Inogen IPO is subject to looser SEC rules
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, January 31st, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Central Coast, East Ventura County, Law & Goverment, Personal Finance, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, Tri-County Public Companies, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Inogen IPO is subject to looser SEC rules
If Goleta-based Inogen goes public this year, it will be the first firm in the region to do so under new securities rules that make it easier for small companies to become listed on the major exchanges but also allow them to reveal less information to investors than their larger counterparts.

Solar projects boom but some fear a bubble
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, January 31st, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Central Coast, East Ventura County, Green Coast, Real Estate, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Solar projects boom but some fear a bubble
Solar installers boomed in 2013 and are expecting another good year, but some are skeptical about the new financial models underlying the growth numbers.

A new slant on kayaking: Angle Oar aims to make rowing easier
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, January 31st, 2014 / Central Coast, Small Business, Top Stories / Comments Off on A new slant on kayaking: Angle Oar aims to make rowing easier

A San Luis Obispo company founded by a former tech marketing executive is angling to make it easier for seniors, kids and anyone with shoulder trouble to take to the water in a kayak.
Region’s ranchers look for relief amid record drought
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 1 Comment
The drought plaguing the Tri-Counties and the rest of the state has the agriculture industry on red alert. With 2014 forecast to be the driest year in California history, Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a drought emergency in the state, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 27 counties in California as primary natural disaster areas, including the tri-county region.

The right remedy: Elemental Herbs went from kitchen startup to national distribution
By Erika Martin / Friday, January 24th, 2014 / Central Coast, Features, Small Business, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on The right remedy: Elemental Herbs went from kitchen startup to national distribution

Belying its modest beginnings in the couple’s kitchen, Elemental Herbs now has distributors in 35 states and nearly 1,500 retail accounts.
Northrop Grumman CEO christens Cal Poly lab
By Stephen Nellis / Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 / Central Coast, Technology, Top Stories / 1 Comment

Wes Bush, the CEO of Northrop Grumman, one of the nation’s largest defense contractors, praised Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for its ability to produce work-ready engineers and called on other CEOs to partner with the school and others like it.
Heritage Oaks CFO resigns
By Staff Report / Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Central Coast, Top Stories / Comments Off on Heritage Oaks CFO resigns
Mark Olson has resigned from his position as chief financial officer and executive vice president at Paso Robles-based Heritage Oaks Bancorp, tied as the largest bank based in the region with about $1.2 billion in assets.