Community Development
Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation
Mission: The Ventura Commerce and
Education Foundation provides a business link to the economic,
educational, cultural and environmental interests of the Ventura
regional community with a vision to the future.
Purpose: The Ventura Commerce and Education
Foundation was formed to engage businesses in undertaking economic,
educational, cultural and environmental projects that promise to benefit
Ventura and the regional community. It is anticipated that the
projects in the four key areas – and the leadership required to manage
them – will have significant impact on the economy of the City of
Ventura and the regional community and the health of its business and
education communities.
The Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation will link business to
projects that help the Ventura regional community develop and prosper.
The Foundation will convene community leaders to discuss critical
topics. Because of its non-profit status, the Foundation will
attract tax-deductible contributions to accomplish its goals.
The Foundation’s leaders recognize that the challenges and opportunities
faced by Ventura are common to many small communities in California.
By developing, implementing and evaluating promising and proven programs
and by convening community leaders and fostering partnerships, the
Foundation has an important role to play as it confronts the complex
concerns that come with growth and change.
Programs:
Leadership Ventura was established in
1994 to develop the future leaders of Ventura. Each year a new
class is formed. Participants complete a nine-month course that
includes: Leadership Training; Economic Development and Tourism; Arts
and Culture; City, County, and State Government; Regional Commerce;
Health and Human Services; Media and Communications; Education; and
Public Safety. Each class creates teams to develop and
implement a community improvement project before graduation. The
program has graduated 110 community leaders over its decade-long
history. The program is sustained through participant tuition and
grants.
Principal for a Day allows business
leaders to get a close look at the challenges and responsibilities of
school principals. An average of 30 business leaders takes
advantage of this program annually. Sponsorships are available
when the program is being promoted.
How to Do Business with Public
Agencies provides businesses with important information and key
contacts by bringing them together with purchasing agents from the
Ventura Unified School District, Ventura County School District,
Community College District, California State University at Channel
Islands, City of Ventura, County of Ventura and several state and
federal agencies. For a complete list please click on the link
from above. The chamber and foundation joined forces with
Assemblyman Pedro Nava in 2007. This annual program is designed to
provide a benefit to the business community for their support of
education. Sponsorships are available when the program is being
promoted.
Coastal Marine Biolab (CMB) is located in the
heart of Ventura Harbor and offers innovative, inquiry based science
experiences to prepare high school students for entry into the
biotechnology workforce and to give them a competitive edge for college
and university admissions. The 9-day Integrative Biosciences Program
includes: Applied laboratory of field training under the
mentorship of research scientists, scuba certification by diving
professionals, science-based field excursions to the Channel Islands
National Marine Sanctuary, nine days accommodations at the Holiday Inn
Express (within a short walking distance from CMB), meal plan from
participating Ventura Harbor restaurants. The CMB is seeking grant
opportunities to provide scholarships for high school students.
America’s Schools Program (ASP)
is a program the Ventura
Commerce and Education Foundation and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce
have adopted in partnership with America's Schools National Recycling
Program to help preserve the environment and provide a new revenue
source for K-12 public school programs in Ventura Unified School
District such as the arts, music, drama, computer labs, libraries and
extra-curricular activities. This national program has been
adopted by state school boards across the country. In addition, the
program is being championed by hundreds of businesses including Wells
Fargo Bank, 17 state restaurant associations, and other professional
organizations. Funds generated by this program will help educational
K-12 public school programs within the Ventura community. The
program is very easy to join and comes at no cost. All recycling boxes
are delivered free of charge to each participating chamber member
business and FedEx will pick-up the boxes free of charge when filled.
Through this unique partnership, anyone can drop-off used cell phones
and used inkjet or toner printer cartridges. Revenue generated will be
directly traced back to our local school district via UPC code located
on every box. To find out how your business can sign up with the
Ventura Commerce & Education Foundation and the Ventura Chamber of
Commerce to support Ventura Unified School District call us at
805.676.7500 or e-mail
help@ventura-chamber.org.
Programs for future consideration (provided by VCEF
or the Chamber):
Ventura City Corps is a proposed youth
development program involving 12-24 year old, at-risk, marginalized and
other interested youth with community projects and services; bringing
quality service to the community and providing work ethic, fellowship,
self esteem and leadership to the youth; allowing them to organize and
manage those projects. There are educational components to
encourage continuing formal education and to enhance leadership
abilities and opportunities for the older youth to earn wages.
Ventura Film Office to
disseminate information on filming/production opportunities in the City
of Ventura. This program would require experienced staffing.
Research is currently underway to establish the film office and is
targeted for completion in the 4th quarter of 2007. This program
has had a board of advisors from the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Kaiser
Permanente, Ventura Port District, Technology Development Center, City
of Ventura, Economic Development Collaborative, Farm Bureau of Ventura
County, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Brooks Institute
of Photography, Mind Control and CAPS TV.
For more information on the Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation
or to become involved please contact Zoe Taylor at
zoe@ventura-chamber.org or
call 805-676-7500
