Disease-carrying citrus psyllid found in SLO County
By Staff Report / Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Disease-carrying citrus psyllid found in SLO County
The Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny pest that spreads a disease fatal to citrus trees, has been discovered in San Luis Obispo County for the first time. The bug was found in an insect trap at a home near Arroyo Grande, the San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture said on April 1, prompting agricultural Read More →
Updated: Select Staffing files pre-packaged Ch. 11 bankruptcy
By Staff Report / Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 / Banking & Finance, South Coast, Top Stories / 1 Comment
The Select Staffing Family of Companies, the Santa Barbara-based staffing services giant, filed a pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 1 listing between $50 million and $100 million in debts and $100 million to $500 million in assets.
Vandenberg apartments sell in Lompoc area’s largest deal in 3 years
By Staff Report / Monday, March 31st, 2014 / Central Coast, Latest news, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / 1 Comment
A 122-unit apartment complex near Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc has been sold after listing for $14 million. The sale of the Vandenberg Garden Apartments marks the largest sale of multifamily property in north Santa Barbara County since La Vista in Santa Maria changed hands in 2011 for $42 million, according to Radius Read More →
Whole Foods buys New Frontiers in SLO for first Central Coast store
By Staff Report / Monday, March 31st, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Whole Foods buys New Frontiers in SLO for first Central Coast store
Grocery giant Whole Foods Market has purchased the New Frontiers Natural Marketplace in San Luis Obispo, setting the stage for its first Central Coast store. Austin-based Whole Foods announced on March 31 that it has purchased the New Frontiers stores in San Luis Obispo and in Flagstaff, Prescott and Sedona, Ariz. Terms of the Read More →
Reason study: Taxpayers would save $460M with pension overhaul
By Staff Report / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / East Ventura County, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Reason study: Taxpayers would save $460M with pension overhaul
A proposal to change Ventura County’s public-employee pension system from a defined-benefit to a 401(k)-style system would save taxpayers $5.4 million in cash flow over the first two years and $51.6 million in cumulative savings over five years of reform, according to a study by the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank. The Read More →
Inogen swings to $18.2M profit in 2013
By Staff Report / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Earnings, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Public Companies / Comments Off on Inogen swings to $18.2M profit in 2013
Medical device maker Inogen notched $18.2 million in profits, or $1.10 per diluted share, on $75.4 million in revenue last year, the Goleta firm said in its first earnings report as a public company.
Region presses ‘play’ on $60M film production industry
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Region presses ‘play’ on $60M film production industry
Film and television production reels in an estimated $60 million for the region each year, and the industry’s impact on the Tri-Counties is likely to rise as tourism groups in each of the three counties ramp up their outreach to Hollywood.