Chico Innovation Lab Celebrates Grand Opening 

Huge turnout as Chico celebrates a new era in enhancing innovation in our region 

The Chico Innovation Lab at 345 Huss in the Hegan Lane Business Park officially opened its doors for business on May 12.  The dignitaries were out in force as the community rallied in support of this exciting new resource to the innovation community in Chico.  Check out a few pictures of the event below!

Chico Municipal Airport Receives $62,000 Grant 

Chico has gotten a helping hand from a federal agency worth more than $62,000 and aimed at the Chico Municipal Airport. The city landed the grant with help of local economic development entity 3CORE, which worked closely with the federal Economic Development Administration. The EDA had heard about the significant economic blow when Aero Union announced last year it would be pulling out of Chico.

The federal grant, along with the city's $20,000-some match for a $83,000 total will help the city pay for appraisals on the six Aero Union buildings, a building assessment, and at least a portion of environmental review. "The federal assistance is a great opportunity. It helps us offset those costs," City Manager Dave Burkland said. The assistance complements other federal funding dedicated to other job-creating purposes, as well as expanding Cohasset Road to four lanes.

A company that primarily converts military aircraft into firefighting air tankers, Aero Union announced last year it was moving to the former McClellan AFB in Sacramento that has been decommissioned and is being built up as an industrial park. Aero Union's presence in Chico dated back to the mid-1960s, and the jobs were well-paid manufacturing ones. That relocation represented a local loss of about 100 jobs. There are still two Aero Union buildings in use, but both operations are winding down, according to Burkland, who said Aero Union is still interested in continuing to lease the largest hangar. Aero Union has continued to pay for all the leased buildings, amounting to about $270,000 annually, he said. Some of the lease agreements won't end for several decades, although Aero Union and the city are both trying to find new tenants.One of the Aero Union buildings is being subleased to DigitalPath Internet service, which in turn has leased it to Redding-based Air Shasta for a helicopter school.

Saying he could not identify the companies yet, Burkland said there were a couple of out-of-town firms "seriously" looking at using some of the buildings. Burkland said some interest has come out of a Chico exhibit at an aviation show last year the Chico Economic Planning Corp. staffed. "Two businesses have dealt directly with me. I suspect they want to do something within the next six months," Burkland said. Burkland said Chico's airport is "unique," in that it has 54 acres of plane parking on the flightline; a 6,700-foot long runway that allows for "significantly large aircraft;" and that the air space around Chico is relatively unrestricted. Additionally, the fact that Chico is a "certified airport" that handles commercial flight service is another boon to the area. Those elements aren't shared by many other airports, he said. Because of their location at the airport, the Aero Union buildings can only be used for aviation purposes, according to federal guidelines.Burkland said the city has received inquiries in the past for passive uses, like airplane storage, "but we want active, job creating uses."

Staff writer Laura Urseny can be reached at 896-7756 or lurseny@chicoer.com.

Business is APP'ning in Chico! 

Mobile is everything these days, and mobile web access points are everywhere thanks to 3G and 4G networks and WiFi hot spots.  Soon, our very own Chico, California will be making its official debut in the mobile application world with the Official Chico APP.  This is especially exciting for Chico Businesses, for whom a listing on the APP provides unprecedented mobile visibility. The APP is sure to be wonderful for locals, and absolutely essential for visitors to Chico. Included in the listing for each business on the Chico APP: Personal business listing, GPS mapping, link to your website, one-click phone dialing,  your business controls the content, and enhanced presence opportunities via the Chamber of Commerce.

If your business is not currently participating in the development of this APP or you would like to be listed, call the Chamber of Commerce at 530-891-5556 immediately to get in when the APP launches!   Not a Chamber member but still want in on the APP action?  Non-Chamber member rates are available, as are sponsorships.  Call or visit the Chamber website today.  This is an opportunity you do not want to miss as the ease of access to Chico business the APP provides is truly exceptional.  Coming to iPhone and iPad soon, and Android device compatibility is in development right now.  

Landacorp is Hiring! 

Since moving to their new location at 500 Orient Street in Chico, the company is expanding their workforce. To view the open positions, follow the link and select Chico as your location.  

For more than 25 years, Landacorp has been solving the complex problems faced by health plans. Today, no one better understands the challenges of healthcare or offers more insightful, innovative software solutions for overcoming them.

Landacorp is an industry leader in the development and implementation of care management solutions that enable collaboration among members, providers and health plans. Landacorp provides software and services that automate and simplify the processes surrounding care management. Our products help clients enhance the quality of care, manage costs and avoid risk.

Our longtime experience in the field gives us a unique ability to bring together all the resources and organizations needed to best serve the patient. Landacorp's care management software is an integral part of the operations of some of the nation's largest, most-respected health plans and multi-hospital chains.

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