An international financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate offered more positive news in its third-quarter review for the Central Valley.

Times have been tough for mainstream television stations and newspapers. Years of layoffs brought on by plummeting revenue have left news coverage in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties thinner than ever.
So, media entrepreneurs are stepping in to fill the gap and capitalizing on the growing trend of hyperlocal news.

Gallo Family Vineyards, a family-owned winery nearly 80 years old, has conducted a national survey to find out how American define “family.”

STOCKTON – State agencies, counties, cities, utilities and more will be at the Small and Diverse Business Procurement Expo 2012 to help businesses learn how to bid for contracts.

Here’s a copy of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce’s calendar for the rest of August and into September.

TRACY – The annual Tracy Dry Bean Festival is marking “26 years of beans” with its latest installment of the popular celebration.

MODESTO – A law firm with a recently opened office in Modesto is inviting Central Valley employers to a mixer and brief employment law presentation.

MANTECA – The federal farm bill and good food for all are slated as the topics for the 2012-13 kickoff fundraiser for the League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County.

TRACY – The Tracy Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new sandwich shop.

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) met in Oakland Wednesday with industry and labor leaders to talk about how to combat California’s underground economy.