LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
This award recognizes an elected or public official who has served as a committed advocate for economic development in the public sector. Nominees must have demonstrated sustained and effective efforts to mobilize community groups and industry leaders in the development of pro-business programs and projects, played a key role in the planning and designing of new economic development activities, and displayed dedication and commitment to his/her constituency as a leader and advocate for economic development.
SUPERVISOR KELLY LONG, VENTURA COUNTY SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT 3
Kelly Long was elected Ventura County Supervisor District 3 in 2016. As your Supervisor, she pledges to ensure that our county government is fiscally responsible, focused on building our economy and improving public safety. She believes that to be an effective County Supervisor you must have demonstrated leadership, sound business experience, and the ability to work with all members of our County family.
Kelly Long has over 25 years of combined experience as an entrepreneur, business executive, and school board trustee. She held the office of the Pleasant Valley School Board of Trustees from 2012 – 2016. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach and holds six patents. She comes from a family of small business owners, educators, and community volunteers. This experience has prepared her well to serve as your Ventura County Supervisor. She brings to this position a skill set that includes management and leadership, budgeting and fiscal accountability, collective bargaining and negotiation, policy development and process improvement that will help us develop a culture of excellence for our County.
PROGRAM AWARD
Our Program Award recognizes outstanding and innovative programs in economic and business development that retain or generate jobs and investment on an ongoing basis.
Program Awards will be judged by the following criteria:
- Extent of the economic impact on its community, such as an increase in the overall tax base, the creation of new jobs, or criteria relevant to the goals of the program;
- Achievement of its stated objective with measurable results;
- Development of strong relationships with relevant players and widespread support in the community;
- Innovation, originality, and cost effectiveness; and,
- Relevance and transferability of elements to other communities.
VENTURA COLLEGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OHANA PET HOSPITAL
Ventura College and Ohana Pet Hospital (Ohana) established a partnership that will bring an accredited veterinary technology program to Ventura College – the only program in Ventura County. Ohana approached Ventura College in 2018 with the need for a program in Ventura County, as it is extremely difficult to find qualified veterinary assistants and registered veterinary technicians with limited programs – a need voiced by multiple veterinarians throughout Ventura County. Currently, there is only one accredited program in Los Angeles County and one unaccredited program in Santa Barbara County.
A “labor market study” conducted by the Center of Excellence further established this need. Program participants will earn a veterinary assistant “certificate of achievement” and an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. As a result of the pandemic, the first cohort of 30 students will begin an accelerated program in spring 2021. A new cohort of 30 students will then begin each fall. Ohana has been instrumental in the development of the program’s curricula and the teaching lab will be housed at the hospital’s Santa Paula clinic – adjacent to the college’s east campus. The Ventura College Foundation and Ohana have implemented a capital campaign to raise the funds needed to outfit the teaching lab.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD
This award recognizes outstanding and innovative projects that have significantly enhanced the economic vitality of communities and businesses through collaboration between the public and private sectors. Nominees should demonstrate:
- The extent to which public and private sector participants have formed a true partnership or joint venture in planning, developing, and financing the project;
- Direct economic benefit to the community (such as jobs and tax base). Be sure to include metrics when demonstrating results;
- Spin-off impact of the project; and,
- Creativity or innovation in packaging the project (e.g., land acquisitions, joint venture aspects and financing).
FATHOMWERX
FATHOMWERX is a public-private consortium and resource for technological innovation that fuses civilian companies, academia, and other nontraditional Department of Defense (DoD) partners together to work on the most challenging problems in the port and maritime domains.
FATHOMWERX is a dynamic platform designed to create a high rate of return on collision for all participants. Through promotion of divergent thought, neutral facilitation, and the use of our growing ecosystem, our goal is to bring the right minds together to solve challenging problems.
FATHOMWERX FOUNDING PARTNERS
Economic Development Corporation
MatterLabs
NavSea
Port of Hueneme
