors spent $1.4 billion at Santa Cruz County hotels, restaurants, gas stations, stores and attractions, marking a 35% increase from 2019 pre-pandemic levels – the largest such increase among California’s 58 counties.
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Santa Cruz County Bank to merge with Salinas-based 1st Capital Bank
Krista Snelling, president and CEO of both Santa Cruz County Bank and West Coast Community Bancorp, will lead the combined company, which will be headquartered in Santa Cruz.
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This week in Santa Cruz County business: Global accolades for Climatize, temporary plans move forward for Capitola Wharf
In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko notes an armful of honors for a local startup, highlights what’s next for the rebuilding Capitola Wharf and pinpoints numbers and dates to know in the world of Santa Cruz County business.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Biz help from Bay Fed, Monterey Bay coalition doubles down on electric aircraft, Food Bin vote delayed
In her weekly roundup of local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on Bay Federal Credit Union adding commercial real estate loans, notes a new effort to boost growth in the airspace occupied by the likes of Joby Aviation and highlights numbers to know and upcoming events.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Paystand’s progress, food and beverage spots for lease, Joby inks Abu Dhabi partnership
Scotts Valley’s Paystand aims to become the “Venmo of business-to-business payments,” with its latest acquisition, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her latest business roundup. Plus, leases for a downtown Santa Cruz food kiosk and cafes at the Tannery Arts Center and on Cedar Street are up for grabs. And Joby Aviation partners with Abu Dhabi and expands its Marina facility.