Essam khashoggi industries that are growing

EarthShell Corp., an environmentally friendly food packaging company that has burned through more than $300 million of investors' money since it was founded 13 years ago, is closing its Santa Barbara corporate office on upper State Street and moving to Maryland.

During its heyday, the company was based on Miramonte Drive and employed more than 100 people.

Today it has slimmed to around a dozen staff and will consolidate operations at its Baltimore office by the end of this year, says Chief Financial Officer Scott Houston.

In the late '90s, Maryland was a hub of EarthShell activities, and the company has strong links there through the Sweetheart Cup Co., a manufacturer of disposable food service products.

"There is really no compelling reason to remain in California," according to Mr.

Houston, who says transition plans are being worked through and that nothing has been finalized regarding the han