News & News Releases
Ray Bowman leads way in helping businesses become successes
In the 17 months since the Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties was established under the auspices of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, center Director Ray Bowman has seen people find creative ways to thrive in a sluggish economy...
Read the whole article in the Ventura County Star
2011 Releases
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181 JOBS CREATED, THANKS TO EDC-VC’S
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
CAMARILLO, Calif.– EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties celebrated its one-year anniversary by posting impressive results. SBDC reports that it served 317 area companies and created 181 jobs from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. This facilitated an increase in sales of $6.6 million in the region and provided access to various forms of capital exceeding $6 million.
NEW MEMBER ADDS STEAM TO EDC-VC BOARD
CAMARILLO, Calif. – The Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County recently appointed Tresa Wilkinson, vice president and CFO of the Fillmore and Western Railway, to its board of directors. Wilkinson will serve as a representative for the Santa Clara Valley region and brings with her key experience in the hospitality, tourism and transportation industries.
Local Export Initiative Jump-started with Federal Funds
VC Star 6-7-2011 -- For the last year, the U.S. Commerce Department has urged the nation's biggest exporting regions to step up their game.
On Tuesday, the Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties announced it's been awarded a $190,000 grant to do that.
The center received the grant through the federal Small Business Jobs Act to use toward one-on-one consultation with small- and medium-sized companies to help them start exporting or enhance current exports.
"The money that we're receiving essentially doubles this center's consulting capability, so it's a real valuable resource," center Director Ray Bowman said.
A team of consultants is now available for area businesses if they're interested in international trade, Bowman said.
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EDC-VC ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP
CAMARILLO, Calif.— Fillmore councilmember Patti Walker was installed as chair of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s board of directors at the organization’s 14th Annual Meeting on Jan. 20. Jim Scanlon, CEO of Scanlon, Guerra, Burke Insurance Brokers in Woodland Hills, was installed as vice chair.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROGRAM OPENS A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY FOR AREA BUSINESSES
CAMARILLO, Calif.– According to the Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov), “Nearly 96 percent of consumers and over two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power reside outside the U.S.” To tap into this influential market, nine Ventura County business leaders completed the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s 12-week Global Entrepreneur Training in Trade (G.E.T. Trade) program to expand their knowledge of international trade opportunities. Supervisor John Zaragoza gave the remarks at the graduation ceremony held Jan. 11 at the Hampton Inn in Camarillo.
NOTED ECONOMIST TO SHARE INSIGHTS
CAMARILLO, Calif.–In 2009, 78 percent of businesses in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties had fewer than 10 employees. This influential segment of the region’s economy will be the subject of the keynote address by economist Bill Watkins, Ph.D., of the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting at California Lutheran University at the 14th Annual Meeting of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County (EDC-VC) and 62nd Annual Installation of Officers of the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA). The event is 3-7 p.m., Jan. 20 at Spanish Hills Country Club, 999 Crestview Ave., Camarillo...
2010 Releases
EDC-VC PRESENTS MIMSTAR WITH $85,000 LOAN
CAMARILLO, Calif.—Mimstar, a manufacturer and seller of one-of-a-kind photo items made from its customers’ photos and original artwork, has created keepsakes for countless customers since 2006. Now the Fillmore business located inside Mirage women’s clothing shop has its own keepsake, thanks to Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County. At a check passing ceremony on June 24, Mimstar owner Karen Thayer received an $85,000 loan to be used for debt restructuring and working capital that will enable Thayer to increase her staff and the company’s production. EDC-VC is a community-based lender, and the loan is the largest it has made to a Fillmore company to date.
RABOBANK LEADER JOINS EDC-VC BOARD
CAMARILLO, Calif.—Bruce Stenslie, president/CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, announces that Donald (Don) Toussaint, president of Rabobank, N.A’s South Central Coast Region, has joined EDC-VC’s board of directors.
EDC-VC WELCOMES NEW CENTER DIRECTOR
CAMARILLO, Calif.—The Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County (EDC-VC) has selected Ray Bowman to be the Center Director for the Ventura and Santa Barbara counties Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
EDC-VC’S NEW MANUFACTURING PROGRAM PROVIDES NEEDED SUPPORT
CAMARILLO, Calif. –A total of 14 percent of Ventura County’s jobs are in manufacturing, which is higher than the state and national averages of 10.9 percent. These employees tend to have much higher average pay than other employment categories. As technology improves production rates it decreases the number of manufacturing jobs, making it vital for local businesses to maintain a well-trained workforce that can adapt.
EDC-VC TO HOLD MANUFACTURERS FORUM IN WEST COUNTY
Free event will provide valuable information for local manufacturers
CAMARILLO, Calif.—Fourteen percent of Ventura County’s jobs are in manufacturing, which is much higher than the state and national averages of 10.9 percent. To help strengthen this key employment base, the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County is holding a free business and information forum 7:30 – 10 a.m., May 13 at the Ventura City Hall, Community Room, 501 Poli Street, Ventura.
SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON WORLD TRADE
FOR VENTURA COUNTY BUSINESSES
CAMARILLO, Calif.— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura area accounted for $2.58 billion in exports for 2008, an increase of 6.6 percent from the 2007 level, according to Dr. Ashish Vaidya, California State University, Channel Islands. With international trade playing such a crucial role in the county’s economic vitality, area business leaders need to understand how government initiatives can affect jobs and their businesses. In response, the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the District Export Council, is holding the World Trade Week Summit: Jobs, Prosperity and the National Export Initiative on May 20. Richard Swanson, regional director, Pacific South Region, U.S. Department of Commerce will be the keynote speaker for the event held 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Limoneira Ranch, 1141 Cummings Road, Santa Paula. There also will be a discussion regarding international resources.
224 WORKERS EMPLOYED, THANKS TO EDC-VC PROGRAMS
Business Enhancement Program assisted 250 businesses in 2009
CAMARILLO, Calif.– As the economy continued to challenge businesses in 2009, the Economic Development Collaborative – Ventura County (EDC-VC) helped save or create a total of 224 jobs through its business assistance and loan programs.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS ADD EXPERIENCE, DIVERSITY TO EDC-VC BOARD
CAMARILLO, Calif.—At the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s 13th Annual Meeting, Harold S. Edwards, President/CEO of Limoneira Company was installed as the board chair and Oxnard Councilmember Andres Herrera was installed as vice chair. New board members who were recognized at the annual meeting include City National Bank Vice President and Manager Sim Tang-Paradis, Ventura Federated Chambers of Commerce President Patrick Ellis and Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza.
G.E.T. TRADE CELEBRATES PROGRAM GRADUATES
Thirteen Students Complete International Trade Program
CAMARILLO, Calif.–In this economy, savvy business leaders are looking at international markets to increase their bottom line. The first step for 13 Ventura County business leaders was to participate in Global Entrepreneur Training in Trade, a program of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, so they could expand their knowledge of international trade opportunities. On May 11, the students will graduate from the 12-week program. The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 50 W. Daily Dr., Camarillo. The graduation ceremony is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend.
2009 Releases
IS THERE GOOD NEWS?
Economist Panel to Shed Light on Local, Regional Economy
at EDC-VC and VCEDA Joint Event
