Quick Take
Jessica M. Pasko's weekly column returns with news of Santa Cruz County getting more than half a million from pharmacy giant Walgreens and local businesses' chance to get in on World Cup fever, plus names, numbers and dates to know.
Each week, we’re taking a closer look at the movers and shakers, the growth of industries and what’s really driving the Santa Cruz County economy. I’ll be spotlighting some of the biggest areas for opportunity, updates on local development and all things underpinning the regional business scene each Wednesday.
Got ideas? Send them my way to news@lookoutlocal.com with “Business News” in the subject line.
Walgreens to pay settlement to Santa Cruz County and eight other counties
Retail pharmacy giant Walgreens has reached a $6 million settlement with a coalition of nine county district attorneys, including Santa Cruz County’s Jeff Rosell. The settlement stems from claims that the corporation charged consumers more than the lower advertised price for items and sold expired over-the-counter products, including aspirin and hand sanitizer. Walgreens was accused of violating consumer protection laws tied to pricing accuracy and product safety.
The other counties in the civil suit were Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, San Joaquin and Yolo counties.
Walgreens currently operates stores locally in Santa Cruz, Freedom and Scotts Valley.
Of the $6 million that Illinois-based Walgreens must pay in civil penalties and costs, about $644,500 will go to Santa Cruz County. Some of that money will go to reimbursing the county Department of Weights and Measures, which assisted with inspections and provided expertise.
MORE IN LOCAL BUSINESS
Local businesses invited to promote World Cup-related activities
Santa Cruz County businesses interested in hosting watch parties or other events in conjunction with the 2026 men’s soccer World Cup are invited to contact Visit Santa Cruz County. The county’s tourism marketing organization invites businesses to submit their event and use the Kick off Santa Cruz logo by contacting Melissa Begin at mbegin@santacruz.org.
Any event or promotion must also comply with copyright guidelines; businesses can review the Bay Area Public Screening Playbook for guidance. The Bay Area will host select matches at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara from June 13 to July 1; the 48-team tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 at venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the final set for MetLife Stadium outside New York City.
Business owners can also still share their input to a survey launched by county leaders last fall in advance of the Super Bowl and World Cup. That survey is available here.
ICYMI: Village Foods meal delivery expands toward Live Oak storefront after rapid rise
A former product marketing manager has turned her love of cooking into a new business aimed at helping busy community members, especially parents like herself.
Kelly Langstaff launched Village Foods last spring, offering customers the opportunity to personalize their orders rather than being limited to a set menu. Meals are delivered on Mondays, helping set the work week off with a fridge full of food.
Read Lily Belli’s full story here.
Ch-ch-changes
- Bay Federal Credit Union helps raise $2.4 million for Children’s Miracle Network: Santa Cruz-based Bay Federal Credit Union took part in the annual Credit Union for Kids Wine Auction last month, raising over $2 million for 11 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in California, Nevada and Utah. Bay Federal president and CEO Carrie Birkhofer and Chuck Fagan, president and CEO of Florida-based financial technology company Velera, co-chaired the event, attended by more than 600 people.
- Driscoll’s names new chief financial officer: Wadih J. Khayat has been hired as chief financial officer of Watsonville-based berry company Driscoll’s. Khayat will report to CEO Soren Bjorn and oversee global finance, technology and strategy. Previously, he spent more than two decades with the Coca-Cola Company, where he most recently served as senior vice president and CFO for the corporation’s Europe business.
- New president named for Dominican Hospital: Christine McSweeney has been appointed president of Dignity Health’s Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City and Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. McSweeney, who starts her new role on Monday, previously served as president of two Holy Cross hospitals in Utah. She takes the reins from Dominican Hospital president and CEO Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, who is retiring after nearly 20 years at the helm. Read more from Hillary Ojeda here.
- Vendors sought for Midtown Fridays event series: The organizers of Event Santa Cruz are seeking art and food vendors for the sixth season of the Midtown Fridays summer block parties. Each event at 1111 Soquel Ave. will feature 14 vendors plus food trucks and live bands, and it’s $50 per night for tent or table vendors. The series kicks off May 29 and continues weekly through Aug. 28. To apply or ask questions, go here.
Got hires, promotions or departures to report? Send them to news@lookoutlocal.comwith the subject line “Career changes.”
What’s new on the Lookout Job Board
- Health Center Manager at The County of Santa Cruz
- Conference Services Coordinator at UC Santa Cruz
- Physician’s Assistant/Nurse Practitioner at County of Santa Cruz
- Psychologist, Complex Mental Health at UC Santa Cruz
- Dining Senior Food Service Worker at UC Santa Cruz
- Value Added Enterprise Associate at Homeless Garden Project
Want more? Browse all openings on our job board. | Hiring? Post your job today!
mORE LOCAL COVERAGE
Looking at the numbers
- 59.5%: That was the occupancy rate for Santa Cruz County hotels in February, marking a rise from the previous two months when the rate was 51.6%. It represented a 5.6% increase in occupancy compared to February 2025. Average daily room rate also increased, moving up from $147 in January to $174 in February. That’s according to the latest numbers from Visit Santa Cruz County, the county’s tourism marketing organization. It marks a promising start to 2026 in advance of the spring and summer tourism seasons.
Save the date
- Thursday, April 16: The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual community recognition awards event at The Grove in Santa Cruz from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Register here.
- Thursday, April 16: Cabrillo College is hosting a job and internship fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aptos campus. The event is open to the public and participation is free for employers. More details available here.
- Saturday, April 18: The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz will hold a teen job training from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help local teens with guidance on how to land a summer job. The free event, to be held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History on Front Street, includes lunch, résumé-writing tips and presentations from local employers. Register here.
- Saturday, April 25: Mission West will hold a grand opening event to celebrate its new ownership. The Westside dive bar changed hands at the start of the year. The event, scheduled for 2 to 10 p.m., includes live music, dancing and local vendors.
- Tuesday, April 28: The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce will hold its next business after-hours event at Bargetto Winery, 3535 North Main St., Soquel. The event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. More details here.
- Thursday, May 7: The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a cornhole tournament and mixer at GaryAir hangar, 50 Aviation Way, Watsonville, from 5 to 7 p.m. Details and registration are here.
- Wednesday, May 13: The Santa Cruz Launchpad job and recruitment fair takes place at The Grove on 400 Beach St. in Santa Cruz from 5 to 7 p.m. Employers can register to attend and have a table by April 29. More details here.
Add your business or networking events to Lookout’s free public calendar, BOLO. Click here to add your event.
Business news worth reading
- From Wrigley to the Sphere: How Santa Cruz creative technologist Aron Altmark built the machines behind an arena-scale spectacle (Good Times)
- Cannacruz relocates cultivation operations from Monterey County to Watsonville (KSBW)
- How a sapling and a viral candy made California the world’s pistachio king (The New York Times)
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