Join us as we celebrate the unsung heroes who embody the spirit of selflessness and dedication, from tireless volunteers to dedicated public servants. Next up is Florice Soto, a Custody Deputy for the North Branch Jail.
VENTURA — Construction has begun on the Ventura River Trail Improvements Project (VRTIP), a rails-to-trails amenity originally constructed in the late 1990s. The project, funded by a Caltrans Clean California grant of nearly $5 million, will revitalize approximately 1.8 miles of this highly used corridor.
The City of Ventura, joined by local elected officials, staff, and community groups, gathered on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for an official groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of this long-awaited project.
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announces $12,000,000 in loan commitments approved by its Board of Directors. Seven million of the $12 million will be matched by Prop 1 funding. The Valentine Road Apartments in Ventura, a Homekey development by the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, will receive a $5,000,000 construction loan. Two developments by Red Tail Multifamily Land Development, Citrus Flats in Santa Paula and Arrive Ventura in Ventura, will each receive a $1,000,000 pre-development loan. Many Mansions’ Aspire Apartments in Oxnard will receive a $5,000,000 construction loan. Together the developments will bring 492 new affordable homes to Ventura County.
VENTURA — The Ventura Police Department will have extra officers on patrol in May looking specifically for traffic violations made by drivers and motorcycle riders.
The top primary crash factors for motorcycles are unsafe speed, improper turning, right-of-way violations, driving under the influence and unsafe lane changes. Speeding is the most common factor, accounting for nearly a third of all crashes in the state.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, April 30, the County of Ventura hosted a visit from the Senior Advisor on Homelessness for Governor Gavin Newsom, Hafsa Kaka, and Deputy Regional Director, Vishesh Anand. The visit, which consisted of a presentation on County efforts to address homelessness and several site visits with local nonprofit partners, included participation from the Ventura County Continuum of Care, Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Human Services Agency, the Public Defender’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Public Works Agency, and the Ventura County Fire Department as well as representatives from the cities of Camarillo, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.
Dear Friends,
We just past the 50% mark of our Kitten Food Drive goal. 2,200 cases of food are needed to help feed the 1,500+ kittens who will come into our care this year, many of whom are underweight and need to be fed every 3 hours! Please TAP/CLICK HERE to visit our Amazon Wish List. All food should be delivered directly to the Camarillo Animal Shelter at 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010. Thank you for your support!
Warm Regards,
Ventura County Animal Services
Students who are accepted into the program as?College?Corps?“fellows” will?work with K-12 schools, food banks or climate action organizations to build healthier and more equitable communities across California. In exchange, they can receive up to $10,000, including a living stipend throughout the service term and an Education Award upon completion of 450 service hours. The program also provides students with valuable job experience and skills, as well as access to training, networking, and professional development opportunities.
The California Labor Market Information Division released its March 2024 report, displaying a strong improvement in the Ventura County unemployment rate, from an adjusted 5.1% in February down to 4.6% in March. Job creation was more moderate in improvement, with a net increase by 2,900 payroll jobs, driven primarily by an increase in Farm jobs, up 1,800 in March.
Looking year-over-year, Ventura County added 7,200 jobs across all industries, 5,000 in the private sector, 1,200 in the public sector.
Recognizing this critical need in Ventura County, the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) is seeking to pave the way for youth and young adults as they mitigate their unemployment or lack of career pathways; WDBVC has unveiled “Ventura County NextGen,” a revitalized youth program aimed at preparing Ventura County’s future workforce with essential skills and readiness.
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Department announced its selection of Joe Morelli as its next fire marshal.
“I am pleased to have Joe Morelli join our department as fire marshal,” Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. “He brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and familiarity with Ventura County to this role, which leads our efforts to keep people safe by reducing the risk of fire in our community, commercial buildings, and homes.”
“This grant highlights the impact that private businesses can have on affordable housing,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Land Trust Ventura County. Linda also serves as CEO for Housing Trust Fund Ventura County, her guidance of which has helped to fund and commit to loans totaling $40 million since 2013, paving the way for 1,669 affordable units in Ventura County. “These funds help support Housing Land Trust VC’s mission, ensuring that affordable housing within Ventura County is accessible for all.”
SBA: HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
April 30 @ 10:00 am
Join SBA for an in-depth discussion on FY24 goals and building rapport with the US Department of Interior (DOI). Attend to learn about How to do business with the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at DOI, Practical tips and best practices for navigating the federal contracting process and maximizing opportunities, Guidance on leveraging resources and support available for small & disadvantaged businesses in the federal contracting arena and Get your burning questions answered during a lively Q&A session with experts in federal contracting and procurement. 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
VENTURA — The Humane Society of Ventura County (HSVC) celebrates its 92nd birthday on June 1 at its Ojai animal shelter and adoption center. Ventura County Sheriff James “Jim” Fryhoff will be Co-Master of Ceremonies with actor and former Ojai mayoral candidate Anson Williams.
Tickets and more information are available at https://www.hsvc.org/92_birthday
“We’re pleased to be welcoming the leaders of Ventura County to our Ojai campus. We’re in the planning phase of a campaign to improve our facilities and expand our work throughout the county. As the leading nonprofit domestic animal resource and pet adoption agency in the region, the expansion will allow us to make an even greater impact.” says Eric Knight, Executive Director of HSVC. Mr. Knight joined HSVC in 2022.
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Department will accept registrations for its Junior Fire Academy from 9am May 1, 2024 to 5pm May 8, 2024 (or earlier if all spots are filled).
The department will offer three, five-day sessions for girls and boys ages 13 to 15. Sessions are taught by firefighters and include hands-on activities, interactive learning and field trips. Each session is limited to 30 spaces, which will be filled on a first-come, first served basis. Applicants must sign up online at https://vcfd.org/junior-fire-academy/ starting May 1, 2024.
SANTA PAULA — Volunteers from All For Love Animal Rescue (AFLAR), a local animal rescue organization, spearheaded a project to make 50 brand new, custom-made beds for rescue dogs who are in boarding, waiting to be adopted. The issue arose when rescue volunteers discovered that the nighttime hutches, essential for the dogs’ shelter and protection from wind and rain, were not big enough to accommodate the bigger size dog beds. That left bigger dogs, like AFLAR dog Chevi, without a proper bed inside.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, AFLAR volunteers embarked on a mission to address this pressing concern. Volunteers Mandy Rodriguez and Kirstin Rizk identified the challenge presented by Chevi’s need for a suitable bed. Realizing that the problem extended far beyond Chevi’s individual needs, Lupe Flores, an AFLAR volunteer known for her passion and problem-solving prowess, spearheaded efforts to design and construct custom-made beds that would fit the unique dimensions of every single hutch at CARL, a local rescue and boarding facility which houses many rescue dogs.
SBA: HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH NASA
April 24 @ 10:00 am
Discover the roadmap to federal contracting success. Join SBA for an in-depth discussion on FY24 goals and building rapport with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
In just under one week, on Tuesday April 23, the San Luis Obispo County Supervisors will vote on the Dana Reserve project and your commitment to bringing more affordable housing to the Central Coast has never been more critical.
You can affect the decision: Please let our elected officials know how important affordable housing is to the County. This will be a great opportunity for you to thank them for their hard work, and to help them make the bold and balanced decisions needed.
Wang’s considerable work to develop scalable algorithms that are both swift and accurate couldn’t be more necessary. His efforts are being recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Signal Processing Society.
District Export Councils (DECs) are esteemed organizations comprising local business leaders appointed by successive U.S. Secretaries of Commerce. They provide invaluable guidance and support to local firms seeking to expand into international markets. For over 30 years, DECs across the United States have played a crucial role in promoting economic growth and job creation through export initiatives.
La Posada is an 80-unit temporary supportive housing community serving people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in South Santa Barbara County. Permanent housing is the longer-term goal, and La Posada closes the gap between living outdoors and housing stability, where residents can be safe and receive the critical supportive services needed. La Posada is a public-private collaboration between DignityMoves, the County of Santa Barbara, and Good Samaritan Shelter, the service provider and operator.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance has released the official results for the 2024 Ventura County Homeless Point in Time Count. The executive summary, which can be viewed here, comprises details and key findings of people experiencing homelessness who were surveyed and observed on January 24, 2024. This includes those who met the federal definition of homelessness which includes those living unsheltered or in places not meant for human habitation, as well as those staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing on the night of January 23.
OXNARD — The Port of Hueneme and City of Port Hueneme joined Reel Guppy founder, Kevin Brannon, to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Reel Guppy Dockside Learning Center — an amazing addition to the local coastal community. Dedicated to connecting local youth with education and fishing experiences, Reel Guppy was thrilled to celebrate their success alongside community members, partners, and program participants.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara honored City Net as their Outstanding Community Partner of the Year. The Housing Authority created its annual partner award as a way of recognizing and thanking organizations and businesses that help change lives for the better. The supportive services provided to clients through a collaboration with City Net are an essential part of the Housing Authority’s holistic service delivery approach. Founded in 2005 in Long Beach, California, their mission is based on a commitment to break the cycle of homelessness in the communities they serve by connecting neighbors experiencing homelessness to transformative care and innovative housing solutions.
IN-PERSON EVENT: SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: STARTUP BASICS: FUNDAMENTALS OF STARTING A NEW BUSINESS
April 17 @ 8:30 am
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business but don’t know where to start? Do you have the passion and work ethic but need education and guidance? Being a small business owner is exciting but understanding the lifestyle will clarify if it is right for you. Join SCORE Ventura County in this informative workshop and learn what it takes to be a successful business owner. Address: Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
OXNARD — Oxnard College and the Oxnard College Foundation are partnering with researchers at California Lutheran University (CLU) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to host an event on April 17, 2024, marking the publication of the annual U.S. Latino GDP Report. The report documents the economic contributions of the Latino community throughout the United States and identifies Latinos as major drivers of the pandemic recovery. The event will also feature never before released estimates of California’s Latino GDP.
View this email online Hope Village Ribbon Cutting in Santa Maria The County of Santa Barbara hosted the grand opening of Hope Village, an interim, supportive housing community in Santa Maria, CA. This project provides safe housing for unhoused individuals,…
The Grand Jury is an independent panel of 19 Ventura County citizens who serve for one fiscal year, from July to June. Near the end of its term, the Civil Grand Jury files a report of its findings and recommendations with the superior court presiding judge. Afterward, the report is available to the public.
SBA: HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
April 9 @ 10:00 am
Driving Growth and Maximizing your potential. Learn from the Director of the Department of the Treasury / Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) on how to access the Federal Contracting.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
… The report starkly reveals the wage disparity. In 2023, “the mean hourly wage for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County was just $17.42 or $36,244 annually.” This is compared to heavy truck drivers, who received a median hourly wage of $26.76, translating to an annual wage of $55,672. At the same time, construction laborers earned a median hourly wage of $25.04, resulting in an annual wage of $52,104, according to the California Employment Development Department.
“In recent years, the increase in rent has been an issue that has affected me and my family. A better salary would give me access to better housing conditions and would also help me pay my rent, which continues to increase. A raise would also give me access to healthier meals for my family, and help us reap the rewards of my work,” said Matilde, Farmworker Leader with Alianza Campesina.
VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), the nonprofit that organizes Santa Barbara County Farm Day and Ventura County Farm Day, is looking for farmers, agricultural-related businesses, and others to become event sponsors and participants. The 2024 Santa Barbara County Farm Day will be on August 24, while Ventura County Farm Day will be on November 2.
“Farm Day has grown to become the largest community agricultural education and outreach program in California,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG’s founder and CEO. “Over 15,000 people visit our agricultural venues during our two Farm Days.”
VENTURA — Results from the 2023 Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies vessel speed reduction (VSR) program show it reduced coastal California air pollution, risk to whales and ocean noise.
Participating companies reduced ship speeds off California, transiting at 10 knots or less in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay region and the Southern California region, including Ventura County. The voluntary incentive-based program ran from May 1 through December 15 with 33 global shipping companies participating.
“The importance of ensuring our law enforcement and public safety entities in Ventura County have access to high-quality, reliable communications equipment cannot be overstated,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Not only will this state-of-the-art communication system facilitate better communication and coordination between agencies, but all of our cities and residents will benefit from streamlined services that will lower costs and redundancies. …
The upcoming Santa Paula Beautiful Day presents a chance for residents of all ages to make a meaningful impact. From 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in various beautification projects throughout Santa Paula. Whether it’s cleaning up popular bike trails, sprucing up neighborhood parks, touching up city landmarks, or helping maintain downtown Santa Paula, every volunteer effort counts towards creating a cleaner, more vibrant community for all.
EN ESPAÑOL: SBA: ACCESO AL CAPITAL – MICROCREDITOS
2 de abril a las 4:00 pm
Tiene su plan de negocios escrito, ha elegido el tipo de entidad legal bajo el cual operará y tiene un Número de Identificación del Contribuyente. Ya está en sus marcas, y ahora quiere estar listo para encontrar financiación. En este taller el SBA va a repasar préstamos para pequeños negocios respaldados por La Agencia Federal de Pequenos Negocios.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE
“California is the most biodiverse state in the nation,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. “Ensuring that 30×30 planning incorporates wildlife corridors will preserve habitats by increasing connectivity and prioritizing habitat continuity to protect our state’s unique wildlife.”
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced today the official election results certification for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. A total of 196,415 ballots were cast in this Statewide Direct Primary election: 89.84% of voters cast vote-by-mail ballots and 10.16% voted in person, resulting in a 38.51% voter turnout in Ventura County.
Donating the Fire District’s surplus heavy-duty utility truck to the Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD) will provide them with the ability to carry needed equipment to the scene of an emergency safely and expeditiously and is an effective use of County and Simi Valley Police Department resources.
Our community’s collective heart breaks every time we hear of yet another death of an inmate in custody. Moreover, delays in medical care have caused costly delays in booking inmates, taxing our law enforcement resources. The Board of Supervisors has recently voted to establish the Jail Health Monitoring Unit under the Public Health Department to ensure County health experts are a part of the medical policy-making and quality assurance.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, March 26, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting, the County of Ventura honored 27 employees for decades of continuous service across county agencies. The quarterly awards are part of the County of Ventura’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program which honors staff who have reached career milestones with 25 years or more of service to the residents of Ventura County.
VENTURA — The Ventura Port District (District) Board of Port Commissioners (Board) are pleased to announce that a funding agreement has been signed with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to receive a grant of $200,000 for the improvements of restrooms and shower facilities at Harbor Cove Beach, Surfers Knoll Beach, and the District’s public launch ramp.
This grant is the second awarded to the District by NFWF under the “Refugio Beach Oil Spill Settlement: South Coast Shoreline Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grants Program” (Program), the first of which was a grant of $93,301 provided in 2022. Those funds were fully expended to improve beach accessibility, install three new light poles for Harbor Cove Beach parking lot, and the purchase of public safety communications equipment.
The California Labor Market Information Division released its February 2024 report on Friday, showing a very slight improvement in the unemployment rate, from 5.2% in January to 5.1% in February. Job creation was also only moderately changed, with an increase by 1,800 payroll jobs, concentrated in only a few sectors, primarily Private Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and in several categories of Government service.
Ventura County is home to three military bases located within 8 miles of each other, namely the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station with 12,000 ppt, the Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme with 1,080,000 ppt, and Point Mugu Naval Air Station with 46,343 ppt PFAS detected in their soil and groundwater.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara will honor 17 graduates who have completed the organization’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program with a ceremony and dinner.
36-year-old Cindy Abrajan, who has lived in Santa Barbara her whole life, is one of the FSS graduates and is grateful for the support she has received with her financial and career goals.
“The annual dredging project not only facilitates safer maritime navigation in the Ventura Harbor but is essential to maintain the economic vitality of commercial fishing, recreational boating, tourism, and all of our waterfront business partners,” shares Brian Pendleton, Ventura Port District General Manager.
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Department, in collaboration with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), will carry out a planned burning operation within the Sisar fuel break in Upper Ojai through April 12th. The goal of prescribed fire burning is to strategically and safely decrease dangerous fuel amounts to lower the risk of future wildland fires. In this case, piles of vegetation were cut and will be burned to create a buffer zone that will help protect the nearby community from the threat of wildfires.
IN-PERSON EVENT: SCORE VENTURA COUNTY: FOUR KEY MARKETING STRATEGIES TO ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS
March 27 @ 8:30 am
In this workshop you’ll learn SCORE’s top 4 strategies that can impact your Google ranking, including the importance of having your business show up in local search results and how you can leverage online reviews to attract more customers. SCORE will also show you ways you can use different types of paid ad strategies to get in front of more of your targeted customers. Lastly, they will touch on using social media to build your brand and create a more personalized experience for your followers. You don’t want to miss this! Address: Ventura City Hall, Community Meeting Room 202, Second Floor, 501 Poli St Ventura, CA.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce that a Ventura County team won first place in the 2024 California Mock Trial Finals that were held over the weekend in Los Angeles. Trinity Pacific Christian School in Thousand Oaks was named the 2024 California Mock Trial Finals Champions after the competition that included schools from throughout the state.
This is the second time in three years that Trinity Pacific has come in first at the state level. They last won the state competition in 2021 when it was held virtually due to the pandemic. The Trinity Pacific team (pictured) will now advance to the National Mock Trial competition to be held from May 2 – 5 in Wilmington, Delaware.
LOMPOC — Reconnect with your besties and embark on the ultimate Girls’ getaway to Lompoc, California. From a leisurely breakfast to heart-pounding adventures and serene spa sessions, this itinerary promises a day of joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
