Business Briefs Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

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HAWAII

American Savings gives $100,000

American Savings Bank has given nonprofit Child & Family Service $100,000 for its capital campaign to build a new emergency shelter and transitional housing facility for families experiencing domestic violence.

"The new facility will address the severe shortage of transitional housing options for families who want to build a new life without violence," Howard Garval, president and chief executive of Child & Family Service, said in a statement earlier this week.

The project broke ground in March and is scheduled for completion next spring.

HTA seeks program proposals

The Hawaii Tourism Authority said Monday it is looking for proposals for community-based projects to enhance areas frequented by residents and visitors.

Application packets will be available for download at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/pdf/RFPS/NatRes09.pdf, and must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 22. Proposals will be reviewed and selected under the guidance of HTA's natural resources advisory group.

This past year, 25 projects in the state received funding through the program.

State Bar Association fundraises

The Hawaii State Bar Association said Monday it raised $27,000 at its annual party to benefit the HSBA Public Service Fund, which supports the HSBA and Young Lawyers Division community and educational outreach programs; the Hawaii Justice Foundation and its Access to Justice programs; and the Friends of the Family Specialty Courts.

USA Funds awards scholarships

USA Funds, a education loan guarantor, said yesterday it has awarded $441,750 in scholarships to help 301 lower income Hawaii residents pursue higher education.

USA Funds awarded $200,250 in scholarships to 134 first-time recipients of Access to Education Scholarships in Hawaii for the 2008-2009 academic year. In addition, USA Funds awarded $241,500 in renewal scholarships to 167 isle residents who previously had received awards under the program.

State buys bioterrorism testers

Hawaii Emergency Medical Services has purchased handheld devices that test for anthrax, ricin toxin, botulinum yoxin, plague, and staphylococcal entertoxin B.

California-based Universal Detection Technology, a developer of early warning monitoring technologies, said yesterday that it has received a purchase order for the devices as well as simulation kits that mimic a real-world bioterrorism incident.

Sprout launches new service

Honolulu and San Francisco-based Sprout, a platform for creating, publishing and managing rich media Web content, said yesterday it has launched a new service.

FanKits enables entertainment and media companies to connect and promote their branded content by allowing fans to create and share branded widgets within social media sites. Users can personalize their widget by adding photos, videos and slideshows or they can remix another fan's widget to create their own.

To see the service, visit http://sproutbuilder.com/sony.

Technology firm wins honors

Referentia Systems Inc., a Hawaii-based technology firm founded in 1996, said yesterday that its recent spin-off, ActionPacked! Networks, has been selected as one of Channel Reseller News' "25 coolest emerging vendors."

ActionPacked! Networks received the honors for its LiveAction software, a product that allows information technology engineers to perform expert-level Cisco device management.

NATION

CNN expands U.S. coverage

ATLANTA » Time Warner Inc.'s CNN plans to add offices in Seattle, Denver, Houston and seven other cities to expand its U.S. news coverage.

The cable news network will staff the expansion with existing employees from daytime and prime-time shows and others who are more focused on the Internet, the Atlanta-based channel said yesterday.

The new offices will strengthen partnerships with affiliate broadcast stations, CNN said. The network already has 10 U.S. bureaus, including Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington. CNN will equip journalists to shoot, edit and produce video and write for the Internet in the new locations.

BRIEFCASE

PRICE HIKE: Lockheed Martin Corp. says double-digit growth in the cost of steel and rising oil prices have raised the final price tag of its latest warship being built for the Navy to roughly $550 million -- two and half times greater than initial estimates.

New Hires / Promotions

» Hawaii Superferry has hired Neil Takekawa as vice president of sales and marketing. His experience includes serving as president of Roberts Hawaii, president and chief executive officer of Segue Strategies and Hawaii Island Air, and president of Aloha Island Air (now Island Air).

» Starwood Hotels & Resorts Waikiki has named Suzy Ford as public relations and promotions manager, food and beverage. Her experience includes serving as groups and marketing manager for Senor Frog's, director of events at the Royal Kona Resort and marketing and events manager at Hard Rock Cafe.

» The Department of Transportation has named Jiro Sumada as deputy director of highways. He is currently deputy director of the Hawaii County Department of Public Works. His experience includes serving as an engineer for Willocks Construction Corp., land manager at W.H. Shipman, a design coordinator at Project Managers Hawaii and a staff engineer for the U.S. Air Force.