Category: Finance

Uplift Central Coast awarded $14 million to accelerate local economic and workforce projects across six counties

by Community Contributor • March 13, 2024 • Comments Off

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Uplift Central Coast Coalition (Uplift) is thrilled to announce it has been awarded $14 million from the California Regional Investment Initiative of the California Jobs First program (formerly known as the Community Economic Resilience Fund or CERF). Launched in 2021 by Governor Newsom, this initiative supported the establishment of Uplift, a coalition convened by three economic development agencies: REACH, Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), and Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP). The $14 million in funding, known as the “Catalyst Program,” will bolster Uplift’s ongoing efforts to craft strategic roadmaps and recommend investments for the 6-county Central Coast region.

‘Be Like Carter’ Scholarships Awarded

by Community Contributor • March 13, 2024 • Comments Off

AGOURA HILLS — Three “Be Like Carter” scholarships were awarded to Agoura High School students earlier this month. The scholarships are given out twice a year in memory of Carter Stone, an incoming freshman at Agoura High who passed away in 2022 unexpectedly just before the start of the school year and after making the football team.

Scholarship winners are Carter Roberts, a 12th grader who is on the football and baseball teams and overcame two injuries that required surgeries to continue to compete, Addison Reyes, an 11th grader who excels in track and field and soccer and, in addition, teaches kids to surf and Colin Hook, a 12thgrader who plays varsity football for Agoura High and is a certified lifeguard.

Bilingual report — County officials hold press conference to present recent actions taken to address homelessness

by Community Contributor • March 13, 2024 • Comments Off

The plight of each of our unhoused neighbors is complicated,” stated 2ndDistrict Supervisor Jeff Gorell. “It requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. That’s what we are doing in the County of Ventura through the bold actions from the Board of Supervisors and recently adopted initiatives through the Strategic Plan Priority to Address Homelessness and lift up the most vulnerable.”

Allan Hancock College expands Promise Program to two years

by Community Contributor • March 11, 2024 • Comments Off

The expanded two-year Promise, also known as HP2, was announced on March 8 as the college welcomed more than 2,000 local high school students to its campus for the annual Career Exploration Day event. Many of the students in attendance will benefit from the Promises expansion when it goes into effect in Fall 2024.

“We’ve covered first-year tuition for five years now, and that has significantly increased the number of local students who have access to a college education,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “The two-year Promise will better support those students as they work to complete their degrees.”

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • March 11, 2024 • Comments Off

SBA: DOING BUSINESS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

March 13 @ 11:00 am

Join SBA as they discuss Federal Contracting Set-aside with the US Department of the Army – (US ARMY). Attend to learn about OSDBU’s role and how it can benefit your business, how to effectively position your business for federal contracting opportunities and explore key resources and tools available to support your business growth in the federal marketplace.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Free Workshops, Free Financial Coaching and Credit Report

by Community Contributor • March 5, 2024 • Comments Off

Homebuyer Workshop

Saturday, March 9, in-person @ Thousand Oaks

Saturday, March 16, in-person @ Bakersfield

Saturday, March 23, online

Ventura County Arts Council — Artist Grants – $1k-$5k! VC Arts and Culture Investment Fund

by Community Contributor • March 5, 2024 • Comments Off

The grants available are designed to revitalize and encourage the arts community in Ventura County. They aim to foster creativity, cooperation, and a greater involvement in the arts throughout the county. Whether you are an independent artist or part of an organization, you may be eligible to apply for these grants. The grants can be used to cover general expenses and to support new or existing projects.

Economic Development Corp. free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • March 4, 2024 • Comments Off

SBA: HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

March 5 @ 12:00 pm

Hear directly from the Executive Director of OSDBU at HHS about their procurement process and priorities for 2024. Join BSA as they discuss Federal Contracting Set-aside with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Farm Bureau of Ventura County — Resources for Fruit Fly Quarantines

by Community Contributor • March 4, 2024 • Comments Off

California is currently experiencing an unusually high?number?of invasive fruit fly?detections, resulting in quarantines being established across numerous California counties, including Ventura County. These invasive fruit fly species – including Mediterranean fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly, Queensland fruit fly and tau fruit fly – are considered not established in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and various County Agricultural Commissioners, has initiated local regulatory measures to eradicate and prevent the further spread of these fruit fly species statewide.

Camarillo Sunrise Rotary Club Hosts Fourth Annual Golf Tournament to Benefit kidSTREAM Children’s Museum

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2024 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO — The Camarillo Sunrise Rotary Club, a local service organization comprised of local business leaders and committed to a wide range of local and global causes, has been a long-time supporter of kidSTREAM, Ventura County’s only children’s museum. The Rotary Club is hosting the Fourth Annual kidSTREAM Charity Golf Tournament at Las Posas Country Club Golf Course on Monday, April 29.

There are a few spots for golfers remaining through sponsorship of the tournament, and they can be found by going to kidSTREAM’s website at kidSTREAM.org, under “Upcoming Events”. In addition to the golf tournament a 3-day silent online auction will open to the public on tournament day.

Bilingual reports — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — California Competes Tax Credit Program

by Community Contributor • February 29, 2024 • Comments Off

The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors takes further action to reduce homelessness

by Community Contributor • February 29, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors adopted significant measures to combat homelessness with a proactive approach aimed at reducing the number of individuals facing housing instability. The actions taken by the Board reflect a comprehensive strategy outlined in the Updated Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, as presented by LeSar Development Consultants on December 19, 2023, and align with the Board’s adopted Strategic Plan Priority to Address Homelessness and Lift Up the Most Vulnerable.

Recognizing the urgency of the issue, the Board has adopted recommendations to address homelessness from multiple angles, including homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing, housing prioritization, regional coordination, outreach, service delivery, data-driven decision making, and representation.

SBCC’s Financial Aid Festival on Feb. 28 to provide support to ALL college students in the SB area

by Community Contributor • February 28, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College invites all college students to the Financial Aid Fest on Wednesday, February 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on SBCC’s Cliff Campus in the Eastern courtyard of the Student Services Building (East Campus).
Expert specialists will be available to assist students in completing FAFSA and Dream Act Applications. This event is open to ALL college students including AB-540 students and students from other colleges and universities like UCSB, Westmont, and Antioch are welcome to receive support.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • February 26, 2024 • Comments Off

DEMYSTIFYING THE FDA MOCRA 2022 COSMETICS RULES: WHAT BEAUTY BRANDS NEED TO KNOW

February 28 @ 10:00 am

Join Women in International Trade Orange County (WITOC) and the Economic Development Collaborative Go Global Trade Program (EDC GGTP) as we partner with Krieger Worldwide for an informative webinar explaining the key provisions of the forthcoming Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) and how it establishes new requirements for the importation of cosmetics. This legislation introduces new requirements for cosmetic safety substantiation, supply chain transparency and labeling. Experts from Krieger Worldwide will provide clarity on the act’s scope, compliance timelines and strategies for company readiness.

Dianne Duva named managing partner at Arlington Financial Advisors

by Community Contributor • February 21, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Certified Financial Planner Dianne Duva, a founding partner of the wealth management firm Arlington Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara, has been named the company’s new managing partner.

A graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Duva has worked at Arlington Financial Advisors since the firm launched in 2010. She advises high-net-worth families, business owners and women in transition. She helps clients understand and manage their net worth and solve complex financial problems by offering advice in an array of areas including retirement planning, insurance planning, estate and tax planning, and investment management. She holds the Certified Financial Planner® designation.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • February 19, 2024 • Comments Off

DEMYSTIFYING THE FDA MOCRA 2022 COSMETICS RULES: WHAT BEAUTY BRANDS NEED TO KNOW

February 28 @ 10:00 am

United Way of Ventura County provides permanent homes for over 400 residents

by Community Contributor • February 13, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — United Way of Ventura County’s Landlord Engagement Program has officially provided permanent housing for over 400 people with a 97.4% retention rate. This means 434 individuals, including 74 veterans, 54 seniors, and 153 children, now have a place to call home in our Ventura County community.

Homelessness and housing challenges are continuing to rise due to limited affordable housing supply, extremely low vacancy rates, and rising rents which all elevate the critical nature of this program. UWVC’s Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) advocates for and supports those prioritized for housing vouchers and housing subsidies provided by local jurisdictions and community partners.

“In today’s competitive housing market, many people are struggling to find affordable places to live,” said Mitchel Sloan, president, and CEO of UWVC. “Our Landlord Engagement Program is helping provide a safe place to call home for our community’s most vulnerable individuals, families, seniors and veterans.”

Uplift releases report examining economic data and perspectives of Central Coast residents

by Community Contributor • February 12, 2024 • Comments Off

“The community played a pivotal role in creating this report as well as the 33 governance committee members who collaborated on and helped shape and inform the plan and work to date,” said Quinn Brady, Project Director of Uplift. “We are excited to share the outcomes of this collective effort.”

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Expands Digital Upskilling Training Initiative to Santa Barbara County

by Community Contributor • February 12, 2024 • Comments Off

GOLETA — The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) celebrates a groundbreaking achievement as it extends its Digital Upskilling Training Program to Santa Barbara County, forging a collaborative partnership with the City of Goleta. Originating in Ventura County, EDC’s Digital Upskilling Training Program is a pioneering short-term training program expanding digital skills training opportunities. In addition to the program’s training goals, the initiative strives to create a replicable model that can be expanded statewide.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • February 12, 2024 • Comments Off

DEMYSTIFYING THE FDA MOCRA 2022 COSMETICS RULES: WHAT BEAUTY BRANDS NEED TO KNOW

February 28 @ 10:00 am

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • February 5, 2024 • Comments Off

AI FOR SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING: SUPERCHARGE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATION WITH THE POWER OF AI

February 28 @ 12:00 pm

Part 2 of the AI webinar series. Explore the real-world applications of AI. Don’t miss out on unlocking the potential of AI for your business success. Offered in partnership with EDC, WEV and SCORE. Spanish interpretation will be available.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2024 • Comments Off

SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: FRANCHISING 101 FOR VETERANS

January 31 @ 1:00 pm

Did you know that 1 out of 7 franchises is owned by a Veteran? Franchises appreciate the mindset and skills that military professionals possess and in appreciation, reward them with discounts and incentives if they are awarded a franchise. There are many misconceptions surrounding franchises and how a successful placement works. Also, with thousands of brands across nearly 100 categories, how would one really know which one is right for them? If a franchise is something you are thinking about for now, or someday this webinar is for you.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Ventura County Animal Services — Donate a Dog Bed to VCAS

by Community Contributor • January 24, 2024 • Comments Off

Every few years Ventura County Animal Services holds a Dog Bed Donation Drive to replace kennel beds that have become damaged due to the wear and tear of thousands of animals. We need 205 beds to replace all beds at the Camarillo and Simi Valley Shelter. Will you donate a dog bed?

Visit www.vcas.us/DogBedDonation to donate a bed directly to the shelter. On this page you will find the exact type of bed our dogs need, and you’ll see how many beds have already been purchased. Beds are automatically shipped to the Camarillo Shelter. Feel free to leave an “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” message when checking out. Thank you so much for your support!

DignityMoves in Santa Barbara receives $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — DignityMoves’s Santa Barbara Capital Campaign has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications, and named after the company’s founder. The funds will support a housing community called “La Posada Village,” with the goal of reducing homelessness in Santa Barbara County.

“DignityMoves is honored to be the recipient of a James M. Cox Foundation grant. We are incredibly grateful for this type of community support. Without partners like Cox, we cannot help as many people as we do,” said Jack Lorenz, Regional Advancement Director for DignityMoves.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

AI FOR SMALL BUSINESS 101: HOW TO LEVERAGE AI TO ACCELERATE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH

January 24 @ 12:00 pm

Explore the real-world applications of AI. Don’t miss out on unlocking the potential of AI for your business success. Offered in partnership with EDC, WEV and SCORE. Spanish interpretation will be available.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

EN ESPAÑOL: IA PARA NEGOCIOS 101: CÓMO APROVECHAR LA IA PARA ACELERAR EL CRECIMIENTO DE TU NEGOCIO

24 de enero a las 12:00 pm

Explora las aplicaciones de la IA en el mundo real. No te pierdas la oportunidad de desbloquear el potencial de la IA para el éxito de tu negocio. Ofrecido en asociación con EDC, WEV y SCORE. Habrá interpretación al español.

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE

Museum of Ventura County Gratefully Acknowledges Community Support and Announces Changes in Admission Policy

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County extends heartfelt gratitude to our vibrant community for its unwavering generosity, allowing us to offer free admission throughout 2023. As we look ahead to the new year, the Museum of Ventura County, Downtown Ventura location, will undergo a transition in its admission policy beginning February 1, 2024. The grant that has sustained free admission will conclude, necessitating a shift to a sustainable funding model.

Starting February 1, 2024, the Museum of Ventura County, Downtown Ventura, will implement the following admission fees:

Agromin Receives $10 Million Grant From CalRecycle To Turn Food Waste And Yard Waste Into Compost

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2024 • Comments Off

OXNARD — Agromin, California’s largest organic waste recycler, received a $10 million grant from CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program to help communities turn more of their food waste and yard waste into compost.

CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program is a statewide effort to expand and build new organic recycling facilities, allowing more waste to be recycled instead of ending up in landfills where it emits greenhouse gases.

“The grant funds will help Agromin move forward on expanding our composting facility at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. “We’re currently processing over one million tons of organic waste a year. Once the expansion is complete, we’ll be able to boost that amount to almost 300,000.”

People’s Self-Help Housing breaks ground on new affordable housing in Santa Ynez Valley

by Community Contributor • January 17, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Last week, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) broke ground on its newest affordable housing: Buellton Garden Apartments.

Located at 10 & 12 McMurray Road in Buellton, near essential services, this new development is comprised of 89 units. Including one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for low-income households, it features a welcoming community room, well-resourced learning center, and onsite supportive services for residents.

“We are thrilled to bring more affordable housing to the community members of the Santa Ynez Valley with our first ever project in Buellton,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “We look forward to watching this site develop and come to life over the next couple years. It’s been a long time in the making, and we are grateful to officially have shovels in the ground.”

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Disaster Declaration for December 2023 Storm and Flooding

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Administrative Disaster Declaration on Jan. 10 for damages to businesses and homes resulting from the Storm and Flooding that occurred Dec. 21-23, 2023. It is important that homeowners, renters or business owners apply for assistance to initiate an SBA application as a result of physical damage by the Physical Damage deadline of March 11, 2024. The Economic Injury Deadline is October 10, 2024.

Counties Impacted by the Disaster Declaration

Primary County: Ventura County
Contiguous Counties: Kern, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. These counties are also eligible for both physical damage and economic injury benefits.

Bilingual report — SBA Disaster Survivor Help Center has opened in Oxnard

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to non-farm businesses of all sizes, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters who suffered losses caused by the December 2023 Storm and Flooding that occurred December 21 through December 23, 2023.

A SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center has been opened at the South Oxnard Branch Library, 4300 Saviers Road, Oxnard, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

SLO Water and Sewer Bill Assistance Program Extended

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

OCEANO — We’re encouraging low-income customers to apply for help paying their current or past-due water and sewer bills by signing up for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Customers now have until March 31, 2024, to apply, and eligible households should apply now while funds last.

LIHWAP, initially established by Congress in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to support financially struggling low-income households to settle outstanding water bills. Originally slated to conclude in Fall 2023, the program has received a federal extension through March 2024.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

AI FOR SMALL BUSINESS 101: HOW TO LEVERAGE AI TO ACCELERATE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH

January 24 @ 12:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Ventura College Foundation Provided $809,995 In Direct Student Support During 2022-2023 Academic Year

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, the Ventura College Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and financial assistance to Ventura College students and school programs, distributed $809,995 in direct assistance support to over 5,000 students during the 2022-2023 academic year and another $1.17 million to 68 Ventura College programs across 16 departments and divisions.

“Since the foundation’s inception, it’s raised over $48 million to benefit Ventura College students and programs. There is no better way to celebrate the foundation’s 40thanniversary than to contribute another $2 million to help remove the financial barriers to education that students face,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announces $88,000 in funding for affordable housing lending

by Community Contributor • January 9, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) begins 2024 by announcing $88,000 in new funds for the development of affordable housing in Ventura County. The funds come in the form of $85,000 in grants from U.S. Bank, First Citizen’s Bank and PennyMac Financial Services as well as $3,000 in year-end contributions from private donors. The amount will be applied toward the increased need for affordable housing funding as the staggering need for housing continues to grow.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2024 • Comments Off

The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our no-cost events and webinars. Space is limited. Register today!

Plan ahead! Our full EDC and partner event schedule is updated at the start of each month.

AI FOR SMALL BUSINESS 101: HOW TO LEVERAGE AI TO ACCELERATE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH

January 24 @ 12:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Arlington Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara surpasses $1 billion in client assets as company celebrates its 13th year

by Community Contributor • January 4, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Local financial planning firm Arlington Financial Advisors marked a major milestone in the company’s growth in December: surpassing $1 billion in client assets.

The achievement comes as the company celebrates its 13th year in business serving the Santa Barbara community. Members of the Arlington Financial team, including partners Joe Weiland, Arthur Swalley, John Lorenz, Dianne Duva, Wells Hughes, and Cody Makela, celebrated the firm’s accomplishments with clients and friends recently at their historic offices on De la Guerra.

“I am immensely proud of the results that our team has been able to achieve. I am particularly proud of the fact that we have reached this milestone one client at a time,” said Managing Partner Joseph Weiland, CFP. “We formed this firm in 2010 to allow our team to provide trusted advice and financial peace of mind for our clients. They have responded with loyalty and sharing our services with their family and friends. There is no better way to build a business.”

Community Service Organizations Receive Over $530,000 in Funding from Local Health Plan on Central Coast

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — More than 40 service agencies and associations, as well as community nonprofits and organizations, in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties have already received or will receive community benefits funding in 2023 from the local health plan CenCal Health. By the end of this year, over $530,000 will have been distributed by the local Medi-Cal health plan to support and improve the overall health and wellness of communities in its two-county service area.

“During this holiday season of giving, all of us at CenCal Health want to highlight those local agencies and organizations that – in various ways – serve all our residents, including our members, and especially the most vulnerable of our children, youth and seniors,” said CenCal Health CEO Marina Owen.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Camarillo Workforce Housing Down Payment Assistance Program

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2024 • Comments Off

Have you heard about our newest program in partnership with the City of Camarillo? The Camarillo Workforce Housing Down Payment Assistance Program is designed to help local working households purchasing in Camarillo achieve their dream of homeownership.

With up to $50,000 in the form of a ten (10) year deferred loan, low-and moderate-income first-time homebuyers can receive the financial support they need to make their homeownership dreams a reality. Plus, these funds can be combined with VCCDC’s other programs to maximize purchasing power.

VCCDC’s partnership with the City of Camarillo underscores our shared commitment to supporting the community and helping individuals achieve their homeownership goals. We encourage eligible and qualified individuals to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to achieve their dream of homeownership!

Tamara Skov and Shannon Dalton new owners of Quinn Fiduciary Services

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Quinn Fiduciary Services, a local professional fiduciary firm, has been purchased by Tamara Skov and Shannon Dalton.

Jackie Quinn, the founder of Quinn Fiduciary Services (QFS), remains involved with the firm to ensure a seamless transition over the next several months. Skov and Dalton, both licensed professional fiduciaries, have been with QFS for several years and the rest of the team will remain the same.

Quinn Fiduciary Services specializes in estate management serving as Trustees, Successor Trustees, Conservators, and Agents under financial and healthcare Powers of Attorney.

Nov. 12 — Bilingual report — SCORE To Present Next In-Person Workshop in Oxnard in Spanish

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — in partnership with the City of Oxnard and the Economic Development Collaborative Accelerate California: Inclusive Innovation Hub, the Ventura County Chapter of SCORE will present its second in-person no cost workshop On November 12. To ensure broader accessibility and support for the Spanish-speaking small business community in the Oxnard area, the SCORE workshop will be presented in Spanish.

Year in Review from People’s Self-Help Housing!

by Community Contributor • December 29, 2023 • Comments Off

Dear Friend,
This year was marked with so much success because of strong partnerships, faithful support and visionary investments from people like you. Thank you for every part you played through your advocacy, goodwill and generous support. You made stories like this possible.

People’s Self-Help Housing Receives Accolade for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design

by Community Contributor • December 29, 2023 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — This month, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) have unveiled their new Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver award at their corporate headquarters in San Luis Obispo.

Achieved in collaboration with In Balance Green Consulting and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this certification recognizes properties built with exceptional sustainable construction practices. The goal of LEED is to create ‘better buildings that promote sustainability, enhance individual human health, and protect and restore water resources’.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) wishes you Happy Holidays!

by Community Contributor • December 29, 2023 • Comments Off

Looking for NO-COST Business Consulting Services?

The EDC SBDC call team and experienced advisors are available to answer questions and help you navigate today’s complex business environment. The Economic Development Collaborative hosts the Small Business Development Center and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Signing up as a client takes just a few minutes and provides you with lifetime access to all of our no-cost services.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — California Competes Tax Credit Program

by Community Contributor • December 29, 2023 • Comments Off

Application Period Timeline: For the remainder of the 2023-2024, applications for the California Competes Tax Credit will be accepted during the following periods:

January 2, 2024 – January 22, 2024
March 4, 2024 – March 18, 2024

During hibernation season, CSUCI alumni beekeepers and classmates go to Plan Bee Merry

by Community Contributor • December 20, 2023 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO — From February to September, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) alumnus Lyndsay Peterson and her partner and former classmate Bryan Castro run their bee business, “Bryan’s Bees.” Business is brisk until October when the bees go into hibernation.

“We would have to lay everybody off in October,” Castro said. “We were like, what can we do between October and the beginning of February when bee season begins?”

And that’s how “Bee Merry” came to be. During the off season, Peterson, Castro, and a team of about ten workers travel around the region decorating homes for Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights that falls between October and November) and other events and celebrations. At this point, Bee Merry is doing even better than Bryan’s Bees.

“We’ve done 200 houses this season,” Castro said. “Celebrity estates, commercial buildings, businesses. Most of our clients are in the luxury market. This week we are doing the home of a rock star and the Four Seasons in Westlake Village.”

People’s Self-Help Housing is Now Serving in Four Counties

by Community Contributor • December 19, 2023 • Comments Off

CENTRAL COAST — As the year comes to a close, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) extends immense gratitude to the communities, partners and philanthropists who work together in support of the organization.

As the need has grown, so has People’s Self-Help Housing. Now operating in four counties, the fifty-three-year-old nonprofit daily serves over 5,000 residents who live at its 56 properties and is proud to have helped a similar number of people build their own homes.

In support of these families, seniors, veterans, those coming out of homelessness and people living with disabilities, PSHH has launched its 2023 Appeal.

“Thank you to all our supporters,” says CEO & President Ken Trigueiro, “through your expertise, generosity and commitment you have made our mission possible.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) December and January Event and Webinar Schedule

by Community Contributor • December 18, 2023 • Comments Off

SBA WOSB: WELCOME TO WOSB WEBINAR

December 21 @ 7:00 am

The Welcome to WOSB webinar series will introduce prospective WOSB firms to the program and the application process.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Economic Development Collaborative Now Providing Workplace English Language Literacy Training for Workers

by Community Contributor • December 14, 2023 • Comments Off

CAMARILLO —The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) is now enrolling employees in workplace English language training at NO-COST, thanks to a one-time grant from the Employment Training Panel. This opportunity is specifically designed to serve workers who are immigrants and refugees or non-English speakers within the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

To provide accessible career-aligned English upskilling courses, EDC is partnering with EnGen, a registered BCorp delivering English language training for workers at many of America’s largest corporations. Training benefits include:

The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) — the Marquezes Have a New Home

by Community Contributor • December 13, 2023 • Comments Off

Yolanda Marquez dreamt of owning her own home, a place where her family of five could relax, be creative, and host family get-togethers. As a working-class family, she cherished sharing the traditions that come with raising a family and making memories by spending quality time together. As each year passed, she felt her dream was slipping away due to increasing housing prices and down payment requirements. She knew in her heart that one day her current arrangement could quickly end: the home where she lived was owned by someone else and her fear was that her rental house would be redeemed with little notice. In addition, annual rent increases meant less money to save for her own.

To make matters even more challenging, the Marquezes lived with another family under the same roof. As convenient as this was, Yolanda knew her family that includes three teenagers didn’t have the privacy afforded to families with their own home. Once she heard about Ventura County Community Development Corporation from her realtor, she was determined to change her circumstances and learn what she could do to buy her own place.

She tapped into all the information provided by VCCDC including how she could become mortgage ready and qualify to receive down payment assistance worth over $100,000, made available to low-to moderate-income households. She decided this was the time to make her dream a reality and began taking steps to purchase her own home.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County awarded $5 million in approved funding from SCAG’s Lasting Affordability Program

by Community Contributor • December 12, 2023 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) has been awarded $5,000,000 from the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) as part of the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 Lasting Affordability program. The funding will support the creation of the Housing Trust Fund Ventura County’s Revolving Long- Term Loan Program for Infill Affordable Housing Developments Project. This project will establish a long-term loan program and will increase the lending capacities of Housing Trust Fund VC. In addition, this grant will provide resources to Housing Land Trust Ventura County (Housing Land Trust VC) to create policies and procedures which will advance Housing Land Trust VC to attract additional capital and land donations. The anticipated outcomes from the new fund include 656 affordable housing units in Ventura County by 2031.

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