Miramar takes big step forward
OpinionWhen Rick Caruso took over the moribund Miramar Hotel project in South Santa Barbara County a couple of years ago, few people gave him a chance of ever getting a building permit. But Caruso, recently named the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Hall of Fame winner for 2009, patiently chipped away at the massive undertaking. Opposition Read More →
Putting shareholders first
OpinionAmgen, by far the biggest company in the region by market capitalization, is proving very far-sighted on corporate governance. As the Wall Street Journal reported on April 6, the biotechnology giant has asked shareholders to complete an extensive survey of pay practices. The request was made in conjunction with the mailing of Amgen’s annual proxy Read More →
Whizbang acquires
UncategorizedWhizbang, a marketing agency based in San Luis Obispo, announced the acquisition of 2 Point Media, another marketing firm in the same city, as of April 1. The price of the acquisition was not disclosed. Starr Hall, former owner of 2 Point Media, started the company in 2005 and by the following year, the agency Read More →
Amgen loses appeal
UncategorizedThousand Oaks-based Amgen lost an appeals court bid April 3 to obtain a patent related to “natural killer” cells in bone marrow in a ruling that could make it harder for biotechnology companies to obtain protection on DNA sequencing, according to Bloomberg News. Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology company, was appealing the U.S. Patent and Read More →
Treasury awards housing fund
UncategorizedThe Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County announced April 8 that it was awarded a $93,210 technical assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury Community Development Finance Institution Fund. The fund invests in community-based lending organizations that serve low-income individuals and communities across the nation to provide access to affordable financial products and Read More →
Lawsuit against Caruso dropped; Miramar Hotel closer than ever to development
UncategorizedAfter a two-year-long obstacle course, Montecito’s Miramar Hotel project cleared a serious hurdle April 7 when a Montecito couple dropped its lawsuit against developer Rick Caruso and his firm, Caruso Affiliated, allowing Caruso to move forward with construction plans. Montecito residents Jean and Stan Harfenist, alongside Caruso, announced that they had reached an agreement in Read More →
Capps to headline Top 50 Women in Business Awards
UncategorizedU.S. Rep. Lois Capps will offer the opening remarks at the Pacific Coast Business Times’ 3rd Annual Top 50 Women in Business awards reception on Thursday, April 9 at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara. The evening awards reception will be held between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. with an awards program beginning at around Read More →
