Category: Business

Southeast Ventura County YMCA Begins Distributing $120,000 in Rapid Response Funds

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA through its disaster-relief program, California Strong, has completed distributing the first round of the $120,000 allocated for direct financial assistance grants to Ventura County residents whose financial situation has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The grants are from the Rapid Response Fund set up by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF). The VCCF partnered with the YMCA to provide immediate financial assistance, reviewing grant applications, vetting applicants and distributing checks.

Bilingual report: County of Ventura COVID-19 update for April 15

The Ventura County Public Health Officer announced that the Stay Well At Home Order will be extended until May 15, 2020. The current Order is set to expire April 19, 2020 at midnight. The Public Health Officer will be modifying the current Order and making an announcement about the details before the current Order expires.

Bilingual report: Agricultural Commissioner Issues Advisory for Agricultural Worker Protection During COVID-19 Crisis

The County of Ventura, in a collaboration with the County Executive Office, the Farmworker Resource Program, Farm Bureau of Ventura County, Ventura County Agricultural Association, Reiter Affiliated Companies, Lideres Campesinas en California, Good Farms, Brokaw Ranch and the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, has issued an Advisory for Agricultural Worker Protection to be used during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Emergency Child Care Initiative (ECCI) Provides Free Child Care Services for Health Care and other Essential Workers in Santa Barbara County

The Emergency Child Care Initiative for Santa Barbara County (ECCI) will offer emergency no-cost child care services for critical health care providers, first-responders and essential food distribution employees during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Employers of these workers including hospitals and essential service providers whose staff need child care are encouraged to contact Eileen Monahan, Project Manager for the initiative, at (805) 451-8720 or essentialchildcaresb@gmail.com 

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Now for Good News – The Curve Is Flattening

The good news is that physical distancing is working. Our County Public Health Department and the hospitals have worked to increase hospital bed capacity to about 590 countywide, yet our hospitalizations are at 40 (confirmed patients). Lives have been saved by our combined efforts, so please keep it up as the State wrestles with how long the “Shelter in Place” order will last and we wrestle with what we will do if the order is lifted or modified.

Mexican Consulate in Oxnard — 805 UndocuFund reactivated to help undocumented families in Ventura, Santa Barbara counties

We would like to bring to your attention that the 805 UndocuFund has been reactivated to help undocumented families affected by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. …

The 805 UndocuFund is currently fundraising and looking for volunteers to serve our community. This upcoming week, they will start processing application to provide financial assistance. They will need our support to help thousands of families that are facing hardship right now.

Bilingual report: Agricultural Essential Worker Cards Issued to Farmworkers

VENTURA — The County of Ventura, in a collaboration with the County Executive Office, the Farmworker Resource Program and the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, has provided Agricultural Essential Worker Cards to be used during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The cards are printed…

Port of Hueneme — Del Monte Rises Up to Feed Our Community

Del Monte Fresh Produce (Del Monte), a top fresh fruit and produce customer at the Port of Hueneme, delivered a full truck load of fresh fruit to the City of Oxnard, helping those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The Port couldn’t be more proud to see our customers stepping up to meet the needs of the community in these difficult times,” said Oxnard Harbor District Board President Jess Ramirez. “Del Monte has always invested their resources and energy to help the community, they are committed to our local families and have been since 1979.”

John D. Kim named Chief Operating Officer for Kaiser Permanente’s Woodland Hills and West Ventura Service Areas

Kaiser Permanente announced this week that John D. Kim has been appointed chief operating officer for the Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills and West Ventura service areas. John will be responsible for day-to-day hospital operations, continuing care, capital projects, quality/regulatory services and operations support, as well as provide oversight of our West Ventura market.

EDC BUSINESS ALERT- EDC Business Disaster Loan and Wednesday Webinar Series

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for our EDC Disaster Loan. Special thanks to Pacific Western Bank for contributing $500,000 to the EDC Disaster Loan Fund. These funds are meant to support small businesses in Ventura and Santa Barbara County only. Due to the volume of requests we anticipate and limited private capital funds we know that we will not be able to serve every small business. However, we do believe that the SBA Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are the best sources of capital available to small businesses.

Ventura County Public Health Officer Issues New Stay Well At Home Order Protecting Seniors in Long-Term Care Facilities, Placing Further Limitations on Gatherings, Adding to the List of Essential Businesses and Enacting Social Distancing Protocols

Ventura County Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin has enhanced the Stay Well At Home Order to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19 in the County of Ventura. The Order supplements the Health Officer’s Orders dated March 17, 20 and 31, 2020. All prior Orders issued by the Health Officer remain in effect except where modified by the provisions of the latest Order.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Holiday Celebrations During COVID-19

As we enter the weekend, many are feeling the disappointment of not being able to celebrate religiously significant holidays in close physical proximity to friends and loved ones. However, virtual hugs, decorated homes, recipe swaps, special meals and your best holiday attire can make Passover, Easter, and Ramadan feel special while practicing physical distancing. Here are some ways you can practice physical distancing during the Holidays:

Bilingual report: City of Oxnard Public Access Programming Updates | Actualizaciones de programación de acceso público

The City of Oxnard updated the local public access stations (Spectrum channel 10 and Frontier channel 35) with coronavirus content from the City, County, State and the CDC. Please see the broadcast schedule below.

Additionally, Ventura County hosts live press conferences everyday at 1 p.m. on News Channel 3 and ABC 7. Please be sure to tune in! These broadcasts from the County will also be shared online at https://vimeo.com/capsmediacenter.

Museum of Ventura County — The Mammoths of Ventura County, Get Art Smart quizlet, and more…

Greetings from 16 MVC team members, from 16 different home offices!

Last week, after 10 days of working from home, we on the Museum staff team realized that we actually like each other quite a bit, so we got together for an hour of idea sharing and recharging. Here we all are, in our “working from home” best.

Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector Announces Penalty Waivers After April 10

Steven Hintz, Ventura County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector, on April 7 announced that beginning April 11, 2020 he will accept taxpayer applications for waiver of late-payment penalties and fees for the second installment of the 2019-2020 secured property tax billings. If the applications are granted, the new payment due date will be August 31, 2020. There is no additional grace period.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) Receives Grant from Sempra Energy Foundation in Response to COVID-19 Outbreak

AGOURA — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) has been awarded $10,000 from the Sempra Energy Foundation in response to the COVID-19 Outbreak.  The grant was awarded through Sempra’s Nonprofit Hardship Fund to help provide expedited grants…

Bilingual report: Ventura County District Attorney Investigating Price Gouging Complaints

VENTURA — District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has initiated several investigations against county businesses for potential violations of Penal Code section 396, price gouging. Since March 5, 2020, the District Attorney’s Office has received…

April News from Peoples’ Self-Help Housing

Newsletter | April 2020 Give Now! Support the Resident Assistance Fund Dear Friend, Even before the statewide “shelter at home” order was issued by California Governor Newsom, because of crisis scenario planning by my key staff, I had redesignated our…

UCSB — Your Wednesday News Briefing — Stay in Place, Maintain Your Space, Cover Your Face

April 8, 2020 Top News Tracking Tau Understanding how the protein tau moves between neurons yields insight into possible treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Read More ? A Grim Outlook Scholar Benjamin J. Cohen says the Covid-19 crisis has the U.S.…

Bilingual report: Ventura County residents encouraged to complete the Census and be counted

VENTURA — April 1st officially marked Census Day across the United States and Ventura County residents are encouraged to complete the 2020 Census online, by mail, or by phone. As of March 12, 2020, residents began receiving invitation cards in…

Bilingual report: SoCalGas Launches ‘SoCalGas CAREs’ Campaign to Bring Awareness to CARE Assistance Program for Customers Facing Financial Hardship due to COVID-19

SoCalGas CAREs reminds customers they can qualify to save 20 percent on their monthly utility bills through CARE LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) on April 6 launched a campaign titled, “SoCalGas CAREs” for customers whose income may have…

Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort, Oxnard — Onsite Coastal Grill Restaurant Offers ‘To Go’ Menus

OXNARD — In an effort to continue to serve the community during the COVID-19 Outbreak, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort is now offering a “To Go” menu from their onsite Coastal Grill Restaurant. The menu provides a wide…

Working remotely CSUCI pulls together to print 3-D protective face shields

CSU Channel Islands may be operating in a virtual environment right now, but CSUCI faculty, staff and students from several different academic programs have mobilized and fired up 3-D printers to print badly-needed protective face shields.

So far, 51 printers are humming away in University members’ garages, kitchens, bedrooms and dens across the region in an effort to help medical personnel protect themselves as they treat patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — A Call to Take Responsibility & Updated Numbers

We are together facing yet another time of crisis, and how we behave in it will define and test our community and our humanity. Many have lost jobs or income, seen their products rot without customers, their businesses close, and some are even now seeing their loved ones sick. We must be a community where individuals take it upon themselves to shorten the economic crisis and save lives, by practicing social distancing without the need for Big Brother government or well-meaning neighbors to tell you how to behave.

County of Ventura issues New public health comments about masks

Ventura County Public Health Officer changes position on face masks, no longer advising against wearing them in public. Instead, he supports those residents who wish to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential travel to doctor appointments, grocery shopping or pharmacy visits. The face coverings should not be hospital grade at this time because there is a shortage and our health professionals need them.

Visit Oxnard Group Sales Manager Wins Smart Meetings Award

OXNARD – Group Sales Manager Courtney Freeman has been awarded the “Stellar Performer” Award by integrated media company Smart Meetings. Awardees are described as women who “are the first to roll up their sleeves, persevere through any obstacle, are savvy…

SoCalGas Donates $100,000 to American Red Cross of Central California to Support Those in Need During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Funding is part of the $1 million donation the company is providing to assist laid-off workers, provide food and bill payment assistance to those in need CAMARILLO — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) on Aug. 2 announced it will donate…

CSUCI Nursing students assist VCPH during COVID-19 crisis

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Nursing senior Lilian Kozma remembers walking into the call center at Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) on March 16, as more and more citizens were beginning to react to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Bilingual report: Inlakech Cultural Arts Center says respond to Census form online

Please check our Census video and please share.

Your response matters.

Health clinics. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of your community.
Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year.
It’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2: The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790.
Self-respond online at: https://my2020census.gov/

From COVID-19 to WWII: 75 years of uniting Ventura County

Since our inception 75 years ago this month, United Way of Ventura County has been a volunteer-driven organization, improving lives by inspiring and mobilizing the caring power and resources of our community. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness cannot wait for help – they need it now, as the COVID-19 virus exposes and intensifies the homeless crisis. The unprecedented COVID-19 emergency is mobilizing our community to respond to our most vulnerable population and dictating a shift in how we provide services.

EDC BUSINESS ALERT- New COVID-19 Business, Self-Employed and Employee Benefit Webinar Series and Business Resource Hotline

Good Afternoon Clients, Partners and Friends, It is truly an extraordinary time. Thank you for your partnership, support and grace as we have all made necessary and sometimes uncomfortable adjustments to meet this moment. In the brief period of time…

County of Ventura COVID-19 update for March 31

VENTURA COUNTY — Good Evening, Here is your daily report of COVID-19 cases in the County of Ventura.   23 new cases 149 total cases 27 recovered cases 30 people have ever been hospitalized from COVID-19 117 active cases under quarantine…

SEEAG Introduces ‘Let’s Grow A Garden!’ At-Home Student Learning Program

CENTRAL COAST — Fun, kid-friendly gardening activities from Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) are now available for children who are at home due to COVID-19 school closures. SEEAG, a local leader in agriculture education, conducts learning programs in Ventura…

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Responds to COVID-19

Includes daily meal distribution, distance learning, and wellness checks CENTRAL COAST — As the effects of COVID-19 continue to emerge, Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has enhanced their resident services. With a portfolio of over 52 properties, PSHH support over 5,000…

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Staying Strong and Resilient in the Face of COVID-19

As we head into a new week, we have increasingly detailed information to share and resources we hope will aid you during this time of continued uncertainty and stress, whether you are looking for ways to help, want to support…

All non-essential services at Ventura County Animal Services will be discontinued

VENTURA COUNTY — Effective Monday, March 30, 2020 and until further notice, all non- essential services at Ventura County Animal Services will be discontinued and some ancillary services will be reduced. The goal is to keep people in their homes and…