OXNARD — Business leaders and entrepreneurs from Ventura County met the students and staff of Laurus College’s Oxnard Campus at a ribbon cutting Ceremony on March 21, the institution reported in a media release. The ceremony celebrated the opening of…
Category: Business
Bilingual report: Free bilingual tax assistance provided by VITA-United Way of Santa Barbara County
The United Way of Santa Barbara County is coordinating free tax preparation and filing services through June for the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and Financial Empowerment Partnership, the organization reported in a media release.…
Commentary: My Role Models — Teenage Entrepreneurs
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Last month I wrote about my visit to Solvang and how I watched what books my hand went for in the book section of a store that sold mystical items (candles, crystals, amulets, etc.).…
Ventura County film industry launches database
Ventura County Film411 to be a vital resource for production companies and industry professionals CAMARILLO — To promote Ventura County as an ideal location for film, television and commercial production and to help the local economy grow, the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County launched the online directory…
CEDC receives certificates of occupancy for 18 farmworker apartments in Oxnard
VENTURA —The Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. in Ventura announced on Thursday that it has received “certificates of occupancy” from the City of Oxnard for its newest affordable, apartment community for farmworkers, Camino Gonzalez. The $9.5 million project, located on a…
‘Starting a Small Business Workshop’ set for March 19 in Camarillo
The Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties is presenting a series of free workshops held at EDC-VC, 1601 Carmen Drive, Suite 215, Camarillo. “Starting a Small Business Workshop” is a monthly workshop…
Bilingual report: Teatro seeking donations for garage sale, holding equipment sale
Teatro de las Americas is starting the year raising the money needed to bring you three plays later in the year, the organization reported on Wednesday in a media release. “We begin with a garage sale on Saturday, March 24, at…
Youth benefit with dental services during ‘Dental Day’
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ Dental Resident Dr. Cherry Ma, right, examines Abigail Perez’s teeth at the Direct Relief International (DRI) Dental Day, which was held March 10 at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ Dental Clinic, the organization reported Monday in a…
Small Business Development Center adds advisors
Trio join roster of about 30 business experts available free to companies CAMARILLO — Three business advisors with expertise in developing cash flow, productivity, accounting and taxation have joined the Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties,…
CLU graduate students to be consultants for area businesses
SBDC’s Ray Bowman teaches new MBA class CAMARILLO — Twelve California Lutheran University MBA students are blending academics with real-world experience as they explore the field of small business consulting by providing services to three local businesses, the Economic Development…
Premier issue of Amigos805 print edition coming in April
The premier issue of Amigos805, a 10,000-copy bilingual print edition, is coming to the region in April to better serve the community in the California Central Coast region. The publication is then scheduled to go weekly starting in May, the…
Williams introduces bills promoting energy efficiency
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) recently introduced three bills aimed to help promote green energy technology, facilitate guidelines for efficiency upgrades and optimize investments in distributed generation, his office reported in a media release. AB 2339 will require…
United Way to hold ‘Girls’ Night Out’ fundraiser on Feb. 27 in Oxnard
Meathead Movers joins United Way of Ventura County for a pampered evening benefiting the organization’s United Women’s Leadership Council CAMARILLO — For one night only, employees of Meathead Movers will replace their uniforms with tuxedoes and moving boxes with martinis to assist the…
Southern California Gas Co. awards $20,000 grant to Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
BGCOP will use money for its College Bound program OXNARD —The Southern California Gas Co. presented a $20,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme recently as part of a 2011 Education Initiative, the…
Latino Links: Economic trends
As the nation continues to recover from effects of the great recession, Latinos are expected to account for nearly three-quarters of the nation’s labor force from 2010 to 2020, according to a recent media release by the Pew Research Center…
Wells Fargo supports Women’s Economic Ventures through $25,000 grant
SANTA BARBARA — Non-profit Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) has received a $25,000 grant from Wells Fargo for the organization’s continuum of programs, which helps women (and men) succeed at every stage of the business lifecycle, the organization reported Tuesday in a media…
Commentary: Don’t wait until it’s too late!
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors As we continue to work with the Ventura County community, we are saddened to see how many people wait until it’s too late to save their home, with expectations that a few days to…
Latino Links: Cultural trends
While the national television audience was fixated on activities going on inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday night — Adele capturing six Grammy awards, heartfelt tributes to Whitney Houston who died on Saturday, and performances from various…
Capps votes for House Passage of the STOCK Act. Says stronger bill must be signed into law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Thursday applauded the House of Representative’s passage of the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. Capps is a cosponsor of an earlier version of this legislation that would ban insider…
Capps applauds mortgage fraud settlement, urges additional action
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Thursday applauded the announcement that the federal government and 49 states, including California, reached a $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to penalize robo-signing and other bank…
Medical professionals to be honored at Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation gala on Feb. 16
Miguel Cervantes, MD, selected as Community Physican of the Year, will be among a group of 10 individuals and organizations to be honored at the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation 19th annual Gala Awards Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16…
Rocksteady Fitness to have Zumba party on Feb. 13
Arturo and Melissa Hernandez, owners of Rocksteady Fitness, invite the community to attend a free Zumba party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at Diet Free Life, 4517 Market St., Suites 5 and 6, Ventura. Rocksteady Fitness provides Personal Training, Group…
EDC-VC honored for job creation
Center has quickly impacted area’s economic vitality CAMARILLO — The Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s Small Business Development Center was instrumental in creating and retaining nearly 600 jobs in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties last year through its one-on-one business advising…
Capps critical of bill that would open up the Central Coast to new offshore oil drilling
WASHINGTON —Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) slammed the House Republican leadership’s transportation bill, the so-called “Energy Security and Transportation Jobs Act” (H.R. 3410), which would mandate new oil and gas drilling in the federal waters off Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,…
Free tax help available Feb. 8, 9 at Oxnard Public Library
The Oxnard Public Library is providing free income tax preparation assistance to income filers from 1 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday through April 12 at the Main Downtown Library, Meeting Room B, 251 So. A St., Oxnard, the…
Commentary: Four possible solutions to avoid foreclosure
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Just a week ago, we held an educational forum at the Oxnard Public Library. A large number of community members attended and walked away informed and armed with knowledge to move forward. “We were…
Latino Links: Economic Trends
A majority of Latinos (54 percent) believe the nation’s recession has hit them harder than any other group in the United States, according to a survey released last week by the Pew Hispanic Center. The survey found: 75 percent said…
Volunteers to provide free tax preparation starting Jan. 30
Effort will return thousands of dollars to low-wage earners CAMARILLO — Low to moderate income workers can receive free help with tax preparation and income tax filing at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site located throughout Ventura County beginning…
Food Network viewing party of the Kitchen segment set for Jan. 30
A viewing party for the Jan. 30 segment of the Food Network’s popular “Diner’s Drive-Ins and Dives” show, featuring the Kitchen in Oxnard, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 at 529 So. A St., Oxnard. Big screen…
Verizon presents $17,200 check to Santa Barbara City College’s MESA program
SANTA BARBARA — Verizon presented a check for $17,200 to Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Acting Superintendent/President, Jack Friedlander to support the college’s innovative MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) program, college officials reported in a media release this week. This…
Don’t wait for last-minute foreclosure help
Amigos805.com staff report It was a full house at a foreclosure crisis educational forum held Jan. 21 at the Oxnard Public Library, reported David Cruz during his morning radio show Jan. 25 on KOXR AM-910. He made his comments during…
Bilingual report: Breakfreee.org free financial seminar set for Jan. 26 in Oxnard
Breakfreee.org is sponsoring a free session on finances from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Downtown Oxnard Management District office, 445 So. B St., Oxnard. This presentation will be given primarily in Spanish. Supported by California Lutheran University, the…
EDC-VC releases latest ‘Economic 411 Report’
By Bruce Stenslie / Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County California’s Labor Market Information Division released its December 2011 report … continuing for a fifth month in row improvements across our key indicators. For the details see www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/vent$pds.pdf There are two key…
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) to hold orientation classes starting this week
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) will hold a series of orientations starting this week in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, the organization reported recently in a media release. The orientation classes will be held: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24…
Latino Links: Media Trends
Hispanics view the Internet as a virtual “Plaza del Pueblo,” or town square, a place where they can be inspired and motivated to join the conversation, according to a new “Report on Hispanic Digital Influencers” released recently by 360i Digital…
Foreclosure crisis educational forum set for Jan. 21 in Oxnard
A free foreclosure crisis educational forum will be presented from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Oxnard Public Library, 251 So. A St., Oxnard. Presented by Mike Szakos & Associates, the program will feature a variety of companies…
Tri-Counties Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Association earns certification
VENTURA COUNTY — The Tri-Counties Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Association (SMACNA) Apprenticeship program recently completed a stringent audit and was awarded the American Welding Society’s (AWS) official certification as an approved testing facility (ATF), the association reported this…
Small Business Development Center to present free workshops starting Jan. 17
The Small Business Development Center will present a series of free workshops starting Jan. 17 at the Economic Development Collaborative – Ventura County, 1601 Carmen Drive, Suite 215, Camarillo. > Mary Anne Rooney, SBCD advisor, will present the workshop — “Starting…
Commentary: Do your homework. Rules are changing
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors As we continue to work on short sales throughout the community, we are finding out that the banks are changing the rules constantly, even from client to client. It is vital to obtain help…
Latino Links: Economic trends
The mortgage crisis has hit the Latino community particularly hard. The Center for Responsible Lending reported last year that Latinos were twice as likely to have lost their homes to foreclosure, or are seriously delinquent, compared to white borrowers. Latinos…
New board chair, radio program top area news
Amigos805.com staff report It was a history-making week in the 805 region with the selection of the first Latino chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in more than a century. Meanwhile, the community’s voice will extend beyond the 805…
Commentary: Hope for tomorrow
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Over the past few weeks, we have shared some sad stories with you. Some tragic. Some seeming without hope. There is hope and there are answers! A family we helped recently purchased a new…
Commentary: The truth shall set you free
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors Happy New Year! May 2012 be a tremendous year for each of you. A fresh start. A new beginning. We know that 2011 was a very difficult year for many of you for various…
Commentary: Time to turn the calendar to a new year
Amigos805.com staff report We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2012. Residents of the 805 region and the rest of the nation in 2011 continued to battle back from the effects of the Great Recession. As noted recently by Bill Watkins, executive…
Commentary: The management of time
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Here we are on a collision course with 2012, and many of us haven’t even begun to write down our resolutions. Assuming the Mayan predictions aren’t true and that we actually will live through…
Commentary: Hope For 2012
By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors All of us on Team Szakos hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends and we wish you nothing but the best for 2012! As we read in the news, watch…
Radio Lazer, Vista Ford of Oxnard bring joy and toys to Oxnard children
OXNARD — Hundreds of Oxnard children received an early Christmas on Dec. 14 thanks to the generosity of Vista Ford of Oxnard and Radio Lazer, according to a media release. For the fifth year, the two Oxnard businesses teamed up…
Capps writes to Entravision CEO urging him to reconsider cancellation of ‘Noticias Univision Costa Central’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 21 released a letter she sent to Mr. Walter Ulloa, Entravision Chairman and CEO, to express her concern about the potential cancellation of “Noticias Univision Costa Central,” the only Spanish-language…
Capps slams House GOP leadership opposition to middle class tax cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 20 slammed the refusal of the House of Representatives Republican leadership to bring bipartisan Senate legislation to extend the middle class payroll tax cut to the House floor for an…
Applications available for California Strawberry Festival arts, crafts exhibitors
OXNARD — Calling artists and crafters with a passion for the berry best… Applications are now available for participation as an Arts & Crafts Exhibitor at the 29th Annual California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard the weekend of May 19 and…