MANUFACTURING

Holsum Bakery to merge with Georgia firm

Arizona’s family-owned Holsum Bakery Inc. is merging with Flowers Foods Inc., a Georgia company.

Ed Eisele, president and majority owner of Holsum Bakery, announced the sale, saying the two companies share common company cultures. He said he would continue to lead the Arizona operation, based in Phoenix, after the sale and that it would retain the Holsum name.

Terms of the cash and stock deal were not disclosed.

Holsum Bakery has annual sales of $146 million and sells baked products under the names Holsum, Aunt Hatties and Roman Meal. Its products are distributed through Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico.

Headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., Flowers Foods has annual sales of more than $2 billion. It operates 36 bakeries throughout the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic under brands including Nature’s Own, Sunbeam and Mrs. Freshley’s.

UTILITIES/ENERGY

New Mexico mine to supply coal to TEP

A new mine in northwest New Mexico that is ramping up to produce 6 million tons of coal per year has signed an agreement to supply Tucson Electric Power’s Springerville Generating Station through 2020.

The El Segundo Mine is owned by Peabody Energy Corp., St. Louis, which says it has invested $70 million into opening the mine, which is located adjacent to the company’s Lee Ranch Mine. El Segundo is the first new coal mine developed in New Mexico in more than 20 years, according to Peabody Energy.

In addition to the deal with Tucson Electric, Peabody said it also signed a 19-year deal to deliver coal to Arizona Public Service Co.’s Cholla Generating Station near Joseph City.

TECHNOLOGY

Nominations sought for state innovation awards

Nominations are now being taken for the 2008 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards.

The annual awards event showcases the compelling stories and brilliant accomplishments of businesses, academia, and nonprofit organizations working in Arizona’s technology sector utilizing innovative technology solutions to address critical issues.

The Arizona Technology Council is accepting nominations online through 5 p.m. July 31 at www.aztechcouncil.org. There is an entry fee of $35 for members of the technology council or $50 for non-members, which is waived if accompanied by a new membership application.

The awards will be handed out the annual black-tie-optional event, which will take place Nov. 13 at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix. This year’s event will be presented in a theatre-style format, followed by a strolling dinner and afterglow party.

This year’s theme is "Shift to Green" and will include the introduction of a new category: green inventor of the year.

SMALL BUSINESS

Business profit plan is prize in contest

Pueblo Business Consulting, 4772 E. Coneflower Drive, is sponsoring a drawing for any privately owned business with annual revenue of $1.5 million or less to win a free profitability improvement consulting package valued up to $3,840.

Eligible businesses can be in retail, manufacturing, services, or restaurants but must be in the greater Tucson region, which includes Marana and Oro Valley.

To enter, register online at www.pueblobusinessconsulting.com on the "contact us" page. Business owners may also call to register at (520) 574-7077.

The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. July 25. A drawing will be held July 30.

ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS

Circus arrives for the Fourth of July

The circus is in town.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be performing July 3-6 at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.

This year’s show is titled "Over The Top." It’s themed around a tug-of-war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus.

The show features nearly 100 animals including flying dogs, Asian elephants, miniature horses, llamas, pigs, and a performing porcupine.

Ticket prices range from $65 to $17 and are available through the convention center’s box office or Ticketmaster.

HOSPITALITY & LEISURE

Miraval seeks those in need of spa vacation

Do you know somebody – anywhere in the country – in need of a luxury spa vacation?

Inspired by last year’s "Live Your Best Life Spa Week" by O, The Oprah Magazine in which Miraval hosted a spa vacation, the resort in Catalina is going to conduct its own contest this year.

People from across the country are invited to go online to www.miravalresorts.com/ to nominate someone they think is most in need of a luxury spa vacation. Ten selected winners will enjoy a four-day, three-night retreat at Miraval, 5000 E. Via Estancia.

The deadline for entries is Aug. 31.

Oregano’s won’t change after sale, founder says

The Arizona restaurant chain Oregano’s is being acquired by Restaurant Acquisition Partners Inc., in Orlando, Fla., but founder Mark Russell says the move won’t change anything at the restaurants expect speed up expansion plans into other states.

Russell will receive $17.5 million in cash and $5 million in stock from the transaction announced June 20.

Oregano’s has eight locations including 4900 E. Speedway. The company opened its first restaurant in 1993.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

GLHN opens separate green division

GLHN Architects and Engineers Inc. has created GLHNgreen, an initiative designed to support and promote the firm’s sustainable design practices and environmentally-responsible in-house procedures.

GLHNgreen is focused on five areas: reduction of the firm’s carbon footprint, expansion of office practices; reorienting professional practices to include paperless document review and communication technologies; staff education; and sustainable/LEED design.Employee-owners Carol Larson, P.E., Donna Mertes, P.E., Ted Moeller, P.E., and Nadia Sabeh Ph.D. are newly-accredited LEED professionals.

GLHN Architects is at 2939 E. Broadway.

HEALTH CARE

Compass rehab services receive accreditation

Compass Behavioral Health Care, which provides alcoholism and other drug abuse prevention and treatment programs, received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International.

Specific three-year accreditation was given for detoxification, outpatient treatment and residential treatment.

CARF International is an independent, nonprofit organization which reviews and grants accreditation services nationally and internationally on request of a facility or program.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Vestar spends $600,000 on shopping center art

Vestar, developer of Oro Valley Marketplace, says it has committed to spend more than $600,000 on public art and other aesthetic enhancements in the 800,000 square foot shopping center.

The process began with a call to artists by the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council. Over 100 proposals were received. From those, the works of six artists were selected.

They include a mosaic design of glass and tile embedded in pavement along a loop walkway done by Susan Gamble; five sculptures depicting the sacred datura plant and its flowering stages designed from stainless and carbon steel by artist Caryl Clement; a dozen handcrafted tile benches by artists Bonnie MacQuarrie and Wall Batterton; eighteen hand-cast tinted concrete pedestals with metal sculpture artwork by Lars Stanley representing different native cacti. Inspiration for the bench tops and insets was drawn from native desert flora and fauna.

GOVERNMENT

IRS bumps up rates for mileage and expenses

The Internal Revenue Service said June 23 it is increasing mileage deductions and expense rates from 50.5 cents per mile to 58.5 cents.

The move is in response to the skyrocketing increases in gasoline prices. The new rates will be in effect from July 1 through Dec. 31.

The rates impact business automobile travel tax deductions and employee expense reports.

Sahuarita offers 11-week leadership academy

The Town of Sahuarita is starting a Citizen’s Leadership Academy, an 11-week program covering how the municipal governments impacts neighborhoods and communities.

The goal is to give citizens an appreciation for government and its day-to-day operations. Brown bag dinners will be provided during each session.

Applicants must be residents of Sahuarita, at least 18, make a commitment to attend the 11 scheduled sessions and at least one town council meeting. The first session is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Application forms are online at the town’s website, www.ci.sahuarita.az.us; click the "documents" link and then the "applications/permits" link. Download the document, complete it and return to by July 15.

POLITICS

Regulator candidates set for online debate

Three of the five seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission are up for election this year and the 12 candidates vying to be on the regulatory board have agreed to participate in debates that will be open for public participation via the Web and cable TV.

The first debates are scheduled for July 15 with candidates in the Democratic primary debating from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the Repbublicans debating from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The debates, produced by the Arizona Telecommunications & Information Council and the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, will take place at Rio Salado College in Tempe with an online webcast at www.arizonatele.com/atic/ and televised on Cox Communications cable channel 7.

After the primary election, which is Sept. 2, there will be a second debate Sept. 15, before the general election.

The four Democratic candidates in the primary are: Sam George, Phoenix; Kara Kelty, Flagstaff; Sandra Kennedy, Phoenix; and Paul Newman, Bisbee. The eight Republican candidates are John Allen, Scottsdale; Rick Fowlkes, Mesa; Joseph Hobbs, Avondale; Marian McClure, Tucson; Bob Robson, Chandler; Bob Stump, Peoria; Keith Swapp, Buckeye; and Barry Wong, Phoenix.

NONPROFITS

United Way tax filers help 5,407 families

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s 15 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites filed 5,407 free tax returns, netting local residents more than $5.3 million in tax refunds.

United Way said it had 230 volunteers helping prepare the income tax returns for low-income working families.

And because the service was free, it saved the families the average $200 tax-preparation cost charged by professionals, according to Chris McNamara, director of United Way’s Strenghtening Families program.

Wal-Mart Foundation starts state grants program

Wal-Mart Stores and the Wal-Mart Foundation have launched a giving program to award grants to Arizona nonprofit organizations.

Arizona’s State Giving Advisory Council is accepting grant applications from Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) organizations in four focus areas:

• Education

• Job skills training

• Environmental sustainability

• Health

Information about both the Wal-Mart Foundation and the Wal-Mart State Giving Program is available online at www.walmartfoundation.org.