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 →

Former deputy sues Ventura County over tax break
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 29th, 2014 / East Ventura County, Law & Goverment, Top Stories, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Former deputy sues Ventura County over tax break
A former Ventura County Senior Deputy Sheriff who makes $139,771 a year in retirement is suing the county after his application for a service-connected disability designation that would lower his income tax bill was denied.

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 →
Crunchies moves to block takeover bid with Chapter 11 filing
By Marlize van Romburgh / Tuesday, August 26th, 2014 / East Ventura County, Latest news, Law & Goverment, Top Stories / Comments Off on Crunchies moves to block takeover bid with Chapter 11 filing

Westlake Village-based Crunchies Food Co. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, alleging that one of its largest vendors has attempted a hostile takeover of the fast-growing freeze-dried snacks maker.
50 Fastest-Growing Companies 2014 announced
By Staff Report / Monday, August 25th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Latest news, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on 50 Fastest-Growing Companies 2014 announced

Learn more about this year’s featured companies and the Sept. 18 awards event.
In their own words: Spirit of Small Business 2014 winners
By Staff Report / Thursday, August 21st, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Green Coast, Small Business, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 2 Comments

The Pacific Coast Business Times’ 2014 class of Spirit of Small Business winners were honored at an awards luncheon on Aug. 14, 2014 following the publication of a special edition on July 25, 2014. The special section, produced in partership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, highlights entrepreneurship in the Tri-Counties, with profiles on successful Read More →