CENTRAL AREA
EXPOSITION PARK
Federal Grant: The USC Marshall School of Business Center for International Business Education and Research has been awarded a $1.58 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The four-year grant will support thirty-nine projects, including new initiatives on global economic issues such as sustainability, public health and social entrepreneurship.
LOS ANGELES
Locked Up: CompuMed Inc., an L.A. medical information and software company, has secured extended contracts to provide its CardioGram interpretation systems for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Arizona Department of Corrections. The Oklahoma DOC rents 21 CardioGram systems; the Arizona DOC owns 45 CardioGram systems.
WESTSIDE
LOS ANGELES
Taking Off: Agnes Huff Communications Group LLC, an L.A. PR firm serving the travel and tourism industries, has been named agency of record for western North America by London-based British Airways. Agnes Huff will provide consultation on brand communications, community outreach and media relations.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
SYLMAR
Fresh Debut: Fresh & Easy, an El Segundo-based grocery market chain, has announced the opening of a Sylmar location as one of the company’s nine new stores in California. The Sylmar outpost is scheduled to open Sept. 8.
CALABASAS
Across the Pond: On Assignment Inc., a Calabasas-based professional staffing firm, has acquired Sharpstream, a London-based staffing search firm with a focus on the life sciences sector. On Assignment plans to use Sharpstream’s Shanghai office as a base for launching services into China. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
AGOURA HILLS
Seeing ‘Red’: THQ Inc., an Agoura Hills video game publisher, has entered into agreement with the Syfy cable channel to create a two-hour live-action movie, “Red Faction: Origins,” based on THQ’s “Red Faction” video game series. The video games are centered on miners fighting an oppressive company on Mars. THQ and New York-based Syfy have scheduled the movie to air in March.
WEST HILLS
Moved In: Grossman Burn Center has completed its move to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center at 7300 Medical Center Drive and is now called Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital. The center, which also operates facilities in Santa Ana; Bakersfield; and Lafayette, La., was at Sherman Oaks Hospital.
VAN NUYS
Program Funding: VEDC, a Van Nuys non-profit organization that provides business assistance and training, has received $175,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation to continue its Statewide Small Business Growth Program. The program offers training workshops and entrepreneurial consulting.
