Hyde Park Acquisition deal delay clouds Santa Maria Energy’s plans
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 25th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Central Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, Tri-County Public Companies / Comments Off on Hyde Park Acquisition deal delay clouds Santa Maria Energy’s plans
Hyde Park’s investors spurned the Santa Maria Energy deal, at least for now. Sixty-seven percent voted to push the final vote on the merger back to April 30, signaling there were not enough votes to approve the deal outright.
Shell company holds key to Central Coast TV station rollup
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 25th, 2014 / Central Coast, Green Coast, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Shell company holds key to Central Coast TV station rollup

The quest for control of the Tri-Counties’ airwaves comes as federal regulators are souring on deals that give control of multiple stations to one company through cozy arrangements with former executives.
805Connect aims to strengthen business ties in the region
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 25th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Small Business, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 2 Comments
A grassroots effort is under way to connect business people and economic development officials in the Tri-Counties through a new social network called 805Connect.

The Lee legacy: Clarke mentors women in commercial real estate
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, April 25th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Small Business, South Coast, Tri-County Economy, Women Inc. / Comments Off on The Lee legacy: Clarke mentors women in commercial real estate

Clarice Clarke, president of Lee & Associates Central Coast, has quietly built out a team of brokers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties that includes some of the most experienced women in the business.
The eyes have it when it comes to Medicare payouts
By Marlize van Romburgh / Monday, April 21st, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Health Care & Life Science, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on The eyes have it when it comes to Medicare payouts
Of the 3,286 individual doctors in the Tri-Counties who billed Medicare for reimbursements in 2012, fewer than 1 percent received more than $1 million from the federal program.

Tuning in to the Tri-Counties: KEYT, KCOY team on news coverage
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Central Coast, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Tuning in to the Tri-Counties: KEYT, KCOY team on news coverage

Under a deal announced last year, CBS affiliate KCOY’s news will be produced under a shared-services agreement with Santa Barbara-based ABC affiliate KEYT. Journalists on the ground in Santa Maria will contribute to a live newscast from studios in Santa Barbara, replacing the old setup in which the evening KCOY newscast is produced in Salinas at station KION.

Location, location is key to drought outlook for region’s vintners
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, April 18th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, Small Business, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Location, location is key to drought outlook for region’s vintners
California’s production of wine grapes is likely to decline this year after record yields in 2012 and 2013, but it’s uncertain whether the booming Central Coast will join in the slide.