Local Business

Maya Cinemas takes steps toward summer opening

Maya Cinemas took a high-profile step toward opening this summer when a red helicopter spent much of Tuesday morning plopping heavy air conditioning units on top of the 16-screen movie theater under construction at California Avenue and P Street.

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Three thoughts: Double-dip threat to the economy?

Although there are signs the economy may have turned a corner, some observers are expressing concerns that economic activity could slow again, leading to a so-called “double-dip.” We asked three local business people for their thoughts.
Survey: Farmers keen on eco-friendly practices

As Earth Day approaches, a new survey found a strong majority of U.S. farmers and ranchers are moving toward sustainable agricultural practices.
Federal crackdown causes local bank's stock to fall

State and federal regulators cracked down on Bakersfield’s San Joaquin Bank Thursday, demanding tougher oversight, improved risk management and urgent deadlines for cleaning up troubled loans.
Raceway gets 30-day sigh of relief

Developers of the unfinished Kern River Raceway southwest of Bakersfield got a 30-day extension on a foreclosure auction scheduled for Thursday.
Has your company gone green?

With Earth Day approaching, The Californian would like to hear from local businesses and organizations that have invested in ways to reduce pollution, waste or energy and water use.
Leadership Bakersfield professionals mentor emancipated foster youth

Matthew Maldonado has long had an interest in working in a field related to mechanical engineering, but until recently never thought the education and opportunities to achieve this goal were within his reach.
Business roundup: Local economy news and information

Valley Republic Bank, Bakersfield’s newest bank, will celebrate its grand opening April 13 to 17 with a series of free luncheon business seminars; an art show featuring scenes from local artists; and product demonstrations aimed at improving your cash management.
Law firms position themselves to weather economic downturn

Enough with the lawyer jokes. In this economy, once-comfortable law firms are learning they have to react quickly to changes around them or risk suffering like so many other businesses.
People in Business: A who's who for April 3

BARBARA RYEA has earned the Advanced Paralegal Certification in Trial Practice designation, something achieved by only 14 people in California and 158 nationwide. Ryea, who is also certified as a legal assistant and as a California Advanced Specialist in Civil Litigation, works as a legal assistant with the Bakersfield law firm of Chain Cohn Stiles.
Gottschalks: Over and out starts now

After a failed attempt to sell itself to investors who would have kept bankrupt Gottschalks Inc. open, a group of liquidators has emerged as the winning bidder and will shut down the department store chain founded in Fresno in 1904.
Job recruitment hits the road

A small bus carrying the avant-garde of Kern’s job creation efforts buzzed with numbers talk Thursday as it bumped along the back roads linking partly developed industrial sites north of Bakersfield.
Out of work? Some strike out on their own as entrepreneurs

After more than a decade with a home builder, Russ Johnson found himself out of work.
State education budget forces internship program cuts

Mayra Rodriguez was looking for a way to save on car repairs, so she signed up for an auto tech course at the Regional Occupational Center.
People in Business: A who's who for March 27

Valley Republic Bank, a new commercial bank in Bakersfield, recently announced five additions to its management team.
Conference shows women options truly are unlimited

Options Unlimited, The Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference turns 20 this year. And while a lot of things have changed in that time, the goals of the conference have not.
BHS wins, Centennial takes third in national business competition

It’s a lesson any executive can attest to: Success in business sometimes comes down to having a strong work ethic, a willingness to collaborate with outsiders and the ability to adapt under new circumstances.
Parkview Cottage owners riled

Barbara Poor was one of the first buyers to snap up one of the downtown Parkview Cottages when they hit the market in 2006.
Five questions: An update on economic conditions in agriculture

Michael Swanson, senior economist and agricultural economist for Wells Fargo & Co., visited Bakersfield from Bloomington, Minn., Thursday for an agricultural forecast meeting. We took the opportunity to ask about economic conditions for local growers and ranchers.
Excerpts from The State of Kern County’s Economy

Abbas Grammy, a Cal State Bakersfield economics professor and publisher of Kern Economic Journal, delivered his annual state of the economy address at Wednesday’s Ninth Annual Kern County Economic Summit. The following are excerpts from his written report that was given to attendees. It covers conditions in 2008 with insight into 2009.
Economic summit points to slow recovery

Hope for a speedy end to the economic downturn was in short supply at Wednesday’s Kern County Economic Summit, even as one invited speaker expressed optimism that the region could weather the recession better than the rest of California.