Region presses ‘play’ on $60M film production industry
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Region presses ‘play’ on $60M film production industry

Film and television production reels in an estimated $60 million for the region each year, and the industry’s impact on the Tri-Counties is likely to rise as tourism groups in each of the three counties ramp up their outreach to Hollywood.

A soft touch for transit: CHK America builds interactive route maps for cities
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Small Business, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories / Comments Off on A soft touch for transit: CHK America builds interactive route maps for cities

The first unit is being tested at the Santa Barbara MTD Transit Center, where the company will be refining the software that runs the system to make it as useful as possible to riders.
Santa Barbara firms team up to buy Avila Beach hotel project
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Santa Barbara firms team up to buy Avila Beach hotel project

The project, which has not yet started to wind its way through what will likely be a lengthy entitlement process, is the second investment by Somera Management and Postcard Properties in south SLO County.

AmeriFlex celebrates 25 years of helping entrepreneurs
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, March 28th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Personal Finance, Small Business, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on AmeriFlex celebrates 25 years of helping entrepreneurs
After a quarter century in an industry that’s changed tremendously, AmeriFlex Financial Services is gearing up for its biggest year.
Baxter BioScience to be spun out
By Staff Report / Thursday, March 27th, 2014 / East Ventura County, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Baxter BioScience to be spun out
Baxter International, an Illinois company that is a major employer in the Conejo Valley, is planning to split itself into two companies.
Startup Paso Robles wine brand Chronic Cellars purchased
By Staff Report / Thursday, March 27th, 2014 / Central Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Startup Paso Robles wine brand Chronic Cellars purchased

Novato-based Winery Exchange has purchased Chronic Cellars out of Paso Robles, a young winery known for its red-wine blends and counter-culture branding. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Chronic Cellars is best known for red blends such as its zinfandel-based Purple Paradise and its syrah-based Sofa King Bueno, Winery Exchange said in a Read More →
La Entrada to restart construction amid tourism tax boom
By Staff Report / Tuesday, March 25th, 2014 / Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on La Entrada to restart construction amid tourism tax boom
In another sign that the region’s tourism industry is entering boom times again, the city of Santa Barbara experienced double-digit growth in hotel taxes in the first eight months of its fiscal year. During the annual State of the City breakfast on March 24, City Manager Jim Armstrong said that Transient Occupancy Tax, or TOT, Read More →