SJFVC Fellow Marisol Gonzalez Building
Fillmore Relationships
Last week, SJFVC Fellow Marisol Gonzalez and Board Member Kim Marra Stephenson presented to the Fillmore Lions Club about SJFVC and Marisol’s work in establishing the Fillmore Conservation Corps.
Every day, your investments are creating opportunities, changing lives, and strengthening communities throughout the Central Coast of California.
SBA: HOW TO START A BUSINESS
December 18 @ 10:00 am
Are you interested in starting a business? If you are please join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office for a virtual workshop to learn about SBA’s 10 Step Guide on How to Start a Business. This virtual workshop targeted to new entrepreneurs. Topics covered from creating a business plan, finding capital, registering your business, getting necessary permits and/or licenses and getting a business bank account. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to LADO@SBA.GOV at least 7 days in advance.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to double your donation! Any gift received by December 10 will be 100% matched.
Just $15 can open the door to discovery for one child. Imagine the impact we can make by reaching ALL the schools in our County. We’re on a mission to raise $150,000 to double the number of tours and pay for more bus rides.
Every donation, no matter how big or small, has the power to ignite a child’s curiosity, nurture a college student’s career, and shape the future of Ventura County.
The Museum of Ventura County Relaunches its 100% Tax Deductible Membership Program, Offering Accessible Pricing and Exclusive Benefits
MVC’s updated Membership Program features monthly payment options, two new membership levels, an expanded selection of member events and benefits, exclusive member merchandise, and MORE! As admission fees are reinstated at MVC’s Downtown Ventura campus in 2024, the relaunched Membership Program affords visitors a completely tax-deductible alternative and maintains the institution’s dedication to accessibility.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC), Ventura County’s premier youth mentoring nonprofit organization, held their 14th annual Bags, Bling & Bubbly champagne luncheon on Wednesday, November 9th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.
This sparkling event started with an amazing boutique and silent auction, where a collection of designer and vintage handbags, jewelry, accessories, vacation getaways, restaurant outings, and more were available for purchase and bidding.
Dear MVC Supporter,
Thank you for your generous support! We’ve made great progress towards our goal, but there’s still some distance to cover.
MVC is on a mission to reach every elementary school in Ventura County. Your generous gift can bring us closer to our $150,000 goal.
A $150 donation brings a group of 10 eager learners to the MVC Agriculture Museum, inspiring them to dig deep into Ventura County agricultural history and the world of plant science. Can you imagine the joy of planting seeds, exploring a beehive, and discovering the essence of collaboration and community? This is what MVC is all about.
SBA: INTRO TO GOVT CONTRACTING
December 5 @ 10:00 am
This webinar will provide a brief overview of SBA programs and services, with an emphasis on SBA’s federal contracting resources! Have you considered, is government contracting a good fit for your business ? This will be an intro to small business certification programs. Government contracts are a tremendous financial opportunity for small businesses, and the U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities — and it’s required by law to consider buying from small businesses. The SBA has several contracting assistance programs, and federal contracting resources available to assist entrepreneurs. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you on your way to small business success. This event will take place online, please register for the log on information. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to lado@sba.gov at least 7 days in advance.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
NOVEMBER | 2023
California Lutheran University’s School of Management continues to provide a stimulating environment for our learners and the community around us, even in these unusual times. Today, we are once again happy to share a selection of exciting news, updates, and upcoming events with our communities in Southern California and beyond.
We encourage you to stay current on what’s going on at the School of Management by following our Showcase page on LinkedIn.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has received $5,000 from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County as a part of the Foundation’s ‘Opportunity to Thrive Initiative’.
This generous award will support PSHH residents in San Luis Obispo County through the Emergency Assistance Fund, which will provide emergency financial support for medical, food and utilities to residents in deep need. Funds are utilized when all other potential resolutions and community resources have been exhausted. Each year, thousands of dollars are distributed to those facing urgent financial emergencies.
“Our thanks go to The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County,” said Ken Trigueiro CEO & President, “With this incredible gift, residents can feel safe and secure at home and within their neighborhoods no matter what challenges they may be facing.”
Do you remember the thrill of your first museum visit? At the Museum of Ventura County (MVC), we strive to gift this unforgettable experience to every child in our community – particularly those from low to moderate income families.
Your generous support enables us to offer FREE school tours immersing children in the rich history and culture of Ventura County. Plus, your contribution also aids first-generation college interns, offering them valuable work experience while earning a fair wage. Donate today and help us inspire curiosity, connection, and compassion in Ventura County’s future generations.
P.S. Act before December 10, and an anonymous donor will match your donation 100%! Double your impact by clicking HERE today!
DOUBLE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY!
MEINERS OAKS — Assemblymember Steve Bennett, in partnership with Senator Monique Limón, secured $500,000 from the State Budget to create a community park in Meiners Oaks. The 2-acre county-owned parcel is located on 312 E. El Roblar Drive, Meiners Oaks, CA. The current design concept features native vegetation, interpretive education, and social gathering areas. A check presentation is being coordinated with Supervisor LaVere’s office for early 2024.
“Open space has been at the heart of my work since I entered public office. I’m pleased to preserve more public spaces for Meiners Oaks, and deeply grateful to our partners who helped make this happen,” said Assemblymember Bennett.
PORT HUENEME — Earlier this month, the Port of Hueneme was awarded a $2 million federal grant for planning activities related to a parking structure that will serve as the transfer point between ocean-going vessels and the rail or trucks being used to transport automobiles off port. This Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant is only a portion of grant funding efforts from the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to decarbonize, upgrade, and rehabilitate key ports along California’s coast.
“This PIDP grant is a great opportunity to invest in infrastructure at the Port. It’s an investment that will bolster the efficiency of our operations,” said Jess Herrera, President of the Oxnard Harbor District. “This funding will also provide us with additional tools and opportunities to further facilitate clean air efforts and support our local workforce through promoting job growth.”
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures and United Way of Santa Barbara County are teaming up this holiday season to help you provide gifts for young people in need.
Audiences for Arts & Lectures’ two big holiday shows –Mariachi Sol de México in José Hernández’ Merry-Achi Christmas at the Arlington Theatre on December 6 andSamara Joy’s A Joyful Holiday at The Granada Theatre on December 8 – are invited to donate to United Way’s annual Holiday Gift Drive. Tickets to both shows are available now from UCSB Arts & Lectures (805) 893-3535 and via the Arlington and Granada box offices.
MONTECITO — The Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation has awarded a total of $14,000 to support the work of 14 Santa Barbara-area nonprofit organizations.
The grants awarded under the foundation’s annual Community Grants Program were $1,000 each and go to organizations benefitting a wide range of constituents, including children, seniors, low-income families, and the performing arts. All grants are funded by bequests and ongoing contributions from the club’s members.
“The Rotary Club of Montecito is committed to raising funds for good causes, and supporting activities and projects that make our communities stronger,” said Rotary Club President Tony Morris. “These grants allow us to support a wide variety of services to our community and are a great example of the cooperative spirit that’s an essential part of Rotary’s work.
THOUSAND OAKS — It’s the 18th Annual Black-Tie No-Show Dinner, a fun fundraising event to benefit The Greater Contribution, a So Cal non-profit that helps transform lives by providing micro loans to women in remote villages of Uganda so they can start their own businesses and lift their families out of poverty.
Brainchild of founder Karon Wright, the organization has already provided more than 30,000 micro loans since its inception in 2007, with an astounding 98% repayment rate. Rather than allocating funds toward party overhead, proceeds will go directly to empowering Ugandan women by believing in them. The three-year program includes literacy and business training and mentorship so they get a hand up, not a hand out.
In our most recent cohort of our Fellowship program, the Social Justice Fund was able to fund seven Fellows – the most in the history of the Social Justice Fellowship program! Thanks to your donations, our Fellows have been able to track data on the clean up efforts of Oxnard beaches, create a new youth-led conservation program in Fillmore, and hold community events for disabled individuals in Ventura County. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we have made significant strides toward our fundraising goal of 100k. Your commitment to empowering social justice leaders has played a vital role in our success so far.
THOUSAND OAKS — The Center for Nonprofit Leadership at California Lutheran University successfully raised more than $1.5 million, reaching that goal in one year with the largest single donation in the organization’s more than 30-year history.
The TOLD Foundation of Camarillo donated the $1 million gift that led off CNL’s Campaign for the Future to create an endowment to insure CNL will continue to offer professional training valued by thousands of nonprofit staff and volunteers.
“We are thrilled the Center for Nonprofit Leadership reached its goal in the Campaign for the Future,” said Rod Gilbert, TOLD Foundation president. “This is a remarkable achievement during challenging economic times. The foundation applauds all who worked toward the campaign’s success, and we thank the generous donors who also contributed.”
In addition to the TOLD Foundation, some four dozen Central Coast philanthropists gave to the campaign, led by co-chairs Kate McLean and Sally Yount. A full roster of donors can be found at callutheran.edu/cnl/sponsors/
SBA: INTRO TO GOVT CONTRACTING
December 5 @ 10:00 am
This webinar will provide a brief overview of SBA programs and services, with an emphasis on SBA’s federal contracting resources! Have you considered, is government contracting a good fit for your business ? This will be an intro to small business certification programs. Government contracts are a tremendous financial opportunity for small businesses, and the U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities — and it’s required by law to consider buying from small businesses. The SBA has several contracting assistance programs, and federal contracting resources available to assist entrepreneurs. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you on your way to small business success. This event will take place online, please register for the log on information. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to lado@sba.gov at least 7 days in advance.
SANTA BARBARA — The Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing financial aid to deserving vocal and instrumental students in Santa Barbara County, recently announced the selection of its board for the 2024 season.
This year’s board members are Deborah Bertling, Erin Bonski-Evans, Rosalind Amorteguy Fendon, Ronald D. Fendon, David T. McKee, Kristine Pacheco-Bernt, Barbara H. Burger, Dr. Marjorie Gies, Peter G. Bertling, Neil DiMaggio and Noel Lucky-Ris.
All board members have a long history of service to the Santa Barbara community and the performing arts. Deborah Bertling is a classically trained singer, actor and teacher with more than three decades of experience and has served as president of the PASF board for the last 20 years. She is married to Peter Bertling, an attorney at Bertling Law Group and legal advisor for the board.
I hope this message finds you in good spirits! As we approach the end of yet another year, I am reminded of the transformative experiences and traditions that often shape our childhoods. Do you remember your first visit to a museum? The wonder and curiosity it sparked in you?
Last year, thanks to supporters like you, third graders from Montalvo Elementary School embarked on an enlightening journey exploring our County’s rich Chumash history and culture through the Museum of Ventura County’s School Tours. This unforgettable experience was possible because of donations from contributors like you, which allowed these students from low to moderate-income families to participate in our school tours, entirely free of charge.
The recognition streak continues for the 13th consecutive year! The Oxnard Harbor District was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. This award was given to the Oxnard Harbor District, which owns the Port of Hueneme, for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2022.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s 5th Annual Gala raised $367,900 to support YMCA programs. The event, held November 4 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, drew 340 guests.
The event celebrated local YMCA programs.
–Find My Genius is a five-week, no-cost achievement gap program for low- and moderate-income students who are not reading at grade level. It is also offered year-round in the Moorpark and Simi Valley Unified School Districts.
–Safety Around Water, which teaches children water safety and basic swimming skills at no cost.
With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday approaching, the 2023 holiday shopping season is about to be underway! Last year an approximate $17.9 billion was spent on independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday according to the 2022 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey commissioned by American Express.
Local small business purchases this holiday season makes a big difference for your neighbors and community. Now is a critical time to encourage friends, family members and local businesses to shop local and join the Small Business Saturday movement!
The California Labor Market Information Division has released its October 2023 report, showing job growth in Ventura County across just about all industry sectors and losses in none.
For the most encouraging news, now at 349,600 total industry jobs, Ventura County is up by more than 10,000 jobs since just prior to the pandemic.
While that’s extraordinarily positive for overall recovery, the major labor market indicators are still a bit mixed, as we had a slight uptick in October in the number of unemployed workers and in the unemployment rate, up from 4.4% in September to 4.5% in October. To be clear, the unemployment rate is up not because we’re failing to create jobs, rather because more workers are coming back to the labor force and because volatility, or churn—workers changing jobs—remains high.
SANTA BARBARA — State Street Commercial Space transitioned on Nov. 17 to Workforce Housing with 14 residential studio apartments in Public-Private Partnership.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s innovative Workforce Housing Program is designed to address the affordable housing needs of our community’s low to moderate income workforce who are increasingly caught in the gap between skyrocketing rents and ineligibility for other assistance.
The Housing Authority is committed to providing affordable housing to make it possible for more people to live where they work, in Santa Barbara. This approach benefits people who can keep transportation and other costs to a minimum, and have more time to spend with family, education, or career development. And benefits us all by minimizing the impact of commuting on our environment and quality of life in Santa Barbara.
SBA: HOW TO START A BUSINESS
November 20 @ 10:00 am
Are you interested in starting a business? If you are please join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office for a virtual workshop to learn about SBA’s 10 Step Guide on How to Start a Business. This virtual workshop targeted to new entrepreneurs. Topics covered from creating a business plan, finding capital, registering your business, getting necessary permits and/or licenses and getting a business bank account. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to LADO@SBA.GOV at least 7 days in advance.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Native American Heritage Month is a time to honor, learn and stand united in appreciation of the invaluable contributions of Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. Celebrating the rich history and vibrant cultures of Native American communities is critical for fostering understanding, preserving cultures and promoting unity across our nation. The EDC is dedicated to providing equitable access to resources, advising and capital. Since 2010, the EDC has helped generate over $130 million in revenue to Native American businesses.
The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
“From the first phone call that I made, I could tell they were really interested in doing anything they could to help me… fortunately that program (California Mortgage Relief) did work for me and now I don’t have to worry those past due bills and I don’t have to sell my home”.
Back in March 2020, the projects that Tobey had lined up for work were cancelled due to COVID leaving him essentially unemployed and unable to pay the property taxes on his home. Tobey applied for the California Mortgage Relief and was denied for reasons unclear to him. He sought out help and connected with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) who referred him to VCCDC, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. At VCCDC, HUD-Certified Homeownership Specialist, Gabriela Muñoz, helped guide Tobey through the appeal process which consisted of document submissions and numerous calls and emails during a span of about 2 months. We are happy to report that Tobey was approved to receive funds from the California Mortgage Relief Program which has allowed him to stay in his home!
“I would recommend [VCCDC] to anyone….whether to purchase a home or in my case keeping what I already had. They’re amazing give them a try”.
If you have fallen behind on your mortgage or property tax payments, or a concerned you will, contact VCCDC to explore your options. Our dedicated team will provide information about the different options available to you including the California Mortgage Relief Program which offers up to $80,000 in assistance to homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments, property taxes, reverse mortgage or have a COVID related deferred mortgage loan .
VENTURA — Sustainably forested silver-tip fir trees from Northern California will be available for pickup on Saturday, December 2 during “Christmas At The Farm” at Petty Ranch (11971 Darling Rd.) in Ventura. Proceeds from the Christmas tree fundraiser will help fund Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) agriculture education and healthy eating programs for kids in Ventura County.
Trees are available from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on December 2 or can be delivered ($75 delivery charge). Free hot cocoa and cookies will be served. Local vendors will be on hand at a pop-up holiday market.
The trees were donated by Rob Paulus, a retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief, and his family to support SEEAG and its ag-education efforts. Paulus has a 200-acre parcel of private land near the northern Sierra Nevada mountain range. He thins the overgrown forest on the property to reduce the risk of forest fires and to help restore the natural environment.
“By purchasing your Christmas tree from SEEAG you’re supporting the education of thousands of students and improving the natural forest landscape, says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “We thank Rob and his family for their wonderful donation.”
VENTURA COUNTY — With the closure of California Youth Authority facility in Camarillo, many talented workers have been left jobless and in search of the next step in their careers. Originally 93 affected workers, 45 are remaining and using the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County to find local jobs.
One of the key Business Solutions the WDB offers is working to help reunite and relocate workers with employers who have available jobs and to help them find a valuable team member.
VENTURA — Bank of America today announced Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County as the 2023 Neighborhood Champion® awardee for its work providing mentorship to youth facing adversity across Ventura County. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County will apply the Neighborhood Champion $50,000 multi-year grant and leadership training towards expanding its Mentor Academy one-to-one mentorship for at least 20 more underserved youth.
Neighborhood Champions is part of the bank’s Neighborhood Builders program — one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation. As a Neighborhood Champion, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County also will receive leadership training for its executive director and an emerging staff member delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics like human capital management, increasing financial sustainability, and storytelling.
SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SBA LOANS
November 16 @ 10:30 am
Does your business need extra capital? Join Beatriz Devis of the SBA Los Angeles District Office in this free webinar to learn more about SBA lending, the different types of loan programs, how the programs work, eligibility, overview of application process and free assistance available to help you with your loan proposal.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
THOUSAND OAKS — Local leaders gathered at the Amgen Global Headquarters in Thousand Oaks today to announce and launch a regional job creation initiative developed by County Supervisor Jeff Gorell.
“Gold Team Ventura County” brings together elected, business, labor, utility and other leaders to engage targeted CEOs and industries to move or expand jobs to Ventura County. “Local elected officials at all the levels – city, county, state and federal – need to join forces and lead the effort on local economic development and job creations,” said Supervisor Gorell. “Supported by business experts and other important stakeholders, elected leaders can best open doors and start important dialogues with CEOs on job attraction or expansion. We need to do more to showcase Ventura County as the place to for key industries to grow the jobs of the future, and Gold Team Ventura County will do that.”
PORT HUENEME — The recognition streak continues for the 13th consecutive year! The Oxnard Harbor District was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. This award was given to the Oxnard Harbor District, which owns the Port of Hueneme, for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2022.
“I am extremely proud of the hard-working financial team we have at the Port of Hueneme,” said Jess Herrera, President of the Oxnard Harbor District. “They have consistently demonstrated an obligation to uphold program and industry standards which is important to our stakeholders who have entrusted us to be fiscally responsible by maintaining a high level of professionalism, transparency, and experience.”
SBA: INTRO TO GOVT CONTRACTING – CERTIFICATION
November 7 @ 10:00 am
This webinar will provide a brief overview of SBA programs and services, with an emphasis on SBA’s federal contracting resources! Have you considered, is government contracting a good fit for your business? This will be an intro to small business certification programs. Government contracts are a tremendous financial opportunity for small businesses, and the U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities — and it’s required by law to consider buying from small businesses. The SBA has several contracting assistance programs, and federal contracting resources available to assist entrepreneurs. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you on your way to small business success. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to lado@sba.gov at least 7 days in advance.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Our Fellows are getting deeper into their projects, and some have already held workshops or events.
Let me take you step-by-step through a recent workshop I attended led by one of our Fellows, Diego Magaña!
Wildfire Insurance and Preparedness I hear frequently about the acute level of crisis homeowners are facing when it comes to wildfire insurance — rates are going up dramatically, and in many cases, homeowners don’t have options because insurance companies aren’t…
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Veteran’s Small Business Week. The EDC is dedicated to providing equal access to resources, advising and capital to all business owners. Since 2010, the EDC has provided over 3,000 hours of one-of-one business advising to Veteran-Owned businesses and has helped generate over $1 Billion in revenue.
The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
CMTC: PRODUCTIVITY AND COST REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS
November 1 @ 11:00 am
Changing environments requires efforts to enhance productivity, reduce errors and evaluate automaton to free up valuable human resources for higher-value initiatives. Enterprise Resource Planning has evolved to more than a financial or manufacturing system. Businesses are now able to improve their business insights, increase levels of efficiency, and enable reduction in operational costs. With centralized data, businesses can identify improvement opportunities and mine their data to achieve market advantages.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
SANTA BARBARA — The Teacher’s Fund celebrated its 21st year by hitting a significant milestone thanks to strong community support during its annual Supplies Drive: the non-profit serving Santa Barbara-area educators surpassed $2.1 million.
The Teacher’s Fund set an ambitious goal this year for its drive – and far exceeded it, thanks to the generosity of residents, local business leaders and entrepreneurs who answered the call to give back. In all, they raised more than $75,000 during this year’s drive.
Labor Market Report for September 2023
The California Labor Market Information Division released its September 2023 report earlier this month, showing moderate improvement across all the major labor market indicators. Ventura County gained a total of 2,800 industry jobs, helping to lower the unemployment rate from 4.7% in August to 4.5% in September.
While those are positive indicators for the economy, more interesting was the increase in the total labor force by 5,900 workers, now at 418,800, an encouraging upsurge but still 2,300 workers shy of our pre-pandemic level in September 2019. It appears now that most of the workers that dropped out during COVID are back, except—and this is significant—for those who aged out of the labor force or left the region entirely. The “aging out” piece might be the biggest part of the story, as the demographics show we are aging as a region.
We were thrilled to join the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo and El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) at the ribbon cutting for their Project Homekey housing in Paso Robles! This site provides 28 rooms of emergency shelter and 60 permanently supportive units of affordable housing.
IN-PERSON EVENT: LOS ANGELES REGIONAL VBOC, LOS ANGELES SBA, INLAND EMPIRE/ORANGE COUNTY SBA, LONG BEACH SBDC AND INLAND EMPIRE APEX ACCELERATORS: VETERAN CERTIFICATION AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING WORKSHOP
October 30 @ 3:00 pm
Please Join the Los Angeles Regional VBOC, Los Angeles SBA, Inland Empire/Orange County SBA, Long Beach SBDC and Inland Empire Apex Accelerators, for this in-person informative workshop that will provide you with an introduction into what is involved in getting started with contracting with the Federal/State Government. In addition, they will cover the process to obtain your Government Certifications. Topics to be discussed include: Identifying your industry and getting registered, Small business certifications and eligibility with an emphasis on Veteran-owned businesses, Marketing to the Government, Finding contracting opportunities, Regulations and Resources! Address: 4900 E Conant St bldg. O-2, Long Beach CA 90808-1746.
Bruce Stenslie, a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in workforce and economic development, has held the position of President and CEO at the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) since 2007. Throughout his career, Stenslie has undertaken pivotal roles, such as Deputy Director for the California Workforce Association and Executive Director of various organizations. Recognized for his influential contributions, including being elected Chair of the California Association for Local Economic Development and receiving VCLA’s recognition as the 2023 Business Leader of the Year is a representation of how hard Bruce and his team worked to significantly impact the small business community across Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.
The VCCDC Rodney Fernandez Founder’s Award for Excellence in Visionary Leadership was established to celebrate Rodney Fernandez, a dedicated advocate for affordable workforce housing in Ventura County and the founder of VCCDC. Bruce received this award for his commitment to empowering businesses, community partners, and civic leaders to succeed and make a positive impact on the community.
VITA volunteers to provide free tax preparation for low-income earners
Help low-income families and individuals improve their financial stability. Consider joining our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) team of tax preparers and interviewers for the 2023 tax year. Volunteers prepare federal and state tax returns at no cost, assisting clients access the tax credits to which they are eligible. Services will be provided at multiple sites across Ventura County offering the opportunity to volunteer during the day, in the evening, or on Saturday. Volunteers are asked to commit four hours per week during the VITA tax season, February 1st – April 30th. Volunteers work in teams led by an experienced tax preparer. Virtual preparation of taxes is also available.
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2024-25 school year. The deadline for application submissions is January 21, 2024.
Students currently enrolled at Ventura College in the 2023-2024 academic year and who have completed at least six units by the end of the Fall 2023 semester, are eligible to apply. Units earned in previous semesters at Ventura College count towards the unit requirement.
“Beginning last year, we reduced the scholarship eligibility requirement from twelve to six units to make the application process more inclusive for part-time students,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. “With work and family commitments, it’s often difficult to attend full-time.”
MOORPARK — Moorpark College has officially joined the Transfer Scholars Network (TSN), an initiative dedicated to expanding community college student transfer to the nation’s highly selective colleges and universities.
VENTURA —The Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA) on Oct. 17, in partnership with Ventura County-based nonprofit James Storehouse, opened the application period for VC Thrive, a supplemental income pilot program serving former foster youth between the ages of 21 and 26 with low incomes. The 18-month program provides monthly stipends of $1,000 to 150 eligible individuals.
Many young adults aging out of foster care with limited resources and support networks face challenges that make it difficult to achieve their goals for education, employment, housing and overall well-being. By providing a supplemental monthly income to help cover necessities such as food, housing and utilities, VC Thrive aims to enable participants to focus on pursuing educational and career opportunities that will put them on a path toward self-sufficiency and a greater quality of life.
IN-PERSON EVENT: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS
October 21 @ 10:00 am
The symposium will provide an introduction to AI and discuss tools and technologies with an overview of cutting-edge AI tools and platforms tailored for small businesses. Real-Life Case Studies will examine successful AI implementations in small businesses across diverse industries. They will also discuss AI-driven marketing and Sales Strategies, where you will discover how AI can supercharge your marketing campaigns, customer engagement and sales conversion rates. The key to prosperity is to reframe your thinking and leverage AI as a strategic tool to increase productivity. Join the NO-COST symposium to learn how! Location: Santa Barbara City College – West Campus, BC-Forum.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
