In business news around the island, there’s lots of expanding, buying, and selling as 2013 gets underway.  The year also starts off with a workshop on how to find and apply for grant money.

Grant Writing Workshop in Hilo Jan. 7 & 8

There’s still time to sign up for a two-day grant workshop next Monday and Tuesday in Hilo at the UH-Hilo Campus Center, Room 301. The two-day class, which will run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days, is hosted by the County of Hawai’i Department of Research and Development and presented by Grant Writing USA.

Workshop fee is $425 per person and includes class materials.

This training is applicable to grant seekers across all disciplines. Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county and state agencies, as well as non-profit groups, K-12, and universities are encouraged to attend.

Click here for event details. For more information, email cs@grantwritingusa.com, or call 1-(800)-814-8191.

R&G Tire Bought by California Firm

R&G Tire Center Inc. has been bought by California-based East Bay Tire Company. With two locations in Hilo and Kona, R&G Tire Center carries a variety of truck tires for consumer, commercial, industrial, and farm use.

East Bay Tire, which is a commercial and wholesale tire dealer, has supplied tires to R&G since 1998 according to Tirebusiness.com, which reported the story. Financial details of the sale have not been released.

R&G Tire staff will remain under the new ownership. Founders Rod and Ginger Carvalho will become the location manager and office manager respectively, while daughters Kim and Jennifer Carvalho will continue on at the Hilo location.

Paniolo Adventures For Sale

Current and potential paniolo take note: Waimea-based Paniolo Adventures is for sale. The business, which was founded in 1979, is on the market due to the retirement of owner Bob Hendrickson who bought the business 12 years ago.

Paniolo Adventures is located at the 11,000-acre Ponoholo Ranch in North Kohala, the second largest cattle ranch on the Big Island. The company, which has six employees, offers a variety of horse riding activities from private tours to sunset and picnic rides.

According to BizBuySell.com, the adventure riding company is for sale for $469,000, and includes 26 horses, barn, office, tack, and gear for rides. For more information, go to www.panioloadventures.com or call (808) 889-5354.

Verizon Wireless Expands Big Island Network

Verizon Wireless has added more than a dozen cell sites across the Big Island in recent months. The network upgrade is part of the company’s ongoing investment to keep improving and strengthening its wireless network.

During the past year, the telecommunications company has installed 4G LTE cell sites at 17 locations around the Big Isle, including Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua, Captain Cook, Waikoloa, Pepe’ekeo, Volcano, Waimea, Pahoa, Honoka’a, Pa’auilo, Ninole, Miloli’i, Saddle Road, Hawi, Na’alehu, and the Hilo Medical Center area.

In addition, 3G cell sites were installed in Na’alehu, Glenwood, Pahoa, Hilo, and Honoka’a.

West Hawai’i Social Security Office Closed

Social Security services are no longer available at the West Hawai’i Civic Center. Many services provided by the federal agency are available online at www.socialsecurity.gov or you can call toll free 1-(800)-772-1213.

If your business has an opening, closing, promotion, retirement, new product release, special event, award, new location, or expansion, please let us know. Email us at newsdesk@Bigislandnow.com.