Recession taking its toll as builders file for bankruptcy
ColumnsWell-known Santa Barbara contractor David Lack has filed for both business and personal bankruptcy, listing a total of $2.6 million in debts for his firm and $3.1 million for himself. But Lack’s is just one in a flurry of filings that have rushed through the region’s bankruptcy court in recent months — many smaller construction Read More →
Greening the coast, world at UCSB
ColumnsIf it’s spring it must be summit season at UC Santa Barbara. Two recent events put on by UCSB underscore how important a player the campus has become in the convergence of energy and the environment now being called “sustainability.” Both the Corporate Partners Summit at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and Read More →
SLO firm gets local with mobile ads
Small BusinessThe buzzword-heavy consensus in the tech world is that print publications are dying, consumers glaze over at the sight of traditional Web ads and hyper-local mobile phone marketing is the official Next Big Thing. That’s all fine — but what’s a corner diner or mom-and-pop shop to do to get out a coupon and grab Read More →
Growing a tech business: Ojai
Small BusinessTri-county agricultural giants such as Gills Onions and Mission Produce ship onions and avocadoes all over the country and are some of the biggest names in the business. But they run on software written by Ojai entrepreneur Bryan Bernard and his small team of programmers. Bernard’s AgKnowledge software suite is tailored to agribusiness, with the Read More →
Capital raise at Pacific Capital, other banks tops $700M
UncategorizedTri-county banks have brought more than $700 million into the region in recent months, with some looking to expand and others simply hoping to shore up their capital. “It means we have more financial institutions with the wherewithal to lend,” said California Lutheran University economist Bill Watkins. “It gives businesses more borrowing opportunities and provides Read More →
Fight for a swing seat: Parks, Strickland in fierce contest in Ventura County
UncategorizedVentura County is famous — some might say infamous — for its growth-control laws, among the strongest in the nation. But a flip of a single seat on the Board of Supervisors, some observers say, could swing the county’s policies in a growth-friendly direction. Two-term Supervisor Linda Parks is up for re-election and locked in Read More →
