Measure P rekindles north-south feud in Santa Barbara County
Large energy companies, most of the North County’s elected officials and chambers of commerce and many others are firmly opposed to this November ballot measure, which would bar “high-intensity” energy production in the county.
Santa Maria chamber names Citizen of the Year award for Bob Hatch
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce has renamed its Citizen of the Year Award for outgoing President Bob Hatch and given him the inaugural honor. The change was announced at the chamber’s annual dinner on Aug. 13. The award is now called the Robert P. Hatch Citizen of the Year award. In accepting the Read More →
Startup Weekend, en Español: Entrepreneurs pitch in Santa Maria
A design for a face-mask to protect farm laborers from dust, pesticides and sun damage took home the top spot at the first Spanish Startup Weekend in the U.S. The event, held the weekend of Aug. 1-3 in Santa Maria, gathered four teams who spent 54 hours working on prototypes and presentations for their Read More →
Santa Maria farmer files Chapter 7 amid legal battle with bank
A Santa Maria produce broker and farmer has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy with about $1 million in assets and $9 million in liabilities as his family companies sue the region’s largest bank on allegations that it failed to come through on millions of dollars in promised loans.
Santa Maria, remixed: City looks for winning formula
A year after Santa Maria got a new theater complex and a Fallas Discount Store moved into the space formerly occupied by a Mervyn’s department store, city leaders are still scratching their heads over how best to revitalize its struggling retail core.
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.
Op/ed: The Bob Hatch legacy, and lessons learned from a great mentor
By Gina Keough I joined the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce team in 1999. As staff, we saw President and CEO Bob Hatch’s business side, his military side, his funny side, his serious side, his angry side and his human side. Perhaps a better title than president and CEO would be “mentor.” What makes Read More →
