Hawaii’s economic well-being ranks high
A monthly study finds Hawaii’s economic well-being among the top five among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Several states experienced relatively significant month-to-month increases and decreases, with Hawaii’s increase at 0.8 points.
The Connecticut-based DIVER Geo Score results for February show the top states share common characteristics, including declines in unemployment and increases in labor force participation and housing prices, while nine of the 10 experienced declines in poverty.
North Dakota was the top-ranked state with a score of 10 points. The District of Columbia was second at 9.8, Vermont at 9.6, Wyoming at 9.4 and Hawaii at 9.2.
The analysis is compiled by Lumesis Inc. for use by municipalities across the U.S.
Connector inks pact for native outreach
The Hawaii Health Connector signed Tuesday a $675,000 contract with the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, which will serve as a marketplace assister to help Native Hawaiians enroll in Obamacare health plans.
The group will conduct outreach in 34 Hawaiian Home Land communities. The open enrollment deadline to sign up for health coverage through the online insurance marketplace created by President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act is March 31.
The state-based health insurance exchange late last year lost its largest marketplace assister contractor, Faith Action for Community Equity, and it ended a grant with the Wahiawa Center for Community Health in early December.
Hawaii Biotech has $5.5M federal contract
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Hawaii Biotech Inc. a $5.5 million contract to continue developing drugs to block a toxin that causes botulism, or food poisoning.
It is the second DOD contract that Hawaii Biotech has received to develop therapeutic drugs to combat infectious diseases that pose potential bioterrorism threats. There is no therapeutic drug currently available for the treatment of botulism.
The Honolulu-based company previously won a $7.4 million grant for an anti-anthrax drug.
Feds close investigation into Ford vehicles
DETROIT » The federal government is closing an investigation into 1.6 million Ford vehicles that can lose engine power after Ford agreed to a remedy.
The yearlong investigation involved Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs and Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from the 2009 through 2013 model years.
Some of these vehicles can suddenly lose power because of material buildup in the electronic throttle bodies. Although the engines don’t stall, vehicle speeds can drop to as low as 5 mph. Three accidents and one injury have been reported.
The new software won’t fix the problem, but it will allow affected vehicles to travel at least 40 miles per hour in what is known as "limp home mode." Ford also extended the warranty on the electronic throttle bodies.
ON THE MOVE
Central Pacific Bank has promoted Patrick Matsumoto to vice president and commercial banking manager. Matsumoto has been with the bank since 2012 and has 14 years of banking experience.
ProService Hawaii has promoted:
>> Stephanie Graeler to director of professional services. She joined the company as a professional services manager in 2012.
>> Sarah Guay to director of talent management. Prior to joining ProService, Guay was an employability training manager at Management Training Corp., a Utah-based company with offices in Waimanalo.
>> Marci McCalmon has been named director of sales operations. She joined the company as a sales support manager in 2012 and was previously a partnership account manager with the Institute of Internal Auditors.
