
Hawaii utility project is largest-ever for REC Solar
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, July 11th, 2014 / Central Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Hawaii utility project is largest-ever for REC Solar
San Luis Obispo-based REC Solar has broken ground on its biggest project yet, a 12-megawatt installation for a Hawaiian utility cooperative.

A labor of leather: Craftsman adds artisan touch to family trade
By Marissa Wenzke / Friday, July 11th, 2014 / Small Business, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on A labor of leather: Craftsman adds artisan touch to family trade

With the warm, heavy smell of leather in the air, Steven Soria sits in his single-room shop in downtown Santa Barbara amid work tables crowded with metal machinery and tools.

Strawberry grower, Heritage Oaks head to trial over loan contract
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, July 11th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Banking & Finance, Central Coast, Law & Goverment, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Strawberry grower, Heritage Oaks head to trial over loan contract
A Santa Maria strawberry grower’s lawsuit alleging that Heritage Oaks Bank’s failure to provide financing after promising to do so drove the grower into near-bankruptcy is headed to trial later this month.

Pent-up demand drives surge of deals on Chapala Street
By Elijah Brumback / Friday, July 11th, 2014 / Real Estate, South Coast, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Pent-up demand drives surge of deals on Chapala Street
With highly coveted square footage virtually unavailable on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, many companies trying to stay in the market are gobbling up space on the nearby Chapala Street corridor.

Playing your cards right: How to pick a payment processing service
By Austen Hufford / Friday, July 11th, 2014 / Small Business, Technology, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Playing your cards right: How to pick a payment processing service

The Business Times spoke with several retailers and merchant-processing services to find out what sorts of factors small-business owners should weigh when deciding on a point-of-sales system.
Ventura County to get $4.1M Health Care Innovation Award
By Staff Report / Thursday, July 10th, 2014 / East Ventura County, Health Care & Life Science, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Ventura County to get $4.1M Health Care Innovation Award
The Ventura County Health Care Agency is slated to receive $4.1 million in federal funding to study treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, one of the most common lung conditions in the U.S.
Historic Ventura hotel changes hands
By Staff Report / Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 / Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 1 Comment
Sandpiper Capital Partners has purchased the 37-room Leewood Hotel in downtown Ventura from its longtime owner and plans to convert it to an apartment complex. The firm purchased the property for just under $2.7 million, Justin Egerer, founder and managing member of Sandpiper Capital Partners, said in an email to the Business Times. The property is Read More →