Business is brewing: Firestone Walker climbs in craft beer rankings
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, February 21st, 2014 / Features, Restaurants, Top Stories, Tourism, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Business is brewing: Firestone Walker climbs in craft beer rankings

Firestone Walker Brewing Co. has big plans on tap, including another expansion at its Paso Robles campus, a new beer and the opening of a pilot brewery in the Los Angeles area.

Templar banks on grapes: Asset-based lender launches winery arm
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, February 21st, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Central Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Templar banks on grapes: Asset-based lender launches winery arm
Templar Capital does asset-based lending and recently launched Vintners Capital, a lending arm that caters specifically to wine-related businesses by lending against wine-club subscriptions and equipment, along with other collateral.

Sanford, free of debt, looks to future at Alma Rosa Winery
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, February 21st, 2014 / Central Coast, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Sanford, free of debt, looks to future at Alma Rosa Winery

Richard Sanford, free of a crushing debt burden, says he is excited about the future of Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards and his role there, even though he has lost ownership.
DenMat acquires portfolio of oral hygiene products
By Staff Report / Thursday, February 20th, 2014 / Central Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on DenMat acquires portfolio of oral hygiene products
DenMat has acquired most of the dental assets of Fort Collins, Co.-based Zila and will move some of that firm’s operations to its Lompoc headquarters, the company said Feb. 20. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Heritage Oaks and Mission Community merger to close Feb. 28
By Staff Report / Thursday, February 20th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Banking Industry, Central Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Heritage Oaks and Mission Community merger to close Feb. 28
The $56 million deal will make Heritage Oaks the largest community bank in the Tri-Counties, with about $1.6 billion in assets.
Mindbody raises $50M for global push
By Staff Report / Thursday, February 20th, 2014 / Central Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Mindbody raises $50M for global push

San Luis Obispo-based Mindbody has raised $50 million in new capital, its largest amount to date, that will used to fund global expansion and mobile product development. The raise brings its total venture capital raised thus far to more than $110 million and likely marks the largest-ever raise in San Luis Obispo County.
Connexity sold to Shopzilla
By Staff Report / Thursday, February 20th, 2014 / Banking & Finance, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Connexity sold to Shopzilla
Ventura-based digital advertising firm Connexity has been purchased by Shopzilla, an online comparison shopping website out of Los Angeles, for an undisclosed sum.
The deal marks the first exit for a business that had operated out of the Ventura Ventures Technology Center, the city of Ventura’s startup incubator.