Business Assistance Office Services and Programs
Business Ombudsmen
Applying for permits and licenses can be confusing and time consuming. Our staff of business ombudsmen will assist you through the process by acting your liaison to City departments and other agencies, guide you through the process, and ensure that your applications are handled expeditiously.
Doing Business in Ventura (coming soon) – a simple, comprehensive guide that helps you determine what licenses, permits, and fees you will need to open a new business, expand your existing business, or relocate to Ventura.
Call (805) 654-7724 or email econdev@cityofventura.net to speak to a Business Ombudsmen today!
Sites for Lease and for Sale
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Map of properties for lease and for sale
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Spreadsheet of properties for lease and for sale
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Upload your properties here (coming soon!)
Contact:
Lilly Okamura, 805-654-7758
Business Enhancement Program
The EDC-VC offers free, confidential help for businesses with fewer than 200 employees. Whether your business is ready to sprout to still searching for fertile ground, the BEP can help you plan for growth, develop creative marketing strategies, identify sources of financing, and learn other key business tactics.
Contact:
Annett Ewing, 805-654-7724
Business Assistance Program
Financial assistance is available to businesses looking to relocate or expand their operations in Ventura. Commonly known as BAP, this City-sponsored program provides low-interest loans of up to $125,000. Loan funds can be used for façade and structural improvements, code compliance issues, and working capital needs.
Contact:
Annett Ewing, 805-654-7724
Business to Business Connections
Are you looking for a local supplier to reduce shipping costs? Do you believe in keeping your dollars local? In partnership with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County , and Totally Local VC, we are building a network of local businesses to build a thriving local economy.
Contact:
Annett Ewing, 805-654-7724
Educational Forums and Networking Events
We partner with the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County to host free educational forums conducted by experienced business professionals on topics ranging from international trade to social networking. We also host industry-specific mixers and roundtables to provide opportunities for Councilmembers and staff to hear directly from business owners about what works and what can be improved when doing business in Ventura.
To be notifed of future events, please email us to be added to our email list.
Business Promotions and Marketing
The City of Ventura organizes dozens of events specifically designed to increase business activity for local businesses. Restaurant Week generates an increase in revenues and continues to grow in popularity. Hundreds of local musicians, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues participate in Music Week .
The City of Ventura Business Recognition Award honors a local business every month. To nominate a business, complete the nomination form (pdf) (coming soon) and email it to econdev@cityofventura.net.
Congratulations to past recipients:
| April 2012 | Ventura Axxess |
| March 2012 | Ventura Rental |
| February 2012 | R.E. Barber Ford |
| January 2012 | Red Brick Pizza |
| December 2011 | Stewart + Brown |
| November 2011 | AWS Automotive |
| October 2011 | Draganchuk Alarm Systems, Inc. |
| September 2011 | Ventura Limoncello Company |
Contact:
Joey Briglio, 805-677-3958
Ventura Ventures Technology Center
The City of Ventura operates the Ventura Ventures Technology Center, Ventura County's only high-tech business incubator, working to create high value, high wage jobs and diversify the local economy by attracting high tech start ups to Ventura.
Contact:
Joey Briglio, Executive Director, (805) 677-3958
Nonprofit Sustainability Center
The Nonprofit Sustainability Center, located on the 4th floor of 505 Poli Street, provides flexible, low cost leases for local nonprofit organizations.
Contact:
Eric Wallner, Creative Economy Specialist, (805) 677-3911
Poverty Reduction and Homeless Services
Poverty reduction is an important component of economic development. We strive to ensure that those in need have access to food, shelter, and medical resources while keeping our neighborhoods, parks, and beaches safe and clean for everybody to enjoy.
City of Ventura Safe and Clean Public Places Initiative
The Safe and Clean Public Places Initiative is designed to ensure safe and clean public spaces for the entire community to enjoy. To achieve that goal, city government can focus internal resources and strengthen community partnerships through:
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Redirecting limited law enforcement resources to better enforce existing laws and policies to abate illegal and anti-social behaviors in public spaces.
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Redirecting limited maintenance resources to better maintain clean public spaces.
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Partnering with community resources to better activate and animate public spaces to encourage enjoyment by the entire community.
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Strengthening collaboration with the County, social service agencies and faith-based organizations to support both "place-based" social services and supplement those services by assertive street outreach teams to reach service resistant clients, and
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Seeking to reinforce (and in some cases re-orient) social services and philanthropic giving toward the philosophy of a "hand up" rather than a "hand out."
Contact:
Peter Brown, Community Services Manager, 805-658-4707
More information
Panhandling Alternatives
Provides budget counseling and the provision of temporary emergency assistance to families and individuals, as funds allow. Other services include seasonal utilities assistance, food, clothing, shelter vouchers, rental assistance and information and referral.
805-643-4784
Provides helpful reception center, emergency food pantry, basic services (shower, laundry, mail/message center, medical help, tutoring program, help to secure housing or keep from losing housing.
805-652-1326
Provides a transitional living center, weekly sack lunches, a food pantry, help to secure housing or keep from losing housing, and referrals to other services.
805-659-3596
Supplies shelter, supported housing and rehabilitation programs, to address the critical community support needs of mentally ill adults.
805-652-0596
Every Tuesday 10 - 1
3147 Loma Vista Ave.
805-652-6111
Abandoned Shopping Carts
On January 23, 2012, the City of Ventura adopted an abandoned shopping cart ordinance to reduce the number of abandoned shopping carts left on our streets, sidewalks, bikepaths, and rivers. The ordinance is intended to hold businesses accountable for carts removed from their properties.
To report found shopping carts, call the California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation at 800-252-4613, report online, or download the iphone app.
