This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby Aviation the ‘coolest thing made in California’?

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.

Joby Aviation in the running for “coolest thing made in California” contest

Santa Cruz-based Joby Aviation is among the nominees in the California Manufacturers & Technology Alliance’s new “coolest thing made in California” competition. The company’s S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is one of 16 products competing in the second annual contest, which was won last year by Tesla’s Model Y. Voting launched Monday, and a winner will be announced in October. To cast a vote, click here.

In other Joby news, the company announced it expects production to begin at its new Dayton, Ohio, facility next year. Meanwhile, the company’s research and development, testing and other operations will remain in California.

Joby officials have set a goal to launch the company’s first commercial service in New York City and Los Angeles next year, and the company is also working hard on international efforts. Earlier this month, officials said the company had applied for certification for use in Australia, and it previously inked deals to launch in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Neatleaf working with national cannabis company to improve N.J. grow facility

Scotts Valley-based Neatleaf announced it’s now working with iAnthus Capital Holdings to improve operations at the company’s cultivation facility in Pleasantville, New Jersey. iAnthus Capital Holdings is a leading national producer of packaged consumer cannabis goods and also owns 37 retail cannabis dispensaries in seven U.S. states.

Neatleaf, founded in 2020, uses robotics and artificial intelligence technology to help cultivators improve growing processes and better track plant health. While Neatleaf’s technology could be applied to many crops, it has quickly gained a strong foothold in the cannabis industry. The company’s invention, Neatleaf Spyder, is a farming robot designed for use in environments such as greenhouses to monitor and analyze individual plants. 

ICYMI: UCSC chancellor says budget deficit larger than expected, layoffs underway

UC Santa Cruz closed fiscal year 2024 with a larger deficit ($107 million) than expected and university officials anticipate another large deficit this year, Hillary Ojeda reported. 

As a result, the university will have to take several cost-cutting measures, including slowing down hiring, not filling vacancies and conducting layoffs. Read Hillary’s full piece here.

Ch-ch-changes: Openings, closings and other developments

• SwellCycle plans first deliveries next month for upcycled surfboards: SwellCycle, which is creating surfboards from recycled plastic medical packaging, expects to begin deliveries next month. Pre-ordering is available through its website. Learn more about the company’s efforts to turn trash into treasured boards in my story from last month.
• Homeless Garden Project gets grant for retail products: As reported last week, the Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz is getting a $150,000 grant to help the nonprofit organization create artisanal products using materials grown on its organic farm. It’s part of the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise.
• Midtown Surf Shop moving out of Midtown: The Midtown Surf Shop, operating on Soquel Avenue for the past six years, is moving downtown to a not-yet-disclosed location on Pacific Avenue. The Soquel Avenue shop is set to close in the next couple of weeks in advance of the move, but store owners haven’t yet announced a new opening date. The company’s Capitola store closed earlier this year, though its Carmel store remains open. 
• Santa Cruz hires assistant city manager: The City of Santa Cruz has hired Santa Clara Acting Assistant City Manager Michelle Templeton as its new assistant city manager. She replaces Laura Schmidt, who stepped down at the start of August to pursue a private sector career. Templeton worked for the City of Watsonville and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary before joining the Santa Clara city staff in 2020.
• Museum of Art & History names interim executive director: Marla Novo is now serving as the interim executive director of the Santa Cruz MAH, following the departure of Robb Woulfe. Woulfe had the job since 2020, when he took the reins from Nina Simon. Novo has 30 years of curatorial experience and has been the museum’s director of exhibitions and programs. The search for a permanent director is ongoing.
• Paystand partners with cloud tech company: Scotts Valley-based payments tech company Paystand will work with software company Cumula 3 to expand its technology to users of the business software NetSuite. NetSuite provides business tools for accounting, customer relationship management and more. Cumula 3 will integrate Paystand’s payments platform into its own software suite, giving its users more functionality.
• Three local companies were named to this year’s Inc. 5000 list:  Paystand also has been named for a fifth consecutive year to the Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Paystand ranked at No. 1,359; also on the list is Santa Cruz-based cybersecurity company Bastille Networks (1,254) and health care software company Murj (1,356).
• Job moves in the local hotel industry: Connie Hagston is leaving her role as director of sales and marketing at the Chaminade Resort & Spa for a new job with The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, Florida. Ivy Ribeiro has joined the Courtyard by Marriott in Santa Cruz as director of sales and marketing.

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

Looking at the numbers

• 5.2%: That’s the state’s unemployment rate for July, which has remained the same for three consecutive months. Santa Cruz County’s rate was slightly higher at 5.8%, up from 5.6% in June and up from 4.9% in July 2023, according to the latest numbers from the state Employee Development Department.

Save the date 

• Thursday, Aug. 29: The Santa Cruz County Chamber is holding a “business after hours” networking event at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. Kevin Heuer, the nonprofit’s director of engagement and impact, will talk about local nonprofit board opportunities and share resources for those looking to join a board. The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 7807 Soquel Dr. in Aptos. Register here.
• Thursday, Sept. 5: The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce holds its next Women in Business Luncheon at the Seacliff Inn in Aptos from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Melinda White, an internal medicine specialist at the Dignity Health Medical Group, is the featured speaker, on the topic of self-care. Details and registration here.
• Wednesday, Sept. 11: The City of Santa Cruz is hosting a community feedback meeting to hear ideas from the public on how the city should spend the $800,000 federal housing and community development funds it has received. The meeting takes place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St. Feedback also can be submitted through this online survey.
• Saturday, Sept. 28: The El Pajaro Community Development Corporation and the Regional Women’s Business Center will hold a Latina Entrepreneurship Leadership Conference from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Watsonville Civic Plaza. Tickets and registration here.
• Thursday, Oct. 3: The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce will hold a “business after hours” event at Abbott SPI Inc., a local security guard service. The networking event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. at Abbott’s offices at 2030 North Pacific Ave., Suite A, in Santa Cruz. It’s $20 for non-members and $10 for chamber members to attend. More details here.
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Santa Cruz Community Health will mark its 50th anniversary with a fundraising gala at the Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz, from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will feature speakers, a sit-down dinner and a cash bar. Tickets start at $150. For details and to purchase tickets, go here.
• Thursday, Oct. 10: Workforce Santa Cruz County is sponsoring a job fair at Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz from 4 to 6 p.m. For more details and to register, click here.
• Friday, Nov. 8: The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership hosts its 2024 Annual State of the Region event from 9 to 5 p.m. at the CSUMB University Center in Seaside. Representatives from Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties will speak about the region’s economic progress and other key issues. Register here.

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

Business news worth reading

• Public employees cannot use labor law to sue employers, California Supreme Court rules (Los Angeles Times)
• The thin purple line: The dubious rise of the private security industry (Harper’s)
• How to make millions as a professional whistleblower (GQ)

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.