Business Updates For November 25, 2020
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Please note that City offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2020 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Reduce the Spread, Keep Businesses Open

The County of Ventura is encouraging everyone to go frequently for COVID-19 testing. It is easy, free, and conveniently located at a variety of sites throughout the County. Testing and tracing are key tools in stopping the spread of COVID-19.

*Weekend COVID-19 Testing Sites
  • Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave, 10a-7p
  • Santa Paula E. Main and N. Ojai, 10a-7p
  • All testing sites closed on Thanksgiving

The best way to keep our businesses open continues to be to:
  • Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Self-isolate if you are sick
  • Practice physical distancing
  • Wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household
  • Avoid participating in group/private gatherings with others from outside your household (group gatherings continue to be a high-risk activity)
  • Make a plan to get tested regularly

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Statewide Curfew - Limited Stay At Home Order

The State has issued a limited Stay at Home Order generally requiring that non-essential work, movement and gatherings stop between 10 pm and 5 am in counties in the Purple Tier per the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The order will take effect at 10 p.m. Saturday, November 21 and remain in effect until 5 a.m., December 21, although it may be extended or revised as needed by the State.

  • Restaurants can operate for take out or delivery services after 10 p.m. Outdoor dining must end by 10 p.m.
  • Residents and community members may go to the grocery store, pharmacy or walk their dogs at night in their neighborhoods.
  • Does not prevent members of the same household from leaving their residences together, as long as they do not intermingle with others while out.

This is not an exhaustive list, but we hope these examples will help clarify what residents and businesses may be permitted to do under the State’s Order. It does mean that we must restrict our interactions with people outside of our households for non-essential activities or social gatherings.
Shop Ventura - Save Ventura

Did you know...if you shift your spending just 10% toward local it can result in an average of 1,600 new jobs and $53 million in wages?

Our partners at Visit Ventura have built a program to support VENTURA businesses this holiday season that encourages shopping local...because when you Shop Ventura, you Save Ventura!
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City of Ventura Business Loan Programs

The City of Ventura’s Business Assistance Program and the Economic Development Collaborative proudly offers three loan options for small businesses and micro-enterprises in Ventura.

For more information about the loan program, please click HERE or contact our community partner, the Economic Development Collaborative, at (805) 384-1800 or info@edcollaborative.com

Small Business Loans ($10k-$50k)
  • Business related expenses including inventory and accounts payable and receivable.
  • Working capital for the acquisition of an existing business, building, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and vehicles.
  • Renovation and exterior improvements involving landscaping, facades, signage and parking areas.

Code Compliance ($10k-$25k)
  • General property maintenance improvements to exterior and interior lighting, windows, doors, exterior fences and façade maintenance (i.e. cleaning and painting)
  • Parking area and drainage improvements related to paved aprons, curbs, wheel stops and striping
  • Structural and seismic improvements to building supports, walls, roofs, ceilings and plumbing and electrical systems
  • Modifications pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Commercial Rehabilitation ($10k-$50k)
Owners of businesses and commercial property within the downtown, midtown and Westside areas are eligible for loans which can be used for:
  • Architectural and engineering services for preliminary construction designs and cost estimates (i.e., site plans, design concepts, color building elevations and signage designs)
  • Payment of development fees for building permits, inspection services and utility conversions
  • Façade and tenant improvements to signage, lighting, windows, doors, awnings and fascia
  • Historic preservation activities for properties in commercial use
Wednesday, December 2, 10:00 a.m.
Join the EDC and California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) for a free webinar titled "CMTC: Strategies for Infectious Disease Prevention in Manufacturing." During this webinar, CMTC Senior Consultant Eliot Dratch will discuss infectious diseases such as H1N1, COVID-19, Norovirus, and influenza and explain the measures that employers should take now to protect their manufacturing workforce in the future. Additionally, CMTC Human Resources, Administration and Recruitment Senior Manager Jeri Summer will discuss the role of HR in infectious disease prevention in the workplace.

Tuesday, December 8, 10:30 a.m.
Join SCORE for a free webinar titled "How to Use Social Media to Build Your Business Brand and Increase Awareness." Social media is constantly evolving, which can make it difficult for your business to keep up. In this webinar, we will break down social media marketing for businesses with best practices that you can use to improve your digital marketing strategy.

Tuesday, December 15, 10:30 a.m.
Join SCORE for a free webinar titled "QuickBooks® Online and Best Accounting Practices for Small Businesses." This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you understand the features, functions and benefits of QuickBooks® Online for small business owners as well as assist you in implementing accounting best practices to manage your business finances.

Wednesday, December 16, 10:00 a.m.
Join SCORE for a free event titled "Social Media Marketing that Gets Results. Plus a look a Facebook's Recent Changes." Social Media is a powerful tool to use in your marketing mix. It works for both businesses and non-profits. In this webinar we will take a look at how it can work for your organization. We will discuss best practices, give you some tips and show real-world examples. Plus we will also take a look at Facebook's recent changes.

EDC Webinar "Creative Solutions for Commercial Landlords and Tenants During COVID-19". The webinar covered commercial leasing and finding creative solutions to tenant-landlord disputes during COVID-19 with partners and associate attorneys from Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones, & Feingold. Their excellent panel with extensive experience in lease negotiation, civil litigation, and resolving business disputes reviewed:  
  • Lease provisions during COVID-19
  • The September eviction moratorium
  • Effect of bankruptcies on commercial tenancies
  • Strategies to achieving win-win solutions for both tenants and landlords
  • View the recorded presentation HERE

We've created a central location for you to get print and digital Coronavirus COVID-19 design resources from local, state, and national agencies. This toolkit includes social media graphics and printed materials available for download. 

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CITY OF VENTURA
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