August 31, 2024

Jorge Mercado

Jorge Mercado is a staff writer with the Business Times. His beats include technology, agriculture, cannabis, energy and the environment, and higher education.


| Friday, October 20th, 2023

UCSB receives federal funding to fuel semiconductor development

Central Coast, Higher Education, Latest news, left, Subscriber content

UC Santa Barbara will soon be playing a key role in helping the United States expand its semiconductor manufacturing and development, making the country far more competitive in the global market. According to a press release on Oct. 16, UCSB will receive $26.9 million in its first year for a Microelectronics Commons, a coalition of Read More →

| Friday, October 20th, 2023

Mercado: The future of tech in San Luis Obispo is bright

Columns, Latest news, Subscriber content, Technology

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| Monday, October 16th, 2023

Community Bank of Santa Maria reports higher net income

Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Earnings, Latest news, Tri-County Public Companies

The Community Bancorp of Santa Maria, the parent company of Community Bank of Santa Maria, announced its earnings for the third quarter of 2023 on Oct. 16 after the markets closed.  The bank announced net income worth $2.9 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up 22% from the $2.4 million during the same period Read More →

| Saturday, October 14th, 2023

Finding funding: Area venture capitalists, founders share advice

Economy, Latest news, Startups, Tri-County Economy

Correction: A previous version of this article called The Alliance for SoCal Innovation by the wrong name. It is no secret that funding from venture capital firms has slowed down tremendously in 2023 with the global market funding about $144 billion in the first half of 2023, a 51% decline from the same time period Read More →

| Saturday, October 14th, 2023

Santa Barbara management firm expands Southern presence

Latest news, Real Estate, Subscriber content

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| Thursday, October 12th, 2023

Santa Maria trucking firm shuts down

Economy, Latest news, left, Subscriber content, Tri-County Economy

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| Thursday, October 12th, 2023

Community West Bank agrees to $100M merger

Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Latest news, Top Stories, Top Story, Tri-County Public Companies

Goleta-based Community West Bank is expanding its operations after the organization announced it would be merging with Central Valley Community Bank with the signing of an all-stock merger agreement on Oct. 10. The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024, is valued at $99.4 million based on Central Valley Community Read More →