RiverPark maneuvers to minimize impact from residential slowdown
Since the mortgage crisis spawned the downturn in the residential market, regional experts have said the Central Coast communities are largely sheltered from – though not immune to – national economic trends. Indeed, the Tri-Counties have been affected accordingly by the housing slowdown. Some cities have shown relatively minor price reductions and sales slumps while Read More →
More events, special sections, staff changes on tap
Fall is a busy season at The Pacific Coast Business Times. This year is no exception as we gear up for two upcoming events, six stand-alone special reports and, of course, our year-ending Top 25 Book of Lists. That’s why I am excited to announce some staff promotions and other upgrades that will improve the Read More →
Energy Institute looking for more juice
Sitting in his office, Dan Colbert doesn’t have furniture yet, but he has a vision for the young Institute for Energy Efficiency at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In July, Colbert made his public debut as the executive director of the institute, which was itself announced in February. While the university bureaucracy works to Read More →
Speak softly and carry a big stick: Little Lompoc is busier than ever
Described as a “small, Midwestern town on the California coast,” by its economic development director, Kate Griffith, the city of Lompoc has been undergoing efforts to build on its signature Californian characteristics and strengthen its economic vitality, all while maintaining its quaint, small-town appeal. As California has long been a leader in sustainability and Read More →
Nonprofits becoming more nimble, results oriented
Philanthropy is changing. With entrepreneurs like Eli Broad, Ted Turner and Venoco’s Tim Marquez calling the shots, nonprofits are becoming more nimble and results oriented But there is a catch – in the new environment for philanthropy, star power matters, and there’s a tendency for issues of the day like global warming to grab big Read More →
Green building council lists LEED certification bodies
On July 29, the U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, announced the certification bodies for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Green Building Rating System, as follows: • ABS Quality Evaluations, www.abs-qe.com • BSI Management Systems America, www.bsi-global.com • Bureau Veritas North America, www.us.bureauveritas.com • DNV Certification, www.dnvcert.com • Intertek, www.intertek-sc.com • Read More →
A few months from now, Sung Won Sohn will be handing out grades to students as the newly named Martin V. Smith professor of economics at California State University, Channel Islands. But the straight-talking former Wells Fargo economist, and former bank president, wasn’t afraid to give California’s economy a C-minus at best during a chat Read More →
