North Bay Business Journal

The board of directors of Hennessy Advisors, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend. …

Julie Jones, author of Estate Documents Organizer, and Daren Blonski, financial adviser with Edward Jones in Sonoma, will hold two Tuesday estate-planning workshops. …

Bay Area Development Co. completed U.S. Small Business Administration 504 funding for trade journal Vineyard Winery & Management in Santa Rosa. …

Redwood Credit Union is accepting contributions to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund to directly assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. …

Dominican University of California in fall 2013 will launch a master’s of science degree program in clinical laboratory science (CLS) with an emphasis in molecular diagnostics. …

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) completed its acquisition of China Kanghui Holdings (NYSE: KH), a major provider of orthopedic devices in China. …

American Institute of Architects Redwood Empire chapter presented its design awards for a number of North Bay projects on Oct. 27 in the Kaiser Air hanger at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. …

Novato commercial solar power products and services provider SPG Solar completed a cutting-edge solar tracking system at a wastewater treatment plant in Williams. …

The volume of small business lending backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in the Bay Area reached an all-time high during the last fiscal year, and volume for such loans in three North Bay counties grew by more than one-third.

Novato- and Sonoma-based SolarCraft announced that it has completed the design and installation of a 34.5 kW solar electric system for C&T Publishing in Concord. …

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the county of Marin by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report. …

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), continues to advance its Bay Area expansion with plans for a new flagship store in San Francisco’s financial district. …

Free seminars on Retirement & Estate Solutions will be held at 1–6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. …

Willis Lease Finance Corporation (Nasdaq:WLFC), a leading lessor of commercial jet engines, announced that its board of directors has declared the regular monthly cash dividend. …

The Land Trust of Napa County is pleased to announce the recipients of its inaugural Acre by Acre Awards. Randy and Lori Dunn will receive the inaugural Acre by Acre Award, and Ann Taylor Schwing will receive the inaugural Founder’s Lifetime Achievement Award. …

NRC Picker, a division of National Research Corporation, has awarded St. Helena Hospital–Napa Valley its 2012 Path to Excellence award for “Top performing hospital with 100 to 300 beds.” …

Comcast announced that its Xfinity WiFi service is now available in California. … Hundreds of those hot spots are available in the North Bay, including in smaller towns. …

First American Title Company of Sonoma County announced that it is moving its main Sonoma County office from its present location at 3333 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, to 627 College Ave., Santa Rosa. …

Bay Area Development Company announces that it has completed 504 funding for Price-Less Auto Glass in Santa Rosa. …

On Oct. 19, Beyond Hunger, a nonprofit based out of San Rafael, will be hosting an open house to celebrate the move to its new location on Fourth Street. …

North Bay lenders are lamenting the imminent expiration of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s temporary 504 refinance program, which allows a one-time refinance of debt and reinvestment of equity.

The temporary program, launched by the Jumpstart Our Small Businesses (JOBS) Act of 2010, allows a small-business owner to refinance debt through the typical 504 loan structure used for financing property and other tangible assets: a 10 percent equity contribution from the borrower, a 40 percent, 20-year fixed-rate government loan and a 50 percent second mortgage from a second commercial lender. In combination, up to $10 million can be refinanced through the program.

Both the number of loans and the total value of loans facilitated through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 program decreased across the North Bay in fiscal year 2011, though lenders said levels reflected that some businesses are still expanding during the recessionary period.

SANTA ROSA — In 1977, La Tortilla Factory opened with $75,000 — including a $50,000 loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration.