No limit in the skies

When John Allen got around to fulfilling his childhood dream of securing a patent, he designed a car top cover to protect car interiors and reduce heat. What he didn't expect was for his business California PopTop to catch on in the television and law enforcement fields. That is, until Allen's product was introduced to Angel City Air, which operates helicopters for aerial production and TV news shows broadcasts. Today, he supplies covers for the ...

Party company raises roofs

Billing itself as the "party specialist," SOS Entertainment of Santa Clarita is also specializing in one other arena - continuing to grow as a company.

VIA installs 2012 board members

Capping off its year, the Valley Industry Association installed its new 2012 chair and board of directors at the Valencia Country Club in Santa Clarita on Tuesday. Outgoing chairman, Tim Burkhart, told VIA members and guests the organization has emerged from a rough year as a strong organization that brings value to its members. "VIA has had an exceptional year," said Kathy Norris, president and CEO of VIA. "Our membership has grown by 28 percent." ...

Home sales continue upward

Industry numbers released this week reflect an increase in sales of both existing and newly constructed homes. While median home prices continue to drop in ongoing market adjustments, sales of existing single-family homes in the Santa Clarita Valley continue to increase, jumping 34 percent over the prior year. The Southland Regional Association of Realtors reported Monday that for five out of the last six months, sales of existing single-family homes in the SCV area increased ...

Storefronts filled

Two new businesses, Total Woman Gym & Day Spa and Ulta Beauty, are moving into the remaining retail space vacated by Mervyn's in 2008, said Ben Jarvis, associate planner with the city of Santa Clarita. The last third of the retail space will be subdivided between the two tenants at the River Oaks Shopping Center on Magic Mountain Parkway, he said. Separate entrances will be built for each of the tenants. Total Woman has submitted ...

Firm makes new device for babies

Neotech Products released another new device last week designed to support life for some of the world's tiniest medical patients: premature infants. Based in the Valencia Industrial Center, the Santa Clarita company produced the RAM Nasal Cannula, an interface product that provides nasal respiratory support for critically small and ill babies in hospital neonatal intensive care units. Founded by the former chief of staff of St. Joseph's of Burbank hospital, Dr. Arnold Heyman, and Tom ...

FHA rule changes limit homebuyer options

When the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, changed the loan approval guidelines for condominiums two years ago, many of the condo complexes that once were FHA approved no longer qualify for eligibility - leaving Santa Clarita home sellers and homebuyers in the lurch, said Mike Meena of Augusta Financial, a mortgage broker based in Newhall.

Fundraising? There’s an app for that

EdRover, the mobile application that partners businesses and schools with consumers to raise funds for education, has had a busy couple of weeks gathering Santa Clarita businesswomen together and being selected to compete in the Pepsi Refresh Project for a $25,000 grant.

Firm has plans to deal with distress

When the real estate construction and development business skidded to a virtual halt, Santa Clarita resident Matt Skinner said he returned to his roots of buying, fixing and selling distressed properties. But, this time, Skinner added a twist: building a real-estate investment company, Twelvestone Capital, based on equity acquisitions. Skinner is the CEO and director of the company. And, after 13 years of doing business in Los Angeles, Skinner, a native of Santa Clarita, ...

Update spurs merchant worries

The Vons grocery store in Santa Clarita on Soledad Canyon and Sand Canyon roads has tentative plans to expand, causing small-business owners located in the shopping center to complain of raised rents and fears of being forced out.

Chamber asks for award nominations

The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce has opened nominations for its Small, Medium and Large Business of the Year awards for 2011. Companies eligible for nomination must have been members in good standing with the SCV Chamber of Commerce for a period of longer than one year, and should have been actively involved in chamber activities, said Terri K. Crain, president and CEO. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 9. A selection committee will ...

City hosts seminar for businesses

More than 30 business owners and company representatives attended a one-hour "how to do business with the city" vendor outreach program at the Santa Clarita City Hall Friday. Business owners learned how to register their company with the city, how to compete for quotes, bids and proposals. The city also described its "10 percent local preference" program for Santa Clarita-based companies. Often cities have to go with the lowest bidder, said Jessica Jackson, communications specialist ...

SCV construction stands alone

While an apartment complex and three smaller developments accounted for the bulk of building permits issued around L.A. County, the Santa Clarita Valley continues to buck the statewide trend, according to the numbers released by the Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California on Nov. 22. According to data compiled by the ...

Gains continue in home markets

Sales of existing single-family homes in the Santa Clarita Valley jumped 22.2 percent, while the California home sale market showed only modest increases of 3.1 percent in October.

Bankers launch ‘Valencia Initiative’

A group of local bankers from Wells Fargo have introduced a new initiative for the Santa Clarita Valley.

Family-run 7-Eleven closing after 27 years

What 7-Eleven, Inc. giveth, 7-Eleven, Inc. taketh.

Homeowners in need often become victims

If a company is asking for money upfront to perform a loan modification service, that's a red flag, said a local Realtor.

Bouquet getting repaved

Bouquet Canyon Road is getting a makeover.

Stores host block party to attract business

Sometimes it just takes a village of business owners to kick off a round of economic activity.

Median household income fell 7.3 percent in recession

Enterprise Zone audit reveals no major flaws

An exhaustive five-day audit of Santa Clarita's Enterprise Zone resulted in the program being given a green light with regards to running of the program and credits granted.

Kaiser Permanente expanding its practice

Kaiser Permanente first opened its doors to Santa Clarita residents in 1994. But in October 2012, the integrated managed care medical group purchased a second building in Valencia.

Education has been key to its growth, local escrow company says

Independently owned and operated since 1998 by Jim and Anita Lombardi of Santa Clarita, Federal Escrow Inc. has been offering every type of escrow imaginable.

Small business center launches restaurant startup program

The Small Business Development Center, hosted by College of the Canyons, offers a wide array of services, many at no cost to new and existing business owners.

Auto repair shop thrives on good service

Dan Carpenter first opened his Santa Clarita automotive service in October 1988, specializing in the repair of Honda and Acura vehicles.

AMS Fulfillment’s growth led to rapid-fire expansion

AMS Fulfillment's meteoric growth over the past decade led to the company's leasing of 13 different buildings scattered throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

Premier America Credit Union planning expansion

When members speak, Premier America Credit Union listens.

Chevy introduces the most new product in decade

Just like General Motor's iconic muscle cars that helped the brand revolutionize the market, Chevrolet is revved and roaring to the marketplace with more new products than the public has seen in a decade.

Two new auto dealerships opt to open in Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita is already home to the largest collection of automotive dealerships in Southern California, giving residents a wide selection from which to shop and buy locally. But two more dealerships announced last year they are opening for business.

Santa Clarita’s unemployment rate drops

Santa Clarita's unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent in February, according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development Division.