Worth Noting in business: Local foreclosure rates up; new donation to energy alliance; and more
| Thursday, Nov 05 2009 04:53 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 05 2009 05:01 PM
Foreclosure rates in Bakersfield rose in September from the same month last year, according to real estate data firm First American CoreLogic.
The rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans is 5.08 percent for the month of September. In September 2008, the rate was 2.73 percent.
Foreclosure activity in Bakersfield is higher than the national foreclosure rate, which was 2.93 percent for September.
The local mortgage delinquency rate also has increased. As of September, 14.12 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared to 9.08 percent for the same period last year.
Hydrogen Energy has contributed $5,000 toward a local effort to interest more girls in energy-sector careers.
The grant was announced Thursday by Kern Economic Development Corp., whose newly formed foundation launched the mentoring project together with the Alliance of Women in Energy, a Bakersfield group also spearheaded by KEDC.
Other companies that have made donations to the mentoring initiative are: Wells Fargo ($10,000), Chevron ($7,500) and AT&T ($10,000).
The initiative funds a year-long mentoring program at six high schools in poor areas in Bakersfield. Girls in the program will be able to receive one-on-one mentoring with women working in various energy-related fields.
Bakersfield accounting firm Brown Armstrong has won a spot on Inside Public Accounting magazine's Best of the Best Honorable Mention list for 2009.
Brown Armstrong's inclusion means it was found to be among the top 50 of 245 accounting firms participating in the ranking.
"To receive this national recognition has been a goal of the firm for several years, and is a tremendous tribute to Brown Armstrong management and staff for all of their hard work," the firm's managing partner, Andrew Paulden, said in a news release.
Brown Armstrong's 90 employees provide audit, accounting and tax services, among other offerings.
The Vons supermarket at 5700 Stockdale Highway now offers members of various credit unions access to their accounts through an in-store kiosk.
Vons Employees Federal Credit Union staffs and operates the full-service kiosk, and Financial Service Centers Cooperative Inc. provided the shared platform, according to a Thursday news release.
President Obama has declared May 24 to 26, 2010, as National Small Business Week, and the U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting nominations for outstanding businesses to recognize then.
The SBA seeks nominations for several SBA award categories including the 2010 Small Business of the Year Award. Trade associations, chambers of commerce and business organizations may sponsor candidates. Business owners may also make nominations.
Nomination criteria and deadline dates for all award categories can be found by visiting the "spotlight" section of the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/ca/fresno or by contacting Melende Ward of the Fresno SBA Office at (559) 487-5791, ext 143.
The Fresno SBA Office serves the 15 Central California counties.
A new Hallmark Business Expressions and Harris Interactive survey has found more than half of consumers want humor cards from businesses this holiday season.
The findings could indicate consumers want an emotional break from the past year's largely downbeat economic news.
According to the survey:
* 62 percent of consumers expressed interest in receiving humor cards from a company with which they do business.
* 65 percent said receiving a humorous business greeting card would result in a positive feeling toward the company.
Hallmark Business Expressions responded by offering 16 humor holiday card designs this season ranging from general, light humor to industry-specific humor in the areas of sales, insurance and health services.
