
‘Sideways’ and up: Santa Ynez Valley readies for film’s 10th anniversary
By Mary Ann Norbom / Friday, May 30th, 2014 / Central Coast, Small Business, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on ‘Sideways’ and up: Santa Ynez Valley readies for film’s 10th anniversary

“I woke up and everything was different,” said Frank Ostini, owner of The Hitching Post II. “Reservation requests at the restaurant literally tripled and we’ve never looked back.”
Central Coast banks on startups to drive growth
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, May 23rd, 2014 / Central Coast, Small Business, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Central Coast banks on startups to drive growth
Cal Poly’s successful SLO Hot House program is welcoming its fourth cohort of companies, and the Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet will soon open its doors.

CenCal-USC dispute highlights Medi-Cal pricing issues
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, May 16th, 2014 / Central Coast, Health Care & Life Science, Law & Goverment, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on CenCal-USC dispute highlights Medi-Cal pricing issues
A USC hospital is demanding $2 million for a surgery performed on a Medi-Cal patient from Santa Barbara County, more than 25 times as much as Santa Barbara County officials believe the procedure should have cost.

Avila schoolhouse tasting room changing hands amid Ch 7. filing
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, May 16th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tourism, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Avila schoolhouse tasting room changing hands amid Ch 7. filing
The Salisbury Vineyards tasting room in a historic old schoolhouse in Avila Valley has closed amid a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, and a new venue will open there in June under the banner of newcomer Biddle Ranch Vineyard.

Central Coast hopes to be wave energy hub
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, May 16th, 2014 / Central Coast, Green Coast, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Central Coast hopes to be wave energy hub
With five projects in the works that could generate as much a 1.2 gigawatts of electricity, the Central Coast could become the nation’s wave-energy capital.
Rupert: IT and finance lead Santa Barbara County growth
By Marlize van Romburgh / Monday, May 12th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Central Coast, South Coast, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Rupert: IT and finance lead Santa Barbara County growth
Led by “off the charts” growth in the information technology, banking and finance sectors, Santa Barbara County is outpacing California when it comes to economic growth.
Costly eye drug drives up region’s Medicare bills
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, May 9th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Features, Health Care & Life Science, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Costly eye drug drives up region’s Medicare bills

A Santa Barbara eye doctor and a drug that costs $2,000 per dose are at the center of the debate over how to control the spiraling cost of Medicare.