World View, a Tucson-based space technology company that develops high-altitude balloon systems, is shifting its business to manufacture isolation gowns for the Pima County healthcare workers who are currently battling COVID-19.
World View previously developed un-crewed “Stratollite” balloon vehicles that could photograph and gather data from the atmosphere, but like many start-up companies, was forced to furlough employees due to the ongoing pandemic.
“This difficult decision inspired the company to focus on actions we could take to return employees to work as quickly as possible,” said World View CEO Ryan Hartman in a press release.
As a part of a partnership with Pima County, World View was able to call 19 employees back to work to develop up to 9,600 isolation gowns per week for long-term care facilities, assisted living centers and nursing facilities. But this number is only chipping away that more than 100,000 requests for isolation gowns and personal protective equipment that Pima County has received from local health agencies.
“The ability to find an intersection of supporting our teammates while also supporting local front-line workers and first responders is truly rewarding,” Hartman said. “We remain grateful for the ongoing support and partnership with Pima County.”
This article appears in May 7-13, 2020.
Business Plan:
1. Convince Pima County to give you tax incentives so you hire lots of people in Pima County.
2. Build a facility
3. Change your business plan from “Taking people to the stratosphere” (never get that FAA license) to “photography from space, only not from a satellite with good imagery”
4. Never hire those people you promised in step # 1
5. Blow up hydrogen because of lack of safety and competence
6. Blame coronavirus
7. Make gowns
If Pima County needs a gown sewing firm, it shouldn’t be one on a brand new road in a brand new “SpacePort” that taxpayer dollars are funding.
The only “WorldView” here is the past. As usual the Pima County Supervisors gave them tax credits. How did that work with IBM at Rita Ranch? Microsoft? AOL call center? Amazon… oh, too soon, or does the fire count? (and is it a “regular fire” or one like Solarium and Terra Cotta and Guadalajara Grill?)
E
E Gavron – you forgot one thing –
6a. Have your rent waived by Pima County BOS.
If this ‘for profit’ company has to rely on free rent in order to stay in business, then that is only the tip of the financial iceberg. Next thing that will happen is that the BOS will approve payment of World View salaries,
Why do Tucsonan’s elect these criminals?
Let’s hope the rest of the state is more intelligent, but watch Pima County vote for a co-founder of the taxpayer funded failure:
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2019/0…