Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC), will host their 2022 “Our Community Promise” Annual Public Meeting on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Register for this free informative event about housing equity and affordability at www.housingtrustfundvc.org.
We are excited to invite Judith Sanchez Lopez, SVP General Manager at Jafra USA to be our next speaker in our Forward Together webinar series. Judith is an international leader with more than 28 years in the beauty and cosmetics industry. She is a visionary with a strategic mindset and a focus on developing high-potential teams to achieve results and ensure business profit and growth. She has deep experience in launching and driving business growth in a variety of LATAM countries, South America, the USA, and Asia.
The Association of Mexican American Educators – Oxnard Chapter will hold an AMAE Oxnard Panda Express Fundraiser for scholarships from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29 at 2121 N. Rose Ave., Suite 480, Oxnard.
“Help us in funding our local scholarships to high school students,” the organization reported.
Join the EDC for a free webinar on creating a 2022 social media content calendar presented by Small Business Development Center Advisor, Deborah Deras!
Who’s ready to get organized this 2022!? Let’s be honest, we all get overwhelmed by Social Media because we often wear too many hats and think we need to be on every platform. The fact is we only need to be posting on the platforms where our target market is spending their time. The best way to get organized and efficient is to create a social media calendar. Deborah has a saying: schedule it in your calendar, see it in your life and she will show you how to do it to save time, energy and make you money.
CONOMIC INCENTIVES/TAX CREDITS FOR CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 @ 10:30 – 11:30 AM PST
This FREE webinar, co-hosted by CMTC and the CA Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), will provide practical guidance to California manufacturers on multiple economic incentives, resources, and workforce training funding to save money and foster growth:
Partial Sales & Use Tax Exemption
Workforce Training Funding (ETP)
California Competes Tax Credit
New Employment Tax Credit
Sales & Use Tax Exclusion
R&D Tax Credits
New Grants
Resources & No-Cost Assistance
There will be an opportunity for Q&A, and you are also welcome to submit questions in advance during registration.
Every two years, the State of the Region Report provides a trusted and unique perspective on Ventura County life. Register for this free event to hear these community leaders discuss the data in the State of the Region Report and their perspectives on life in Ventura County.
Employment law firm LightGabler is providing live, online sexual harassment and bullying prevention training courses for supervisors and non-supervisory employees on Tuesday, March 8.
California law requires that companies with five or more employees provide two hours of supervisory training and one hour of staff training every two years on harassment, discrimination, bullying and retaliation prevention. Agricultural employers must provide this training every year. New supervisors need to be trained within six months of starting a supervisory position and new employees must have training within six months of being hired.
Looking Ahead During Extraordinary Times
2022 Ventura County Economic Forecast
NEW DATE: Tues. March 8 | 8:30 AM
This premier networking and forecast event will include an in-depth analysis of the county’s economic performance and an assessment of its economic and demographic future, plus detailed analysis and forecasts for the U.S. and California economies.
In-person – LEARN MORE
Employment law firm LightGabler is presenting a free webinar, “Employing the Absent Employee–Navigating California’s Leaves of Absence Laws.” The webinar is Wednesday, March 23 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
California has more mandatory leaves of absence than any other state. To maintain business operations and avoid costly litigation, employers must understand when a leave is available to an employee, what rights must be provided to the employee, and what employee obligations can be enforced.
Resource Innovation Institute (RII), in collaboration with Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN), will launch “Efficient Cultivation to Increase Cannabis Profit & Productivity,” a four-part workshop series and virtual classroom for cannabis cultivation operations in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. This training and education program is free to regional producers and industry partners, and features vetted subject matter experts from RII’s Technical Advisory Council.
The West Ventura County Business Alliance, the chamber of commerce serving Camarillo and Oxnard, is hosting a Spring Business Expo & Mixer on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
The semi-annual event is designed to bring together businesses and potential new customers in a fun, casual networking environment. The WVCBA Spring Business Expo & Mixer is free to the public.
Local business owners and representatives will showcase their products, explain their services, and make valuable in-person connections for strategic partnerships or new customers.
Earl Warren Showgrounds is pleased to announce its first Community Engagement Forum, which will be a regularly scheduled public meeting to discuss the community’s hopes and vision for the future of the showgrounds, and to provide updates and answer questions.
The West Ventura County Business Alliance, the chamber of commerce serving Camarillo and Oxnard, is pleased to welcome Keith Freitas, Director of Airports for Ventura County, as the keynote speaker for the Business & Economic Outlook on Thursday, April 14.
Freitas is expected to discuss their economic impacts of the county-operated airports and share the latest updates. The County of Ventura Department of Airports owns and manages Camarillo Airport and Oxnard Airport.
Freitas accepted his current position in Ventura County in November 2021. He previously worked at Long Beach Municipal Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport, and Contra Costa County, where he was the Director of Airports for 19 years.
Woman-owned business professionals seeking to increase publicity for their companies in 2022 can learn the latest marketing tips and tricks at the upcoming National Association of Women Business Owners Santa Barbara (NAWBO-SB) event on Wednesday morning, April 20.
Jennifer Goddard Combs, leading expert in publicity and marketing, will present “Tips on How to Market Your Business 101” at the Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) Community Room, located at 21 East Canon Perdido, Suite 301, Santa Barbara, CA. The presentation will offer inspirational ideas for boosting publicity and sales. As Combs says, “Publicity is free, and advertising is paid.”
We are thrilled to present the PRiME Competition Annual Event. Join us live this Wednesday, April 27 at 6 pm to learn more about the initiatives of the School of Management to support the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a United Nations Global Compact initiative for a better world.
At this important event, we are honored to present top managers from the public and private sectors. Our speakers and judges of the PRiME Competition 2022, will share their vision for the implementation of best practices in sustainability to protect the people and the planet.
Take this valuable opportunity to know how companies are making decisions from a business perspective, creating a real change for a better world.
All the students and community are invited to attend!
The Camarillo Spring Job Fair will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 28 at Constitution Park, Camarillo.
Join us at the 10th Annual World Trade Week Event! Trade consuls from around the world, high-ranking Department of Commerce officials, local elected officials, business leaders and maritime industry experts will gather to present an important program with a special focus on environment, green technology and economics related to the marine realm.
Check out the student startups, and vote for your favorite ideas
In person on Cal Lutheran’s campus – May 4
Cal Lutheran’s New Venture Fair (NVF) is back in person! The NVF 2022 showcases 60 student-led startup projects, including those from Cal Lutheran’s undergraduate, graduate, and Executive MBA in Europe programs, in addition to high school teams from Oaks Christian School, Thousand Oaks High School, Bakersfield Christian High School, and primary school teams from Start-Up Kids and One Spark Academy.
The NVF is an expo-style event where each team furnishes its booth and demos its product. The community is invited to circulate the room, meet the teams, learn about their startup ideas, and vote for their favorites. Awards will be presented at the end of the evening.
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced (on April 7) that Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez will keynote the nonprofit’s signature event – Compassion Campaign 2022 on Thursday, May 12th at Maravilla Gardens in Camarillo.
“We are honored that Director Velasquez sees the work we are doing here in Ventura County to provide safe, equitable homes for all and will be sharing his perspective on the state of affordable housing in California,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Bestselling Author and Pulitzer Prize Winner Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Pico Iyer at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13 at UCSB Campbell Hall.
??A New York Times Best Seller List mainstay, Elizabeth Strout captivates audiences with her finely drawn characters, incisive prose and powerful ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Join an engaging conversation centered on meaningfully bringing into our workplaces Environmental Sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices. Hosted by NAWBO (the National Association of Women Business Owners), attendees will also share what they learned and how they adapted to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parker Clay will open the event with an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a way of conveying friendship and respect. Women of varied backgrounds and ages will then offer their perspectives about how to make workplaces reflective of our communities and welcoming to all ages and backgrounds.
Earl Warren Showgrounds is pleased to announce its second Community Engagement Forum, which will be a regularly scheduled public meeting to discuss the community’s hopes and vision for the future of the showgrounds, and to provide updates and answer questions.
Earl Warren Showgrounds leadership invites the public to join its Board President, a second board member, Earl Warren Showgrounds CEO and, if available, members of its staff to provide community feedback and to discuss relevant topics. Earl Warren Showgrounds wants to solicit public feedback for board activities and facility improvements, while providing a venue for board members to listen to stakeholders and residents to understand key issues through the lens of the community.
Friends –
We need your help and muscle! 208 Kuranda dog beds were donated by members of the public, but they arrived unassembled. Will you help build-a-bed? If so, please bring a couple of required tools: 7/16″ wrench and a Phillip’s head screwdriver. We’ll be building outdoors on our lawn, so feel free to bring a shade canopy, folding table, and chairs. No RSVP needed. Please park on the street to allow front lot space for urgent shelter business. Children are welcome, but we ask parent to use their best judgement as there will be power tools in use.
See you Saturday, May 21st between 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Thank you for your support!
Ventura County Animal Services
The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is celebrating the resilience of its staff with its annual educational event for National Public Works Week (NPWW) 2022. Based on the hugely successful virtual Public Works Week in 2021 when over 1,500 Ventura County students took part, this year’s event promises to be even better. On Monday, May 16th, 2022, students, faculty, and the public can access a robust curriculum featuring new video demonstrations, educational materials, and interactive projects via the VCPWA website.
In this interactive presentation, Nina Skorus-Neely will discuss:
Key shifts impacting the Media and Entertainment industry
Technology solutions required to support the typical entertainment studio
Strategy considerations as organizations transition toward increasingly digital, direct-to-consumer operations
Q&A will follow, moderated by Earle Charles, Program Director of the M.S. Information Technology program. All are welcome to join the conversation.
Monday, May 23
5:30 PM PST (ZOOM)
The event is free but registration is required.
YOU’RE INVITED
Meet the IdeaToDo startups
Tuesday, June 7 | 4:00 pm
Meet the founders, learn about their startups, and network with the startup community. Attend virtually or in person at Hub101.
The West Ventura County Business Alliance will host Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza’s annual State of the City address on Friday, June 17. He will reflect on accomplishments from 2021, and share highlights and initiatives for 2022.
“As you can see throughout Oxnard, we are in the process of restoring many of our streets and alleys and landscape maintenance that was deferred for many years,” said Mayor Zaragoza. “I’m excited to share with the community the progress we have made with one full year of Measure E funding and our City Council’s vision to continue reinvesting in our community.
The State of the City is being held at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard located at 600 E. Esplanade Drive. The luncheon is open to the public and begins at 11:30 a.m.
Come learn about the Economic Development Collaborative’s Cultivate & Ignite Tech Program (EDC CITP)
Employment law firm LightGabler is providing live, online sexual harassment and bullying prevention training courses for supervisors and non-supervisory employees on Tuesday, July 12.
California law requires that companies with five or more employees provide two hours of supervisory training and one hour of staff training every two years on harassment, discrimination, bullying and retaliation prevention. Agricultural employers must provide this training every year. New supervisors need to be trained within six months of starting a supervisory position and new employees must have training within six months of being hired.
It’s the summer season, which makes it the perfect time to travel abroad with your family and friends! To do so, it is imperative that you keep your passport up to date.
As your representative in Congress, I want to make sure that obtaining or renewing a passport is made as easy as possible. For that reason, I am hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, July 16, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Grant R. Brimhall Library, located at 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.
Did you know that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has resources and programs for Veterans and the military community? If you are a transitioning or active-duty service member, National Guard or Reserve member, veteran of any era or military spouse, the SBA is here to help. Through training programs, contracting opportunities and access to capital, the SBA is here to help your business start, grow, expand or recover.
You can access the SBA’s Veteran resources through the Southern California Veteran’s Business Outreach Center! Join us on Tuesday, August 2 at 12:00pm to learn how to get started AND topics such as:
– Government Certifications
– Introduction to Government Contracting
– eCommerce 101 for Military Spouses
The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) will be hosting a new volunteer orientation in August. Orientations will take place at the museum at 3900 Bluefin Circle in Oxnard on Saturday, August 20, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.
These orientations will share the history of the Museum, its collections, and the many ways in which volunteers can help to support the Maritime Museum. CIMM has volunteer opportunities in several areas including Museum tours, education, events, the CIMM Building Brigade, and visitor services.
The Museum asks for attendees to please RSVP to office@cimmvc.org or call CIMM at 805.984.6260 if they would like to attend either orientation.
The Ventura County Human Services Agency’s Veteran Services Office invites job seekers with military experience and employers to the Military and Veteran Job Fair and Expo on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ventura County Office of Education, 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo. This event is FREE for active-duty military, U.S. Veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserve.
Ventura County Human Services Agency Veteran Services Office will host a Military and Veteran Job Fair and Expo on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ventura County Office of Education, 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo. This event is free for active-duty military, U.S. Veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserve.
“This is the area’s largest Veteran job fair,” said Jim McHugh, Ventura County Veteran Services Officer, “and an ideal place to help Veterans find good paying jobs and to help businesses in need of leadership.”
The County of Ventura Human Resources Department will host a Job and Career Fair on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
The event and parking are free and open to the public. The Job and Career Fair will take place in the main courtyard of the Ventura County Government Center, between the Hall of Administration and the Hall of Justice.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about careers in administration and support, engineering, environmental protection, planning, agriculture, health care, law enforcement, public safety, public works, recreational services, technology, and much more.
SCORE’s Inspiring Women is a free live event to help you plan a social media strategy for your business. Whether just starting out, or struggling to generate business changing results, Social Media is a critical component of your overall marketing strategy.
Speakers and Topics:
Bridget Brady “Building Your Business with the Power of Social Media”
Social Media is ESSENTIAL to every business owner and entrepreneur.
Roughly 82% of all people are active on social media and that number continues to grow each day. These are potential clients and customers.
Whether just starting out or struggling to generate biz-changing results—Social Media is a critical component of your overall marketing strategy.
Join Bridget Brady to get fully informed on what it takes to create, launch, and implement a rock-solid strategy that cuts through the confusion and leads to social media and business success!
FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL: CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
August 2022 Edition: Showcasing the International Success of Rural-Based Businesses
Join U.S. Commercial Service for the seventh session of their “From Local to Global: Celebrating Diversity” event series, as they feature a dynamic panel of founders and leaders from Rural-based businesses across Southern California, who will share how they have successfully grown their businesses internationally.
Learn about the opportunities to seek out, as well as the challenges to avoid as you launch or expand your international business.
Receive information and resources that will help you chart your path to global sales and expansion success.
Wednesday August 31, 2022 @ 11:00 am
Location: Virtual (WEBEX)
Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Senator Monique Limón, and the County of Ventura, along with local water experts, will present an overview of California’s and Ventura County’s water delivery systems with a particular focus on western Ventura County. The forum will discuss the threats of the extreme drought conditions our state and region is facing, the impacts it will have on our communities and the agencies’ efforts to address these issues.
FATHOMWERX Summit, with participation from Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) Coastal Trident Open House and Agility Summit, has the goal of exploring the intersections between industry and the Department of the Navy. This inclusive event will be filled with tested technologies, demonstrations, tours, networking, keynote speakers, panels and the Department of the Navy program representatives and stakeholders.
September 14-15, 2022
FATHOMWERX LAB, 319 Ponoma Street, Port of Hueneme, CA 93041
The West Ventura County Business Alliance, the chamber of commerce serving Camarillo and Oxnard, is hosting a Fall Business Expo & Mixer on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
The semi-annual event is designed to bring together businesses and potential new customers in a fun, casual networking environment. The Fall Business Expo & Mixer is free to attend and open to the public.
Please Join NAWBO-SB & EDC to Learn How to Protect Your Business From a Cyber-Attack
Cybersecurity has risen to a top concern for small business owners worldwide, and if it isn’t on your radar – it should be. Kerry Grimes, Founder of Digital Duchess, and Rita Mounir, Co-Founder of Allthenticate, will lead the conversation about the most common types of cyber attacks and discuss ideas for limiting your vulnerability in the digital business world. They will also share their professional expertise and best practices to navigate cybercrime resources. Come for the info, and stay for the networking! Panelists and the EDC’s Small Business Development Center Business Advisors will be available to discuss the support and resources available to sustain and grow your business.
You’re invited to join the conversation with our keynote and panelists!
Limited spots remain. Register today!
WHOSE ATTENDING?
C-suite executives from some of the foremost experts on talent management from organizations such as Amgen, Dole, Metrolink, Jafra, Allogene, The Cheesecake Factory, Mercer, MannKind, Medtronic, Penny Mac, and other leading companies based in Southern California.
WHY ATTEND?
Hear the latest research from one of the world’s foremost scholars in the area of talent management
Discuss your talent management challenges and learn from others
Take-away solutions to your issues surrounding talent management
Gain a new perspective from academics and industry. What is the future?
Network with peers
Explore an amazing showcase of electric vehicles, including cars, vans, SUV’s, trucks, boats and more at the National Drive Electric Week Ventura EV Showcase from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Ventura Harbor, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Main Lawn.
These cars are displayed by their owners who have years of EV ownership and are enthusiastic and willing to discuss their experience and answer your questions about owning an EV. If you own an EV, register with the RSVP button and bring your vehicle to the showcase, meet and mingle with members of our local EV community. Co-sponsored by the Community Environmental Council of Santa Barbara.
The Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) and the Community Environmental Council invite you to join us and local EV drivers for an electric vehicle show from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at at Plaza Park Farmers’ Market, 500 S. C St., Oxnard.
You’ll get a chance to have all your EV-related questions answered and meet real EV owners. Learn about stacking rebates and incentives to get the best deal on your EV purchase, and how to get a car charger installed at your home or business. Spin the wheel for a chance to win cool prizes like gift certificates, stickers, water canteens, pizza, and more.
Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) announces National Drive Electric Week’s (September 23 – Oct 2, 2022) online and in-person events occurring in more than 180 communities across the country that highlight the climate, clean-air benefits, and cost-savings provided by driving an EV.
Come enjoy the display of several electric vehicles, talk to the owners, and get informed about EV rebates and incentives, charging, and local resources from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at the Santa Maria EV Showcase at Town Center West Parking Lot, Broadway between Cook and Main, Santa Maria.
The showcase is a collaborative educational opportunity co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, the Santa Barbara Sierra Club, the Community Environmental Council and the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5). On-the-ground support by members of the Santa Barbara EV Advocates.
The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will present Local History Happy Hour/ZOOM with John Krist from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula.
Members: $0 / $10 non-members in-person / $5 for non-members on Zoom
The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula invites you to join us for the next installment of our popular series, Local History Happy Hour. In this series, local authors and historians will sit down with The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director Elena Brokaw to discuss their unique perspectives on our region’s history and take questions from the audience.
The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) will be celebrating its 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony, “Leading People Home”, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 at Spanish Hills Club in Camarillo by honoring four individuals with prestigious named awards for their work in transforming lives through community partnerships, transformational leadership, and homeownership affordability and creation.
VCCDC’s impact of changing lives through homeownership for the last 21 years began as an operational venture by co-founders Rodney Fernandez and Bertha Garcia. In 2014, VCCDC was spun-off, becoming the only CDFI based nonprofit serving low-to-moderate income families with mortgages in the Ventura County. This year’s ceremony will highlight the honoring of three individuals and one organization whose commitments mirror VCCDC’s mission to strengthen and sustain vibrant communities by empowering individuals and families to build wealth through education and homeownership.
The Community Environmental Council in Santa Barbara is hosting the free Zoom webinar “Get Charged: Everything You Need to Drive Electric” on all things electric vehicles to help you make the switch to driving electric from noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6.
You’ll learn the basics of charging, what’s available on the used and new markets, and how to make the best use of local, state, and federal incentives.
Please join us for a primer on making the switch to driving electric. You’ll hear from current EV drivers and walk away knowing everything from the basics of charging to what’s available on the used and new market. We’ll also cover how to access and make the best use of local, state, and federal incentives on the horizon—and how to get support in your EV journey from the Community Environmental Council and others.
