Select Staffing parent to buy Westaff
The parent of Santa Barbara-based Select Staffing has agreed to buy Walnut Creek-based Westaff for about $10.3 million in cash and perhaps $10.5 million in debt. With $1.4 billion in revenue in 2007, Select Staffing is the Tri-Counties’ third largest private company. The company made 13 acquisitions in 2007 and nearly doubled in revenue from Read More →
First California Bank acquires failed 1st Centennial Bank
Westlake Village-based First California Bank took over six branches of 1st Centennial Bank after regulators shut down the Redlands-based bank. First California Bank is the fourth largest in the Tri-Counties. It adds 1st Centennial’s six branches, which reopened Jan. 26, to its 14 existing locations across the state. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which took Read More →
Red carpet rolled out – Film Festival vendors count on last-minute reservations
The stars are out for Santa Barbara’s film festival, but local companies are bracing for what a special appearance by the recession could spell for business. As the first major tourist attraction of the year on the South Coast, the 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival began Jan. 22 and continues through Feb. 1. Read More →
Venture capital in a freeze – But Santa Barbara med-tech company isn
In December, Forrest Fleming went fishing in Dubai. Fishing for money, that is. Fleming heads Santa Barbara-based TrueVision Systems, which invented a 3-D projection system for surgical microscopes. The young 20-employee company was wrapping up its first year of revenue; it had pulled in $1 million. Fleming went to Dubai looking for investors for a Read More →
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa plans marketing blitz
The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is ramping up its marketing and offering a host of deals to lure vacationers during crucial mid-week nights. Like the rest of the hospitality industry, the high-end resort is fighting for a slice of a shrinking pie. Tri-county tourism promises to be one of the few bright spots in Read More →
