Economists call on Santa Barbara County to embrace economic development
By Staff Report / Monday, November 4th, 2013 / Central Coast, Latest news, South Coast, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Economists call on Santa Barbara County to embrace economic development
Santa Barbara County needs to rethink the role of economic development if it is going to retain upper middle class and head of household jobs.
That was the theme of the Oct. 31 annual summit of the Santa Barbara Technology & Industry Association. Held on Halloween day at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott hotel in Buellton, the event painted a scary economic future for the county.

Ratings agencies unfazed as county pension costs rise
By Patrick Kulp / Friday, October 25th, 2013 / Banking & Finance, Central Coast, East Ventura County, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Ratings agencies unfazed as county pension costs rise
Despite dire warnings that future pension costs could cause a fiscal meltdown for tri-county governments, credit ratings for Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo county bonds remain mostly unaffected by looming gaps in their retirement obligation funding.
Standard & Poor’s, a leading rating agency, ranks all three counties near the top of a scale that spans from its highest AAA to C, the lowest rating a bond can have without defaulting. Santa Barbara County carries the agency’s second highest AA-plus designation. Ventura County is assigned a slightly lower AA-rating this year and SLO County is ranked AA-minus.

Central Coast opens doors for flood of Chinese tourists
By Henry Dubroff / Friday, October 18th, 2013 / Central Coast, Latest news, Tourism / Comments Off on Central Coast opens doors for flood of Chinese tourists
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Santa Barbara County selects new CEO
By Staff Report / Friday, October 4th, 2013 / Latest news / Comments Off on Santa Barbara County selects new CEO
Santa Barbara County has reached a tentative deal to hire a new CEO. The Board of Supervisors said it has selected Mona Miyasato, the former chief assistant county administrator since 2008 of Marin County in the Bay Area. Miyasato would succeed Chandra Wallar, who came from San Diego County and has served as county CEO Read More →
Clash over Chumash plan kicks off legal fight
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 30th, 2013 / Real Estate, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Clash over Chumash plan kicks off legal fight
With its 3-2 vote against “government-to-government” talks with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors may have narrowly avoided handing the tribe one of the three key components needed to clear the way for a casino on a 1,400-acre tract of agricultural land. The conflict over the development Read More →

Events buoy wine sales: Vintners say momentum is building
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, July 12th, 2013 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, Features, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Events buoy wine sales: Vintners say momentum is building

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Export firms in region see rise in sales
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, July 5th, 2013 / Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Export firms in region see rise in sales
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