COVID-19 challenging for tri-county spas and salons
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the region’s salon and spa businesses had witnessed a transformation of their business model, moving toward memberships and express services as customers integrated them into a broad approach to wellness. In recent weeks, though, the heavily touch-based businesses have been among the hardest hit by shelter-in-place orders Read More →
Scolaro: Coronavirus forces leaders to get creative
By Sierra Scolaro When I founded Wayve with a mission to provide the world with easy access to clean water, there was no way I could predict what lay ahead. Some days you feel on top of it all, when the pieces fall into place and the path to success is a freshly-paved road lined Read More →
Small businesses forced to adapt to COVID-19 outbreak
Small businesses on the Central Coast are finding ways to adapt to sweeping new coronavirus restrictions, staying connected to customers even as they keep them at arm’s length. Whether it’s through online orders and curbside pickup or careful limits to the number of customers in a store, business owners are changing the way their products Read More →
Tri-county planning group helps companies pivot during pandemic
Long-term economic planning has taken a backseat to coronavirus mitigation measures, as business and economic development leaders have pivoted to meet immediate emergency needs. For the newly renamed REACH 2030, formerly known as the Hourglass Project, that’s meant marshalling public-private partnerships to source and distribute N95 masks, sanitizer and other resources, often tapping companies that Read More →
SLO County closing parking lots at beaches, parks
San Luis Obispo County and seven cities inside of it are shutting down access to popular parks, beaches and the Pismo Beach Pier to preserve the public’s health. Starting at noon March 27, parking lots at all coastal county parks are closing. Morro Bay’s beaches will see their parking lots close at 6 p.m., and Read More →
Hardy Diagnostics distributing rapid test for coronavirus
Santa Maria-based Hardy Diagnostics is distributing a rapid test for coronavirus. Hardy said the test takes 15 minutes, doesn’t need to be processed by a lab, and it has clear, easy-to-read results. The test can use either a blood, serum or plasma sample, a departure from current testing methods which use swabs from where the Read More →
Plains oil spill settlement to fund Gaviota restoration
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