Category: Technology

Clean Power Alliance Announces Applications Now Being Accepted for 2022-2023 Community Benefits Grant Program

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Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2022-2023 Community Benefits Grant Program. Now in its second year, the program is an innovative partnership between CPA and Calpine Energy Solutions that provides funding for nonprofit organizations working to advance clean energy in the 30 communities that CPA serves in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as the unincorporated areas within both counties. The program’s application period opens today and runs through Sept. 16.

“Investing in our local communities is a key goal of CPA and this grant program is an important part of creating long-lasting partnerships with organizations that support our clean energy mission,” said Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance. “We appreciate Calpine’s ongoing commitment to reinvesting with us in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.”

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Bilingual report — County Of Ventura Ranked a Top Ten Digital County in the Nation by Center for Digital Government and National Association of Counties

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The County of Ventura has ranked eighth among digital counties nationwide by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Ventura County’s Information Technology Services (ITS) Department was awarded in the 20th annual Digital Counties Survey for being an information technology leader amongst counties with populations of 500,000 – 999,999, after Gwinnett County, Georgia, followed by Polk County, Florida, and County of Chester, Pennsylvania.

“We are proud that our County continues to be a leader in technology and innovation and are grateful for this special recognition,” said Interim County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “It reflects the dedication of our ITS Department and entire county team in finding new and efficient ways to serve our community. Looking ahead, we remain committed to leveraging technology and key collaborations to help close the digital divide so that all community members have equitable access to digital services.”

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More than $1 Million in Incentives Remain Available for the Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Ventura County

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As growing numbers of us drive electric vehicles (EVs), the demand for accessible charging stations in safe well-lit locations is increasing throughout our local communities. The CALeVIP South Central Coast Incentive Project promotes easy access to such zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, by providing incentives for the purchase and installation of eligible electric vehicle (EV) chargers here in Ventura County.  

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Ventura County Grand Jury Announces Release of the Cybersecurity of Water Providers in Ventura County Report

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Cyber-attacks are a serious threat to the public drinking water supply. Recent cyber-attacks around the United States have resulted in community water supplies being poisoned or their suppliers’ business operations being held hostage by ransomware. In recognition of this critical threat, the 2021-2022 Ventura County Grand Jury investigated the cybersecurity of Ventura County public water providers.

The Grand Jury investigated two primary areas of cyber vulnerability in the water sector: the information technology used to bill consumers and record usage, and the operational technology used to control and monitor treatment and delivery of the water supply. Malicious actors can take advantage of network vulnerabilities and/or weak user access controls in either information or operational technology to disrupt the business and the water service, and potentially degrade public safety.

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Ventura County Teachers Honored for Innovation in the Classroom

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Teachers from throughout Ventura County are being honored with $16,000 in grants for developing innovative lessons for their students. At a ceremony tonight in Camarillo, the Ventura County Office of Education will present 11 IMPACT II grants to 16 teachers. The grants are funded by local businesses and organizations that wish to promote unique and creative teaching practices.

The winning entries cover a variety of subject matters, including history, language arts and social sciences. Detailed lesson plans prepared by each of the grant winners are available at this link for use by other teachers in Ventura County and beyond.

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LaunchPoint Returns to the World’s Leading International Technical Event on Vertical Flight Technology

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LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. is pleased to announce its return to the Vertical Flight Society’s (VFS) 78th Annual Forum and Technology Display, being held in Fort Worth, Texas, USA from May 10 to 12, 2022. The LaunchPoint Team is co-presenting two technical papers in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Technical Session I on Tuesday morning, May 10. Michael Ricci, LaunchPoint’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder is also co-instructing the VFS’s signature Short Course on Electric VTOL Technology.

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Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. Collaborates with GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles to Provide Clean Solar Energy to Local Senior Community

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Cabrillo EDC was honored to work with GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles (GRID GLA), a nonprofit organization that installs solar power systems and provides job training for economic and environmental justice communities. During a week-long project in early March 2022, GRID GLA installed 64 solar panels on a ten-car carport at the Cabrillo EDC’s Camino Esperanza property in Simi Valley.

Camino Esperanza is a rental community serving seniors aged 62 years and older with 30 one-bedroom units. Eleven units are for Seniors with developmental disabilities at 25 percent of the area median income. The remaining 19 units are available for seniors earning up to 50 percent of the area median income. Two units are ADA compliant and 28 are fully adaptable. 

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Ventura County Science Fair Winners Announced

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Do tortoises have a favorite color? Is car exhaust damaging to plants? Do insects get lonely? These are some of the intriguing questions explored by students who entered the 67thannual Ventura County Science Fair.

The Science Fair was held virtually last Friday, with 230 students from 17 local middle and high schools presenting their projects to volunteer judges via online video. The 35 projects that received the highest scores will go on to represent Ventura County in the California Science & Engineering Fair on April 12. A list of the winners with links to their display boards and written reports is provided below.

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VCCCD Associate Vice Chancellor Receives Statewide Information Technology Award

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The state’s 116 community colleges are accomplishing dynamic work that deserves recognition. When the Chief Information Systems Officer Association (CISOA) and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office determined that the award nomination and selection process could be improved, members Dan Watkins, Associate Vice Chancellor, Information Technology, Ventura County Community College District; Chelsy Pham, San Joaquin Delta College; and Fredrick Rocha, Coast Community College District, rose to the challenge. The streamlined, standardized award process their workgroup created earned the three a California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Technology Focus Award from CISOA, a nonprofit supporting technology leadership in the state’s community college system.

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SBCC computer science team takes first place at Southern California programming competition

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At the Southern California International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) held Feb. 25-26, Santa Barbara City College won the top honor for two-year colleges for the second year in a row.

The ICPC is a programming challenge for college students to solve real-world problems, fostering collaboration, creativity, innovation and the ability to perform under pressure.

Held in Riverside, California, 48 teams from 15 Southern California institutions competed to solve a set of 10 programming problems in five hours. The problem set was particularly difficult this year, with no team solving all of the problems.

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Calling all citizen scientists to the CSUCI BioBlitz!

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Download iNaturalist on your smartphone, grab your sneakers and come on down to CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) on Saturday, Feb. 19 to join in the annual BioBlitz.

CSUCI students of all majors and members of the community are invited to wander around campus anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. this Saturday and take photos of any plants, flowers, fungi, insects, birds, or trees that catch your eye. The iNaturalist app will identify what you’ve just seen and upload it to their global citizen science database of plants, flowers, fungi, trees, insects and animals found on and around the CSUCI campus – and the world.

No scientific background is required, just a smartphone, the app and a healthy sense of curiosity about the world around you.

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State Sen. Newman and Assemblymember Irwin Introduce Legislation to Ensure Safe and Accessible Battery Disposal

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In an effort to ensure access to safe battery disposal and reduce fire risk, Senator Josh Newman and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin introduced SB 1215 and AB 2440 today. These two mirrored bills, also known as The Responsible Battery Recycling Act, create a statewide collection and recycling program for consumer batteries and battery-embedded products.

Because of the hazardous metals and corrosive materials that batteries contain, California classifies batteries as hazardous waste and bans them from solid waste landfills. When improperly discarded, batteries pose serious fire, health and safety hazards that disrupt our waste stream and poison our environment.

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Local startup Battery Streak accepted for ANTX-Coastal Trident 22 Exercise

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Battery Streak’s proposal to demonstrate its fast charging battery technology at the annual ANTX-CT22 was accepted by the exercise organizers. Working with the NavalX and FATHOMWERX technology acceleration groups has helped Battery Streak present their technology to the Naval Research and Development Establishment. 

The Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Port Hueneme Division will lead execution of its annual Advanced Naval Technology Exercise. ANTX-Coastal Trident 2022 will be conducted to accelerate identification and implementation of leading-edge capabilities by the U.S. Navy and its interagency partners in port and maritime security.

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3C-REN to Bring the Building Decarbonization Coalition’s ‘The Switch is On’ Program to Tri-County Area

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3C-REN (The Tri-County Regional Energy Network), a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura that delivers energy-saving programs and building industry trainings, has partnered with the Building Decarbonization Coalition for the “Switch is On” campaign to help Tri-County residents interested in the switch from gas-powered to all-electric appliances. An all-electric home reduces health risks, contributes to a more resilient energy system, supports the state’s decarbonization goals, and in many cases can save money for homeowners. This campaign is the first of its kind in California. 

The “Switch is On” offers residents the opportunity to speak one-on-one with home electrification advisors, find local vetted contractors, get information on incentives and rebates, and find additional resources about home electrification.

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May 23 — CLU School of Management to present ‘Technology in the Media & Entertainment Industry’

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In this interactive presentation, Nina Skorus-Neely will discuss:

Key shifts impacting the Media and Entertainment industry
Technology solutions required to support the typical entertainment studio
Strategy considerations as organizations transition toward increasingly digital, direct-to-consumer operations
Q&A will follow, moderated by Earle Charles, Program Director of the M.S. Information Technology program. All are welcome to join the conversation.
Monday, May 23
5:30 PM PST (ZOOM)
The event is free but registration is required.

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Aug. 4 — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Opportunity to Demonstrate your Underwater Optical Communications Technology

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Demonstrate your underwater optical communications technology at FATHOMWERX Lab as part of ANTX Coastal Trident 2022!

The underwater optical communications demo day is intended to give industry and government a test tank to demonstrate and test their technology, in addition to meet Department of the Navy individuals who work in the optical communications space as part of the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) Coastal Trident.

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Sept. 21 — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Cybersecurity Panel Discussion

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Please Join NAWBO-SB & EDC to Learn How to Protect Your Business From a Cyber-Attack

Cybersecurity has risen to a top concern for small business owners worldwide, and if it isn’t on your radar – it should be. Kerry Grimes, Founder of Digital Duchess, and Rita Mounir, Co-Founder of Allthenticate, will lead the conversation about the most common types of cyber attacks and discuss ideas for limiting your vulnerability in the digital business world. They will also share their professional expertise and best practices to navigate cybercrime resources. Come for the info, and stay for the networking! Panelists and the EDC’s Small Business Development Center Business Advisors will be available to discuss the support and resources available to sustain and grow your business.

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Sept. 25 — National Drive Electric Week Ventura EV Showcase at the Ventura Harbor

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Explore an amazing showcase of electric vehicles, including cars, vans, SUV’s, trucks, boats and more at the National Drive Electric Week Ventura EV Showcase from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Ventura Harbor, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Main Lawn.

These cars are displayed by their owners who have years of EV ownership and are enthusiastic and willing to discuss their experience and answer your questions about owning an EV. If you own an EV, register with the RSVP button and bring your vehicle to the showcase, meet and mingle with members of our local EV community. Co-sponsored by the Community Environmental Council of Santa Barbara. 

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Sept. 29 — Oxnard Thursday Markets EV Show at Plaza Park

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The Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) and the Community Environmental Council invite you to join us and local EV drivers for an electric vehicle show from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at at Plaza Park Farmers’ Market, 500 S. C St., Oxnard.

You’ll get a chance to have all your EV-related questions answered and meet real EV owners. Learn about stacking rebates and incentives to get the best deal on your EV purchase, and how to get a car charger installed at your home or business. Spin the wheel for a chance to win cool prizes like gift certificates, stickers, water canteens, pizza, and more.

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Sept. 30; Oct. 1 — Bilingual report — Test Drive an Electric Vehicle in Ventura, SLO, Santa Maria at National Drive Electric Week

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Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA) announces National Drive Electric Week’s (September 23 – Oct 2, 2022) online and in-person events occurring in more than 180 communities across the country that highlight the climate, clean-air benefits, and cost-savings provided by driving an EV.

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Nov. 6 — Mental Wellness Center Brings Project Reboot to Santa Barbara

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On Sunday, November 6 @ 4:30 pm, the Mental Wellness Center (MWC) will present Project Reboot, a 3-week screen time program that begins with a keynote presentation by Project Reboot’s founder and director, Dino Ambrosi. The presentation will take place at Santa Barbara City College’s Garvin Theatre, and will introduce attendees to new knowledge, skills and habits aimed at reducing reliance on social media and tech screen time.

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Nov. 17 — Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation Presents Future of the Region at Annual Event

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The Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation will present its eighth annual 10×10 Event on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lundring Event Center (in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center) at California Lutheran University. The 10 x10 is a community-wide event that consists of 10 experts speaking on 10 different topics for 10 minutes each. 

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CSUCI Biology professor receives $3.6 million grant to boost stem cell internship program

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CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) graduate student Alex Mitre began pursuing her Master of Biotechnology after a volunteering experience in the birth center of a San Diego hospital. There, she witnessed extremes of the human experience on the faces of parents…

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Bilingual report — Oxnard City Manager Alexander Nguyen Appoints Helen Miller as Information Technology Director

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The City of Oxnard announces the appointment of Helen Miller as the new Information Technology (IT) Director. With more than 25 years of business-technology experience in both the public and private sector, Miller brings significant experience deploying modern technological solutions that will benefit both Oxnard community members and City employees.

“We’re excited to have recruited a talented professional who also happens to be an Oxnard resident,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “We look forward to Ms. Miller modernizing the IT Department.”

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Two renewable energy experts join Gravity Power board

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 Gravity Power LLC, a Santa-Barbara based company that offers low-cost, low-impact energy storage technology to the electricity industry, has welcomed two prominent energy industry experts to its board of directors.

California Energy Commission Chairman Robert (Bob) Weisenmiller and renewable energy entrepreneur Steve Taber have joined the Gravity Power board. The two will leverage their decades of combined experience in grid decarbonization to help bring Gravity Power’s revolutionary storage technology to full commercialization. 

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