Firms shape up for success with workplace wellness programs, perks
By Marissa Wenzke / Friday, August 29th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Green Coast, Health Care & Life Science, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Firms shape up for success with workplace wellness programs, perks

At the San Luis Obispo headquarters for international software company Mindbody, employees can break away for noontime yoga or retreat to one of the building’s downstairs spa rooms for a massage or facial. Amid high ceilings, colorful beanbag chairs and exercise balls, employees at Mindbody are working in an atmosphere that’s anything but the Read More →
After Ventura County court battle, pension tensions endure
By Austen Hufford / Friday, August 29th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 5 Comments

For most of the summer, Ventura County was at the heart of a statewide debate over public-sector pensions. Reformers spent tens of thousands of dollars on a proposed referendum to change Ventura County’s public employee retirement system from a defined-benefit system to a 401(k)-style system. On Aug. 4, the battle ended when a judge struck Read More →

Cabbies hail help from Sacramento: Bills target Uber, Lyft
By Elijah Brumback / Friday, August 29th, 2014 / Central Coast, Law & Goverment, Small Business, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Cabbies hail help from Sacramento: Bills target Uber, Lyft

Two pending bills in the state Senate could significantly change the competitive landscape between booming ridesharing startups such as Lyft and Uber and the flagging taxi-cab industry in California.

29-acre home development in Fillmore gets council go-ahead
By Elijah Brumback / Friday, August 29th, 2014 / Central Coast, Columns, East Ventura County, Real Estate, South Coast, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on 29-acre home development in Fillmore gets council go-ahead
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Stantec to buy tri-county engineering firm Penfield & Smith
By Staff Report / Thursday, August 28th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Real Estate, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Stantec to buy tri-county engineering firm Penfield & Smith

Stantec, a large publicly traded design and consulting company, is acquiring Santa Barbara-based engineering firm Penfield & Smith. Terms of the deal, expected to close in October, were not disclosed. Penfield & Smith has regional offices in Santa Barbara, Camarillo and Santa Maria. The company had revenue of $16 million last year, according to Business Read More →
Santa Barbara chamber opposes anti-oil effort Measure P
By Staff Report / Wednesday, August 27th, 2014 / Central Coast, South Coast, Tri-County Economy / 3 Comments
Proponents of Santa Barbara County’s Measure P, an anti-fracking measure that could also shut down conventional oil and gas production, suffered a setback on Aug. 27 when the largest South Coast chamber of commerce said it opposed the November ballot initiative. The Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce said that its board voted to “urge Read More →
$10M Pismo Beach tract to be preserved
By Elijah Brumback / Tuesday, August 26th, 2014 / Central Coast, Latest news, Real Estate, Tourism / Comments Off on $10M Pismo Beach tract to be preserved
The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo now has the funds to complete the purchase of the 900-acre Pismo Preserve thanks to an additional contribution from the County Board of Supervisors.