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.
2014 class of Top Women in Business announced
By Staff Report / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Special Sections, Top Stories, Women Inc. / 1 Comment
This special section honors 50 women business leaders in the Tri-Counties. In addition, we’ve profiled our awards reception keynote speaker: Zhena Muzyka, founder of Zhena’s Gypsy Tea.
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.
A soft touch for transit: CHK America builds interactive route maps for cities
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Small Business, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories / Comments Off on A soft touch for transit: CHK America builds interactive route maps for cities
The first unit is being tested at the Santa Barbara MTD Transit Center, where the company will be refining the software that runs the system to make it as useful as possible to riders.
Santa Barbara firms team up to buy Avila Beach hotel project
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Santa Barbara firms team up to buy Avila Beach hotel project
The project, which has not yet started to wind its way through what will likely be a lengthy entitlement process, is the second investment by Somera Management and Postcard Properties in south SLO County.