Category: Government

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Paycheck Protection Program application for Sole Proprietors deadline is March 31

by Community Contributor • February 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Self-employed, business owners with no employees, contractors, free lancers, gig economy workers and sole proprietors-
Did you know you are eligible for PPP?

Sole proprietors qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program under the concept of “owner compensation replacement.” Even if you do not have employees or do not make a payroll, you may be eligible to apply for this economic relief loan. Common examples of sole proprietors include, but are not limited to, owners or operators of in-home daycare facilities, web designers, consultants and artisan chefs.

Initial Public Notice Regarding the Santa Clara River Levee 3 Completion Project

by Community Contributor • February 1, 2021 • Comments Off

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to provide federal financial assistance under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program to the Ventura County Watershed Protection District in Ventura County, California, to construct approximately 1,865 feet of 4- to 8-foot-high floodwall parallel to the Santa Clara River and North Ventura Road.Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Wetlands Management), and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its intent to carry out an action affecting a floodplain and wetlands.

Bilingual report — City Manager Alexander Nguyen Announces Appointment of Vytautas “Vyto” Adomaitis as Oxnard’s Community Development Director

by Community Contributor • February 1, 2021 • Comments Off

The City of Oxnard has announced the appointment of Vytautas “Vyto” Adomaitis as its new Community Development Director.

Adomaitis has served the City of Goleta for nearly 19 years, arriving just after the City’s incorporation in 2002. As Goleta’s Director of Neighborhood Services and Public Safety, he led an award-winning department known for its leadership and collaborative approach to addressing community needs in Goleta and the Santa Barbara County region.

“I am extremely pleased and excited to have been chosen to be the City of Oxnard’s new Community Development Director,” said Adomaitis. “I’m looking forward to joining a very dedicated group of professionals at the City who are seeking to provide the highest level of public services to the residents of Oxnard.”

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura is in Phase 1A. This phase includes those in the health care sector and 75 and older.

The State provides vaccines to the County on a weekly basis. The supply is not enough for the amount of people needing vaccines. The County is advocating for more vaccines and is prepared to administer once the shipment arrives.

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may

1) Register online www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.
2) Those with limited computer/internet access may call the phone registration line at 805-477-7161. The phone line is open Monday through Friday 8:30-5:00.

COVID-19 Punishes Latinos for Hard Work and Larger Families

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2021 • Comments Off

Latinos in the U.S. have created the world’s eighth-largest economy. How did they do it? Essentially, through hard work and larger families. Yet these very elements that enabled them to build the world’s eighth-largest economy also make Latinos a special target of COVID-19.

Latinos’ strong work ethic means that Latino households have more wage earners per household than non-Hispanic white households. Nationally, Latinos have an average of 1.6 wage earners per household, compared to 1.2 for non-Hispanic white households. This means that Latino households have more adults leaving the house every day, who are then often exposed to coronavirus-positive clients and co-workers during work hours.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — More on Vaccines

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2021 • Comments Off

At this week’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department on COVID-19.

The good news is that from January 11th to January 25th, we’ve seen a 23% decrease in active cases and a 42% decrease in hospitalized cases. We’ve experienced decreases in most of our County areas, with the exception of the City of Santa Barbara and in Isla Vista.

We are administering almost double the state median for daily COVID-19 tests.

Consulado de Mexico en Oxnard — Reunión virtual con el director del DMV de California el 4 de febrero

by Community Contributor • January 28, 2021 • Comments Off

Reunión virtual con el director del DMV de California el 4 de febrero

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 28 — Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • January 28, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura is in Phase 1A which includes those in the health care sector and those who are 75 and older.

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may register online
www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated but who have limited computer/internet access may call the phone registration line at 805-477-7161. The phone line is open Monday through Friday 8:30-5:00.

UCSB — The Current — Age of Automation

by Community Contributor • January 28, 2021 • Comments Off

An upcoming workshop will highlight a bold proposal to decipher the secrets behind successfully integrating automation into industry.

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 27 — Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • January 27, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura is in Phase 1A which includes those in the health care sector and those who are 75 and older. .

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may register online
www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

The Area Agency on Aging provides transportation services for older adults that are in need of transportation to a vaccine appointment or for COVID-19 testing. This includes people that need lift assist as well as gurney transportation. The driver will take the individual, wait for them, help them at the site and take them home. To schedule a ride call 805-477-7300. Please note, you must have a vaccine appointment before you schedule a ride to a vaccine site.

Jason Hodge Takes the Helm as President of the Oxnard Harbor District

by Community Contributor • January 27, 2021 • Comments Off

he Port of Hueneme welcomed new leadership last week as the Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously voted Jason T. Hodge to serve as Board President for 2021, marking the 3rd time he has been elected to lead the District.

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 26 — Vaccine Update

by Community Contributor • January 26, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura is in Phase 1A which includes those in the health care sector and those who are 75 and older. Vaccines are for those that live or work in Ventura County.

The County receives vaccines from the State once a week. Once vaccines are received the County creates appointments for those vaccines to be distributed.

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may register online on Mondays at the following link:

www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Free Webinar Schedule

by Community Contributor • January 26, 2021 • Comments Off

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

COVID-19 Business Resources – EIDL, PPP, UI and Grants

Alternating Wednesdays & Fridays @ 12:00 pm
Next Webinar: January 27, 2021

The EDC invites you to join our webinar series on alternative Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:00 pm to answer questions about EIDL, PPP, UI, Grants and all currently available COVID-19 related business resources. Please register in advance. Space is limited.

Standard & Poor’s gives highest rating to County’s Treasury Pool

by Community Contributor • January 26, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Treasurer/Tax Collector Steven Hintz has announced that Standard & Poor’s has reaffirmed its “AAAf” and “S1+” ratings of the Ventura County Treasury Pool.

“Standard & Poor’s conducts a careful examination and analysis of the portfolio. The process is almost like an audit,” said Hintz. “I am extremely pleased and proud to receive this affirmation of the hard work, dedication, and due diligence displayed by the Investment Work Group of my Office. It is a privilege to manage the investment pool for our portfolio participants and for the citizens of Ventura County.”

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Governor Lifts Stay-at-Home Order

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Department of Public Health issued guidance today lifting the Regional Stay at Home Order due to projected increasing ICU capacity. All California counties will return to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers. Santa Barbara County has returned to the Purple Tier and a Health Officer Order outlining the specific restrictions and allowances for Santa Barbara County businesses and residents will be issued. This Health Officer Order will take effect at 8 a.m. on January 26, 2021.

Santa Barbara County will continue to restrict gatherings of any size at this time.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 25

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Vaccine Update

The County of Ventura is in Phase 1A which includes those in the health care sector and those who are 75 and older. Vaccines are for those that live or work in Ventura County.

The County receives vaccines from the State once a week. Once vaccines are received the County creates appointments for those vaccines to be distributed.

Appointments open every Monday.

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may register online on Monday’s at the following link:

www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

Bilingual report — State of California Lifts Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Department of Public Health hasannounced that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted in Southern California. Four-week ICU capacity projections for the region are above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order.

The action allows Ventura County to return to the rules and framework for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. Services and activities, such as outdoor dining and personal services, may resume immediately with required modifications. Tier updates will be provided weekly on Tuesdays by the California Department of Public Health

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — EDC’s Economic 411 Labor Market Report for December 2020

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its year-end, December 2020 report earlier today, displaying an anticipated increase in Ventura County’s unemployment rate, from 6.3% in November to 7.5% in December. We say “anticipated” owing to the new round of business restrictions that were imposed some two months ago as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed through and now following the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. As we note in more detail below, our job losses were concentrated almost entirely in Food & Accommodation, or restaurants and bars, down 2,700 jobs on the month. For the entire detail, check out LMID’s December report here.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 22

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County we want you to have access to vaccines as soon as possible! We receive vaccines each week from the state and open appointments for the vaccines we are provided. We are not given enough supply to vaccinate all community members at one time. We are advocating for more vaccines and we have the infrastructure to get vaccines in arms as quickly as possible once they are received.

We understand headlines in other places say 65 and older now. Unfortunately, in those places many people in that age range cannot get vaccinated yet because Counties throughout the State are in the same position of not having enough vaccines. The supply issue impacts the ability to expand the vaccine to more sectors at this time.

Bilingual commentary — The Power of Oratory

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The past few days in our country have been exhausting, frightening, sickening, traumatic, dispiriting. The attack on the Capitol, with threats of even more violence in the coming weeks and months, starkly demonstrated the power of words.

An impeached and diminished president stands accused of incitement to riot. He may well believe that his words were “appropriate,” but then he believes many things that are not true. Even several of his supporters in Congress have admitted that his words carried the weight that crushed any remaining sense of stability we might have had.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 21, 2021

by Community Contributor • January 21, 2021 • Comments Off

As of 1/19/21 31,553 individuals have been vaccinated in Ventura County. We have received 44,625 first dose vaccines. All appointments are filled this week.
More appointments will be opened next week. A notice will be sent when they open up.

We have to wait each week on the amount of vaccines provided to the County from the State and then more appointments can be made. All vaccines coming in are going out to the people in Phase 1A and 75 and older. We have more eligible people wanting the vaccine than vaccines available.

It will take months to vaccinate all people. Vaccine supply is the biggest barrier to making this effort move more quickly. This is impacting Counties throughout the State.

Once appointments are opened you can register on the Ventura County Recovers website at the following link:

Next Free EDC Webinar — COVID-19 Business Resources – EIDL, PPP, UI and Grants, to be held Jan. 22

by Community Contributor • January 21, 2021 • Comments Off

The EDC invites you to join our webinar series on alternating Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:00 pm to answer questions about EIDL, PPP, UI, Grants and all currently available COVID-19 related business resources. Business Disruption Resource Director, Clare Briglio, and EDC SBDC Financial Advisor, Juliana Ramirez, will be presenting and answering questions around new federal benefits and expansions to existing programs. Please register in advance. Space is limited.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • January 20, 2021 • Comments Off

COVID-19 Vaccine appointments are full at this time. There are more community members wanting vaccines than appointments available this week because of the amount of vaccines we have available. More appointments will be added as more vaccines become available. The County receives vaccines from the state on a weekly basis. More vaccine distribution sites are launching but the County still needs more vaccines to add more appointments. We understand this is frustrating. We want to vaccinate the entire community as quickly as possible. We continue to expand infrastructure for distribution which will help move things forward once we receive more vaccines.

GCTD Implementing Bi-Annual Service Adjustments and Plans for Potential COVID-19 Impacts on Operations

by Community Contributor • January 20, 2021 • Comments Off

Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), Ventura County’s largest public transit provider, will be implementing its bi-annual service changes this Sunday, January 24, 2021. The changes will primarily consist of restoring service where it is most needed at this time, and that includes the Route 1 (Port Hueneme – Oxnard) and the Route 6 (Oxnard – Ventura), as well as making a few other adjustments to improve on-time performance.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning through Jan. 20

by Community Contributor • January 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) notification issued by Southern California Edison for several parts of southern Santa Barbara County, including Santa Barbara, Mission Canyon, Montecito, and Carpinteria; PSPS Outages May Occur (through Jan. 20).

Additional COVID-19 Rental Assistance Funds Available through United Way of Santa Barbara County

by Community Contributor • January 19, 2021 • Comments Off

In the continuing effort to financially support individuals and families who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) is partnering with the County of Santa Barbara to offer rental assistance grants to eligible individuals and families– the grants pertain to those living in Solvang, Buellton, Carpinteria and Guadalupe as well as those living in unincorporated areas of the County (listed below). There is a total of $890k available for eligible applicants who must meet specific requirements. The funds were made possible by the County of Santa Barbara through federal CDBG grants.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update — Actualización de la vacuna COVID-19

by Community Contributor • January 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Proveyéndole información más actualizada de los suministros y distribución de la vacuna COVID-19

Con el reciente anuncio que las pautas para las vacunas en California se habían extendido para incluir a todas las personas de 65 años o mayores, hemos recibido muchas preguntas sobre la elegibilidad y el acceso a la vacuna del COVID-19. Queremos darle una actualización con la información más reciente sobre los suministros y distribución de la vacuna.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Vaccine Info for Those Over 75

by Community Contributor • January 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Folks who are over 75 will begin being contacted by their medical provider to schedule a vaccination appointment and those who are over 75 are also able to sign up for appointments at our Public Health community vaccination sites here: https://publichealthsbc.org/covid-19-vaccine-appointment-registration/?

As soon as more vaccines become available from the state, vaccination will begin for those who are 65 and older. It is important to keep in mind that vaccination supply is still limited. For reference, there are over 32,000 county residents over the age of 75 and the vaccination sites will have approximately 1200 total vaccines (not including the vaccines that are available at medical providers). Our capacity to vaccinate will increase as soon as we get more vaccines from the state, which will hopefully happen very soon.

COVID-19 Update Jan. 14, 2021 — Case Information and Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 1,354 new cases for today, 13,381 additional tests, and 13 additional deaths (38 year old male, 83 year old female, 97 year old male, 87 year old male, 98 year old female, 88 year old female, 67 year old female, 100 year old female, 73 year old male, 62 year old male, 85 year old male, 62 year old male, and a 83 year old female.

Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

Bilingual report — Workforce Development Board Receives $2.8 million To Provide Workforce Services To English Language Learners & Justice-Involved Individuals

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2021 • Comments Off

Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) was awarded $2,417,711 from the U.S. Department of Labor to prepare justice-involved individuals for the workforce. Another $350,000 was received from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act/Governor’s Discretionary Fund for services to the English Language Learner (ELL) population to foster successful job placement and retention.

WDB partnered with the Ventura County’s Sherriff Office when applying for the Department of Labor grant that provides work-related training to inmates. The Ventura County “Bridges 2 Work” (B2W) project will place employment specialists at the Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula. Their focus will be on inmates who are less than 180 days away from release. A WDB “Pre-Release Specialized Job Center” at the jail will serve up to 300 inmates.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Jan. 13, 2021 — Case Information and Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 1,563 new cases for today, 9,008 additional tests, and 16 additional deaths 96 year old male, 80 year old female, 91 year old male, 59 year old female, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 72 year old female, 31 year old male, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 69 year old female, 82 year old male, 75 year old male, 82 year old male, 87 year old female, and a 102 year old female.

Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

Ventura County Arts Council — What’s New in 2021

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

Greetings and Happy New Year! We are happy to share that in December 2020, with support from the California Arts Council, we were able to distribute CARES funds to 17 local arts and culture organizations who represent and serve communities of color disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

This money was allocated from a portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds initially given to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) who granted a portion of the dollars to the California Arts Council to be distributed by their State and Local Partners. As CAC’s Ventura County SLP, we were able to help the following groups with support for core operations and special projects:
Ballet Folklorico Bell Arts
Ballet Folklorico Cielito Lindo de Simi Valley
Bell Arts Factory
Club Flor Bonita
The CreArtive Freedom Family
Danza Tonantzin
Dr. Manuel M. Lopez Community Garden
Fork Space
Get Loud Movement
Inlakech Cultural Arts Center
Our Town. Our Children.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation
Redbird
Spectrum Collaborative
The Showtime Project
Teatro De Las America
Ventura County Chinese American Association

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — New Information on COVID-19 Vaccines & Testing

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

I know that for many in our community, there is anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. Many are wondering when they can get it, how many have been administered to date, who qualifies for each tier, etc. At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, which provided some answers to the burning questions I have heard from many constituents.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura Seeks Public Feedback on Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura is looking for input from residents on planning for sea level rise. The coastal zone in unincorporated Ventura County includes 29 miles of coastline and contains beautiful beaches, recreation facilities, critical infrastructure, coastal access trails, residential communities, and agricultural fields. Coastal storms, flooding, and erosion combined with sea level rise could damage these important resources in the future.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Jan. 12, 2021

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2021 • Comments Off

As of January 12, there are 1,326 new cases for today, 10,843 additional tests, and 21 additional deaths: 79 year old male, 53 year old female, 91 year old female, 85 year old female, 80 year old male, 84 year old male, 84 year old female, 53 year old male, 32 year old male, 73 year old male, 100 year old male, 76 year old female, 97 year old male, 93 year old male, 76 year old female, 80 year old female, 70 year old male, 69 year old female, 88 year old female, 67 year old male, and a 90 year old female. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have passed away. The doubling time is 27.8.

Port of Hueneme Secures First Marine Highway 5 Shipping Route Designation

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2021 • Comments Off

The Port’s SEA LINC Project (Spurring Economic Advantages with Logistical Investments for New Connectivity) was recently awarded official designation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, marking the first time a project has been designated in Southern California since the inception of the American Marine Highways Program in 2007.

The SEA LINC Project aims to move cargo off federal and state highways by shifting the cargo to barge along Marine Highway 5 (M-5) instead. The cargo, currently being trucked from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California, will now move on the water and reduce traffic and air emissions, improve safety, and eliminate wear and tear on the roadways spanning across three states. The Port’s project is also the first American Marine Highway Coastal Service project designated on the entire West Coast of the United States.