Region’s ranchers look for relief amid record drought
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 1 Comment
The drought plaguing the Tri-Counties and the rest of the state has the agriculture industry on red alert. With 2014 forecast to be the driest year in California history, Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a drought emergency in the state, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 27 counties in California as primary natural disaster areas, including the tri-county region.
The right remedy: Elemental Herbs went from kitchen startup to national distribution
By Erika Martin / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Central Coast, Features, Small Business, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on The right remedy: Elemental Herbs went from kitchen startup to national distribution
Belying its modest beginnings in the couple’s kitchen, Elemental Herbs now has distributors in 35 states and nearly 1,500 retail accounts.
Fungus ruckus: Ventura mushroom farm in escrow to international buyer
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Law & Goverment, Real Estate, Top Stories, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Fungus ruckus: Ventura mushroom farm in escrow to international buyer
What was once the country’s third-largest mushroom producer is facing a complaint filed by the city seeking nearly $200,000, and a civil suit by Shell Energy North America for an unpaid line of credit.
$98M office campus sale sets new high-water mark for county
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Columns, East Ventura County, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on $98M office campus sale sets new high-water mark for county
The eye-popping price signals that a turnaround is taking hold in the Ventura County office market, which has suffered from high vacancy rates in a depressed job market, industry insiders say.
Network Hardware Resale to boost hiring as sales near $300M
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Latest news, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Network Hardware Resale to boost hiring as sales near $300M
CEO Mike Sheldon said the company has been aggressively pursuing a “growth through diversification” strategy, adding maintenance services as well as servers and hard drives to its product lineup.
Athena Cosmetics launches national push after court ruling
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Health Care & Life Science, Law & Goverment, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Athena Cosmetics launches national push after court ruling
A federal appeals court has upheld an order banning Ventura-based Athena Cosmetics from selling its eyelash-boosting products in California but ruled that the firm can resume selling them in the rest of the nation.
Remodels abound as South Coast hotels focus on keeping up appearances
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / South Coast, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Remodels abound as South Coast hotels focus on keeping up appearances
The area has seen a boom in hotel remodels and renovations recently, with upgrades to Hotel Santa Barbara and Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort, among others.