Partners

Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is a Community Choice Energy agency established by local communities to source clean and renewable electricity for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties and now parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties while retaining your utility provider’s traditional role delivering power and maintaining electric infrastructure as well as billing. Santa Barbara County businesses can take advantage of (1) Rebates, grants and incentives to support commercial switches to all-electric transportation, agriculture and building infrastructure, (2) Low interest financing to support backup generation for public sector businesses and essential services (3) and Stable and competitive electric generation rates, including the option to opt-in to 100% renewable energy supply offering.

Through a special partnership, the City Administrators Office of the City of Santa Barbara and the Economic Development Collaborative work collectively to provide Santa Barbara businesses access to no-cost consulting and access to capital

FATHOMWERX is an innovator of technology designs fusing academia, civilian companies and other nontraditional Department of Defense partners who work on United States Department of Defense and Maritime's most challenging problems. Through the use of their growing ecosystem, promotion of divergent thought, and neutral facilitation, their goal is to bring the right minds together to solve challenging problems. FATHOMWERX is a partnership between the Port of Hueneme, the Naval Surface Warfare Center- Port Hueneme Division, Matterlabs and the Economic Development Collaborative.

Hub101 offers coworking, incubation and community for entrepreneurs and small business owners to start, grow, and scale their startups.

Part of the Camarillo Library, the Russell Fischer Business Collection offers free workshops and classes on a wide range of entrepreneurship topics. Additionally, members of the Camarillo Library have access to research databases for market research, free business eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, access to skill development classes on Lynda.com, and investment research through Morningstar and Valueline.

Since 1991 Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) has worked diligently to create an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV programs combine classroom training, capital and individual technical assistance to support the small business entrepreneur through start-up, stabilization and growth phases.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. SCORE provides volunteer mentors who share their expertise across 62 industries, free business tools, templates and tips online, free, confidential business mentoring, and inexpensive or free business workshops.

The Port of Hueneme is owned and operated by The Oxnard Harbor District, created in 1937, as an independent special district (business enterprise) and political subdivision of the State of California. Its mission is to operate as a self-supporting Port that enforces the principles of sound public stewardship maximizing the potential of maritime-related commerce and regional economic benefit.

OCTANe has created one of the nation’s most dynamic ecosystems to drive technology industry growth in Orange County by connecting ideas and people with resources and capital. It’s the one place where entrepreneurs, investors, executives, academics, clinicians, and business advisors come together to collaborate, create, and grow.

The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) administers federal funds that help to support America’s Job Center locations and other no-cost and low-cost adult, youth, and employer programs and services in Ventura County. Members of the WDB include leaders from business, economic development, education, labor, government, and community-based organizations.

Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) is a public community college district serving residents throughout Ventura County. VCCCD’s three colleges - Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College - offer programs for transfer to four-year colleges and universities; career technical training; basic skills instruction; as well as community service, economic development, and continuing education for cultural growth, life enrichment, and skills improvement.

Founded in 1959, California Lutheran University is home to more than 2,963 undergraduate and 1,273 graduate students who come from more than 45 countries and represent a wide variety of faiths. Our dedicated, accomplished faculty works with small classes of students who are open-minded—about ideas, about people, and about faith—and are seeking to grow as individuals. Both in the classroom and outside of it, everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping each student pursue their passions to discover their purpose, and follow that purpose to transform their community—and the world.

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is a four year public university established in 2002. Placing students at the center of their educational experience, the university mission rests on an internationalized, interdisciplinary, and multicultural curriculm based on community engagement, studying abroad opportunities, and a diverse campus community,

Santa Barbara City College is a comprehensive community college serving the south coast of Santa Barbara County. Established in 1909, SBCC is renowned as the #1 community college in the nation.

The Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a hub for entrepreneurial development at SBCC and within the community. The Scheinfeld Center trains entrepreneurs using a comprehensive approach that combines academics, hands-on experience, and support. Designed to help build businesses and entrepreneurial skill sets through coursework, business plans and pitch competitions, internships, business consulting, mentoring, networking, and post start-up support, the Scheinfeld Center offers an A.A. degree, certificate, or competenct award in Entrepreneurship.

The mission of Downtown Ventura Organization (DVO) is to foster a vibrant commercial and cultural district with strategic capital improvements, enhanced maintenance and security, effective marketing and promotions, historic preservation education, and effective administration. This includes: A clean, safe, well-lit, and inviting appearance, both day and night; Appealing storefronts occupied with an eclectic variety of inviting and interesting retail and service businesses; Activities that will attract and benefit area residents, businesses and visitors; Historic architecture preservation and adaptive reuse that offers visual unity and quality experiences; A healthy mix of retail, restaurant, entertainment and service businesses and be known as having a reputation for welcoming and supporting new businesses, and creative and lively places where people will shop, enjoy, remember and return.

The Solvang Chamber of Commerce is a champion of business, providing advocacy, education and resources to the business community. Membership in the Solvang Chamber of Commerce creates opportunities to become involved and enhances business exposure through promotion and marketing opportunities as well as credibility, advocacy, and support.

The Coast Village Association (CVA) endeavors to enhance business growth and opportunity in the area through nurturing the connection with the community and its visitors. Over the years, CVA has worked closely with the City and County officials to create an environment that both protects the charm of the area and honors its history while investing in a successful future.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) was created by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. to serve as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit assistance, regulatory guidance, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more.

The Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties serves as a useful resource and effective advocacy partner for regional chambers that are interested in strengthening the regional business climate through better policy making. The Alliance is guided by its policy platform, which is adopted annually and serves as an advocacy agenda. The goal is to support legislative efforts that improve the region’s business climate and to oppose proposals that will likely cause job losses.

Visit Ventura is committed to providing visitors and travel professionals with the best possible service and information regarding visiting the city of San Buenaventura.

VCEDA is recognized as a regional voice of business on issues affecting the economy in Ventura County and California. VCEDA influences public policy by providing reliable information to local and state elected officials, provides members with meaningful informaion, and helps to form and maintain beneficial relationships.

The Ventura County P-20 Council (VC P-20) is a group of key decision makers from education, business, parent organizations, government and community agencies who bring together partners throughout the region to promote and to support the strengthening of educational and career pathways from pre-school (P) through college and post-secondary/career (20).

Visit Santa Barbara is committed to providing visitors and travel professionals with the best possible service and information regarding visiting Santa Barbara.

The WTC Oxnard mission is to encourage expansion of world trade activities in Ventura County and vicinity, to foster greater participation in world trade and to attract increased international business to Ventura

District Export Councils (DECs) are organizations of leaders from the local business community, appointed by successive U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms. DEC Members sponsor and participate in numerous trade promotion activities and supply specialized expertise to small and medium-sized businesses that are interested in exporting.

The Broadband Consortium of the Pacific Coast (BCPC) is a local effort in the central coast area of California organized to improve broadband deployment, access, and adoption in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties through a collaborative regional approach. 

Matter Labs is a California based think tank, startup studio, and consulting firm specializing in emerging technologies, making a difference in the world through innovation.

The Ventura County Film Commission (EDC Film) is a unique program of the Economic Development Collaborative. Born out of the area’s long partnership with film production, local film location resources, local talent pools, and the unique physical relationship to Hollywood, the Commissions’ dedicated Ventura County Film Liaison facilitates communication between industry and local resources to create well managed production activity throughout the region.

Among the top 10 funded networks in the country, the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network includes the Lead Center, eight local Service Centers, and more than 20 satellite locations, assisting small business owners throughout the Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties by providing no-cost business consulting and low-cost training programs in business operations and management, marketing, financing, business planning and more.

California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) services help transform manufacturing organizations into innovative, high performing, market driven and cost-effective operations. In partnership with the EDC, the following manufacturing resources are available at no-cost: increase brand recognition by registering with Made in CA; join the Supplier Scouting database; and no-cost business assessment and evaluation.