Category: Business

Local Businesses to Host Job Shadow Day for Academy Students

Young Learners Get Real-World View into Professions OXNARD – Twelve local businesses will host students from the Oxnard Union High School District Linked Learning academies for a job shadowing project aimed at introducing young people to potential career paths aligned with…

Gene Haas Foundation Awards $185,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme

OXNARD — The Gene Haas Foundation recently awarded $185,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme in support of the Club’s many programs, including STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math), and life-enhancing programs such…

Latino News Notes: Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends

By the Pew Research Center Click here for the entire newsletter Unauthorized immigrants covered by DACA face uncertain future 115th Congress sets new high for racial, ethnic diversity Blacks and Hispanics face extra challenges in getting home loans Less than…

Gold Coast Transit District’s Robert Lurie, Director of Fleet and Facilities, retires after 35 years

OXNARD — After nearly 35 years of dedicated service, Gold Coast Transit District’s Robert Lurie, Director of Fleet and Facilities has retired. Lurie joined GCTD (then known as SCAT) in March of 1982 as a mechanic and by 1986 he was…

LinkedIn Officially Endorses SBCC Career Skills Institute

SANTA BARBARA — SBCC Career Skills Institute is proud to announce its endorsement by LinkedIn for its outstanding efforts to build a better future for the community’s workforce and employers. The Career Skills Institute and LinkedIn share the common goal…

Feb. 22 — How to Create and Market Videos to Get Your P.R. Message Across is Topic at February PRSA Gold Coast Chapter Meeting

OXNARD — Pictures often are worth more than words for individuals and companies promoting brands and seeking publicity in today’s 24/7 media world. Tony Pinto, owner of Simi Valley-based Pinto Productions, will share his insights on delivering a public relations…

Spirit of Giving Food Drive Raises Over 12,000 Pounds

VENTURA COUNTY — From November 28th to December 14th, Dole Packaged Foods and FOOD Share of Ventura County collaborated on their first inaugural Spirit of Giving school food drive to empower local students to give back to those less fortunate…

Getting to Know EDC-VC’s Alondra Gaytan, SBDC Program Specialist

CAMARILLO — As a program specialist for EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center since 2014, Alondra Gaytan helps assess small business owners and innovators seeking professional/technical assistance and connects them with the appropriate resources, including SBDC’s business advisors who provide free one-on-one…

CenCal Health Pilot Project to Help Eligible Seniors Receive At-Home Assistance

CENTRAL COAST — To ensure that vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities continue to receive at-home medical services, CenCal Health is launching a pilot project with DASH (Doctors Assisting Seniors at Home) to serve its members. DASH is a program…

Holiday Shoppers Find Last Minute Deals At Centerpoint Mall During Final Week Before Christmas

Holiday shoppers are taking it down to the wire for Christmas gifts this season and Centerpoint Mall retailers have plenty of specials to offer at the more than 49 retail, specialty, entertainment and dining outlets ranging from apparel and electronics…

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Breaks Ground on Farm Worker Housing in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA – Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) broke ground on Los Adobes de Maria III in Santa Maria, the nonprofit’s first Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified affordable housing development ever. PSHH was joined by local dignitaries and…

The Duncan Group Welcomes New Board Member Carl Steinberg

SANTA BARBARA – Carl Steinberg has been appointed as a new board member to The Duncan Group (TDG), the affiliate property management nonprofit for Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) developed rental properties. Steinberg’s real estate experience and passion for the well-being…

SBCC Center for Lifelong Learning Receives Top National Awards for Excellence in Marketing

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College Center for Lifelong Learning (the CLL) received the Excellence in Marketing Award from Learning Resources Network (LERN), the world’s largest professional association in continuing education and lifelong learning. LERN announced the CLL as the top winner for…

New Advisor to Help Launch Spanish-Language Program for Small Business Development Center

CENTRAL COAST — The Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties (SBDC), which provides free one-on-one consulting to help strengthen the bottom lines of area companies, has recently added a bilingual advisor with experience helping Spanish-language businesses.…

FOOD Share CEO Chosen for Tournament of Roses Parade

VENTURA COUNTY — FOOD Share of Ventura County President and CEO, Bonnie Atmore, has been selected by Dole Packaged Foods to represent the regional food bank and national hunger relief network, Feeding America, in the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade…

Jan. 19 — EDC-VC Annual Meeting Focuses on Sustainable Water Solutions

CAMARILLO — As Ventura County enters its sixth year of drought, the 20th annual meeting of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County (EDC-VC) will explore the theme “Drowning in Drought: Sustainable Water Solutions.” Featured will be keynote speakers Susan Mulligan, general manager, Calleguas…

Catch the “ELF on the GO” Holiday Bus!

Ride Gold Coast Transit District’s Decorated Holiday Bus this December OXNARD —  Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) is excited to announce that a specially decorated holiday bus will be traveling the streets of Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme and Ojai this…

New Clinical Leadership at CenCal Health

SANTA BARBARA — Dr. Takashi Wada, Director of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, is joining CenCal Health as Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Wada will join Dr. Darryl Leong, from Care First Health Plan in Los Angeles, who will…

SolRio Organization for Climate Change Mitigation Inc. Proposes Plan for Solar-Powered Desalination at SONGS

SAN CLEMENTE – SolRio Organization for Climate Change Mitigation Inc. has proposed a large-scale solar-powered desalination project at the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station. SunRiver has the potential to produce 1.1 billion gallons of potable water daily by utilizing water…

EDC-VC Joins California Trade Delegation Trip to China

CAMARILLO – As part of the ongoing effort to increase trade and investment, particularly in California’s renewable energy and clean tech sectors, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Energy Commission recently led a delegation…

Gold Coast Transit District, Announces Partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the “If You See Something Say Something™” Campaign

VENTURA COUNTY — Gold Coast Transit District, Ventura County’s largest public transit provider announced their partnership with the public awareness campaign of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “If You See Something, Say Something™.” “If You See Something, Say Something™” posters…

EDC-VC announces board expansion

CAMARILLO — The Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County announces the addition of Amy Fonzo and Ron Galaviz to its board of directors. Fonzo, manager of external relations at California Resources Corporation, brings a unique blend of leadership, strategic planning and professional experience to…

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Thanks its Partners with Central Coast Events

CENTRAL COAST — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing hosted two cocktail events, “Thanking Our Partners,” for its major community supporters in October. The events were held at Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach and Blush in Santa Barbara – Oct. 7 and 21, respectively –…

SBCC Career Skills Institute Partners with Local Industry to Provide Free Career Advancement Training to Employees and Job Seekers

Over 25 certificate programs deliver huge return on small investment of time SANTA BARBARA – The growing need for competitive skills in the local and global economy has placed mounting pressure on job seekers, business owners, and employees. The Career Skills Institute…

Gold Coast Health Plan Signs Contract with New Pharmacy Benefit Manager

Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan to Begin Partnership with OptumRx in 2017 CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has finalized its contract with OptumRx to manage the prescription drug benefits for the Plan’s more than 207,000 members. Starting next year, the Minnesota-based…

Ferguson Case Orr Paterson Announces Two New Partners

VENTURA — Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP (FCOP), Ventura County’s largest law firm, is pleased to announce John Hribar and Lane Lopez as new partners. Hribar’s practice is focused on appeals and civil litigation; Lopez specializes in tax law, business…

Small Business Development Center Expands Advisor Roster

CENTRAL COAST — The Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, which provides free one-on-one consulting to help strengthen the bottom lines of area companies, has added law attorney Virginia Fuentes as a new consultant to its…

Union Bank Grants $10,000 to Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Programs

CENTRAL COAST —  Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) announced it has been generously awarded a $10,000 grant from Union Bank in support of the nonprofit’s Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP), focusing on improving the literacy, English and math skills of student residents. Union Bank…

Homeowner Workshop on Dec. 6 Provides Tips for a Warm and Efficient Home

SANTA BARBARA — With temperatures quickly dropping, the County-operated emPower Central Coast program is inviting homeowners to its free home energy efficiency workshop Dec. 6 to discuss home upgrades that will keep you comfortable no matter the season. The workshop will be…

Hispanic Heritage Month: One month is not enough

Too many issues and events to squeeze into one month of reflection and celebration By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Many folks wonder why Hispanic Heritage Month is divided between September and October. Yes, at least we get a month,…

E.P. Foster Library presents ‘California’s Water Crisis and Solutions’ on Oct. 9

VENTURA — E.P. Foster Library presents “California’s Water Crisis and Solutions”  with engineer and local author Mohammed A. Hasan from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 at the E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura, Topping Room. “There is a…

EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center Receives Funds for Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy Initiative

CENTRAL COAST — The Business & Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College (BEC) recently awarded $25,000 to the Economic Development Center-Ventura County’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as part of the Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy initiative. The funding,…

Sponsorships Available and Auction Items Needed for BGCOP’s 27th Annual Donald K. Facciano Kids Auction & Gala

OXNARD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme is seeking the help of individuals and businesses to donate items for auction and sponsors for the upcoming 27th Annual Donald K. Facciano Kids Auction & Gala.…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Receives National Award for Innovation in Care

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics was honored by BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) with an Innovations in Care Award at the 2016 Community Health Institute and EXPO in Chicago. Part of the…

MAC Set to Open New Location at The Collection at RiverPark

OXNARD — The Collection at RiverPark announced today that internationally renowned cosmetic brand MAC would be joining the line-up of shopping options. MAC is known for its professional grade make-up, cult following and trendsetting collaborations. Originally created for professional makeup…

A bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson to help disabled veterans who work in California Schools heads to the Governor

SACRAMENTO — A bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to help disabled veterans who are transitioning from military service into a new career working in California’s public schools passed off the Assembly floor today on a bipartisan, 65-0 vote…

VCCDC Receives $35,000 From Wells Fargo To Help Women In Ventura County Achieve Homeownership & Financial Stability

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) was recently awarded a $35,000 grant by Wells Fargo to support its Mi Casa Mi Hogar (My House My Home) Program which is designed to assist a highly vulnerable population – women…

Elderly Couple Stores 50 Years of Memories in Donated PODS Container after Losing their Home

CENTRAL COAST — With 50 years of Hank and Helen Kawecki’s memories packed into boxes and stacked into their neighbor’s garage, friends of the couple knew that more room would be needed to help the couple store and move their…

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing and Duncan Group Welcomes, Bids Farewell to Board Members

SANTA BARBARA — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) and its affiliate nonprofit property management agent, The Duncan Group (TDG), would like to thank retiring board member B. Ray Gateley, as well as welcome newly elected members Paula Johnson and Menka Sethi.…