North Santa Barbara County poised for rebound
The recession likely is ending for North Santa Barbara County, which should be experiencing stable home prices and employment. That is the view of economist Mark Schniepp, who spoke at a Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce economic forecast event Nov. 17. Schniepp said plunging home prices in Santa Barbara County have been fueled by Read More →
Ventura chamber CEO leaving Nov. 30
Ventura Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Zoe Taylor is stepping down. Taylor, who led the business group for more than 13 years, is in the final stages of starting her own consulting agency. She’ll help businesses connect to government agencies. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while,” Taylor told the Read More →
Deals bolster balance sheets at two area banks
One bank went local, and one bank got smaller but sturdier. Two deals recently closed that change the tri-county banking landscape. As of Nov. 11, the Bank of Santa Barbara will answer to group of Santa Barbara investors rather than a Michigan-based parent firm. As of Nov. 6, the parent of Solvang-based Los Padres Bank, Read More →
Diani builds on legacy
In 1949, a World War II vet named A.J. Diani started a small grading and paving business in his hometown of Santa Maria. The son of Swiss immigrants, he put an emphasis on family relations and customer satisfaction, added some elbow grease and watched his company grow. Sixty years later, A.J. Diani Construction is a Read More →
Santa Barbara
Since the earliest days of the region as a Mecca for wealthy families, philanthropy has been part of the social scene. Some efforts, notably Direct Relief International, have grown from informal ideas into world-class social organizations. But lately, philanthropic efforts often seem to be single-cause focused, reflecting the special interests of donors. From the Santa Read More →
Tea fire not forgotten a year later
A year ago, the Tea Fire devastated parts of Santa Barbara and Montecito, destroying more than 200 homes and ravaging the landscape. Twelve months later, homeowners are still regouping and many have not yet decided whether or not to rebuild. Fire remains a threat, one underscored by the Jesusita Fire, which struck the Santa Barbara Read More →
