Archives for May 2022

May 31, 2022 by Katie Casey

Download PDF here

Contact:
Jovie Baclayon, Communications Manager, West Ventura County Business Alliance
805-738-9100 | j.baclayon@wvcba.org

Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza to Deliver State of the City Address at June Luncheon

OXNARD, Calif., FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The West Ventura County Business Alliance will host Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza’s annual State of the City address on Friday, June 17. He will reflect on accomplishments from 2021, and share highlights and initiatives for 2022.

“As you can see throughout Oxnard, we are in the process of restoring many of our streets and alleys and landscape maintenance that was deferred for many years,” said Mayor Zaragoza. “I’m excited to share with the community the progress we have made with one full year of Measure E funding and our City Council’s vision to continue reinvesting in our community.”

The State of the City is being held at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard located at 600 E. Esplanade Drive. The luncheon is open to the public and begins at 11:30 a.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/oxrsotc22 or by calling the WVCBA office at (805) 738-9100. Event registration ends at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10, and costs $55 for WVCBA members and $65 for non-members.

The State of the City is hosted annually by the WVCBA and made possible by Title Sponsors American Medical Response, Procter & Gamble Paper Products and Southern California Edison Company; Major Sponsor The Port of Hueneme; and Supporting Sponsors Dignity Health – St. John’s Hospitals, Montecito Bank & Trust, UCLA Health, and Ventura County Credit Union.

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ABOUT THE WEST VENTURA COUNTY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) is the Chamber of Commerce serving the cities of Camarillo and Oxnard in California. In March 2021, the membership of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce voted to unite with the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce and form the WVCBA. The WVCBA is the voice for the interest of business with government, promotes economic development, works to improve the regional economy, and protects the interests of the two communities. Learn more at wcvba.org.

May 26, 2022 by Katie Casey

PDF available here: English | Spanish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2022

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Martha Guillen, Executive Assistant to Mayor John C. Zaragoza
805-385-7430 | martha.guillen@oxnard.org

City of Oxnard Joins Memorial Day Ceremony

OXNARD, Calif. – Mayor John C. Zaragoza is pleased to announce that the City of Oxnard along with the Disabled American Veterans – Chapter 24, Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County, and the Boy Scouts of America will jointly host a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 30, 2022, at Plaza Park starting at 11 a.m.

Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American Armed Forces. The holiday, originally known as Decoration Day, started after the Civil War to honor the Union and Confederate dead and has continued each year since 1868.

Please join our Oxnard community in honoring and remembering our fallen service men and women.

The Veterans Memorial is located outdoors at 500 South C St., Oxnard. Masks are not required, but encouraged.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 25 de mayo de 2022

CONTACTO CON LOS MEDIOS:
Martha Guillen, Asistente Ejecutiva del Alcalde John C. Zaragoza
805-385-7430 | martha.guillen@oxnard.org

La ciudad de Oxnard se une a la ceremonia del Día de la Conmemoración de los Caídos

OXNARD, Calif. – El alcalde John C. Zaragoza se complace en anunciar que la ciudad de Oxnard junto con los Veteranos estadounidenses discapacitados del capítulo 24, Veteranos de Vietnam del condado de Ventura, y los Boy Scouts of America organizarán conjuntamente una Ceremonia del Día de la Conmemoración de los Caídos el lunes 30 de mayo de 2022 , en Plaza Park a partir de las 11 a.m.

El Día de la Conmemoración de los Caídos es un día solemne de recuerdo para todos los que han muerto sirviendo en las fuerzas armadas de los Estados Unidos. La festividad, originalmente conocida como Día de la Decoración, comenzó después de la guerra civil para honrar a los muertos de la unión y la confederación y ha continuado cada año desde 1868.

Acompañe a nuestra comunidad de Oxnard para honrar y recordar a nuestros hombres y mujeres caídos en servicio.

La conmemoración a los veteranos está ubicada al aire libre en 500 South C St., Oxnard. No se requieren máscaras, pero se recomiendan.

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May 13, 2022 by Katie Casey

EPA Announces $48 Million WIFIA Loan to Expand Water Supplies in Oxnard, California

Nationally, 82 WIFIA loans are financing over $14 billion in water infrastructure upgrades, creating 93,000 jobs

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $48 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Oxnard, California, to support its Aquifer Storage Recovery Project. With this WIFIA loan, EPA is helping to expand the city’s recycled water supply to help secure a climate-resilient and reliable water service for over 200,000 people.

“Communities across the west—including in Oxnard, California—are facing sustained water challenges as a result of climate change and the worst megadrought in a millennium. This challenge calls for using multiple tools, including recycling our water to get more use from every drop,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “EPA is proud to provide this $48 million loan to help Oxnard expand water reuse. We are working to bring the benefits of water infrastructure investment to communities from coast to coast with $50 billion in through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

“I am very pleased that EPA has approved a WIFIA loan for the City of Oxnard Aquifer Storage Recovery Project, and I appreciate Administrator Regan’s commitment to helping our region address needed climate-resilient water supplies during this unprecedented drought,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26). “As the impacts of climate change worsen, we must continue to work together at all levels of government on innovative projects to help recycle and replenish groundwater supplies for our community. I also commend the good work of Mayor Zaragoza and City of Oxnard staff who put together this excellent project proposal that will help ensure over 200,000 residents in Oxnard have continued access to safe, clean, and affordable water.”

The City of Oxnard’s Aquifer Storage Recovery Project will increase water supply reliability by expanding its recycled water production. The Oxnard Basin is a key water source for the community, but it is in a state of critical overdraft and vulnerable to seawater intrusion. Additionally, the city projects substantial water shortages by 2040 due to increased droughts and groundwater restrictions. In response to these water supply challenges, the city will expand the capacity of the Advanced Water Purification Facility and the associated distribution system by 14.4 million gallons of water per day. This effort will allow the City to increase its recycled water supply and reduce water security risk for the community.

“In the face of climate change and California’s ongoing drought, investing in local water projects is vital for our future,” said Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza. “This funding allows us to complete major infrastructure projects that will ensure a reliable, local water resource while also providing significant cost savings for our residents.”

The City of Oxnard will save approximately $19.2 million by financing with a WIFIA loan. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027, and construction and operation are expected to create approximately 315 local jobs.

Learn more about the WIFIA Program.

Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects.

The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs. With this WIFIA loan closing, EPA has announced 82 WIFIA loans that are providing $14 billion in credit assistance to help finance over $31 billion for water infrastructure while creating approximately 93,000 jobs and saving ratepayers over $5 billion.

More information about the WIFIA program’s accomplishments through 2021.

More information about water reuse and recycling.

May 11, 2022 by Katie Casey

PDF available here: English | Spanish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2022

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Katie Casey, Communications Manager
(805) 816-4330 | katie.casey@oxnard.org

Free, Family-Friendly Oxnard Insect Festival Returns on June 4

OXNARD, Calif. – The second ever Oxnard Insect Festival returns on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to Plaza Park (500 South C St., Oxnard).

Community members are invited to see, touch, buy and even taste a variety of creepy crawlers at this free event hosted by the City of Oxnard. All youth attendees are encouraged to pick up an Insect Festival passport upon arrival and get it stamped at each booth. The first 200 youth that visit eight booths will receive a free special insect activity kit to take home!

The family-friendly event festivities include:

Tasty Treats: Ever tried edible bugs? Sample foods such as garlic fried grasshoppers and chapulines quesadilla. There will be plenty of choices for all types of tasters!
20 Insect-themed Vendor Booths: Learn about monarch butterflies and other bugs, or even take some home! Vendors will be selling tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes and monarch butterfly larvae. There will also be opportunities to purchase insect-themed art; framed, pinned insects for sale; exotic plants that eat insects; and the opportunity to purchase insect exploring tools such as magnifying glasses and bug boxes.
Free Activities: Stop by various insect educational booths and enter the Kids’ Zone to experience bug-oriented arts and crafts. At 11 a.m., event sponsor ZooMed will host a hands-on presentation with live insects.The afternoon’s events start at 12:30 p.m., where awards will be distributed for the best insect or critter costume contest for kids. There are four categories: ages 0-18 months; 18 months to 4 years; 5 to 10 years and 10 to 14 years.
Free Live Music: Entertainment includes Ernando and the Nandos from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and a Beatles cover band – Beetlemania – playing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., both on the large stage. PAL’s Alias Dance Fam will perform between band performances. A Volkswagen car club will display special VW Bugs and Worms.
Special Panel of Tasting Edible Insects: Watch Oxnard’s Councilmembers, Fire and Police Chiefs, and other special guests experience tasting edible insects!

Thanks to the event sponsors: ZooMed, Oxnard Water Division, Terminix and Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. For more information, please visit the Oxnard Insect Festival’s Facebook page.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 11 de mayo de 2022

CONTACTO CON LOS MEDIOS:
Katie Casey, Gerente de Comunicaciones
(805) 816-4330 | katie.casey@oxnard.org

El festival familiar de insectos de Oxnard gratuito regresa el 4 de junio

OXNARD, Calif. – El segundo Festival de Insectos de Oxnard regresa el sábado 4 de junio de 10 a. m. a 4 p. m. a Plaza Park (500 South C St, Oxnard).

Los miembros de la comunidad están invitados a ver, tocar, comprar e incluso probar una variedad de bichos espeluznantes en este evento gratuito organizado por la ciudad de Oxnard. Se alienta a todos los jóvenes asistentes a recoger un pasaporte del Festival de Insectos a su llegada y sellarlo en cada cabina. ¡Los primeros 200 jóvenes que visiten ocho cabinas recibirán un kit especial de actividad de insectos gratis para llevar a casa!

Las festividades del evento familiar incluyen:

Ricos antojitos: ¿Alguna vez has probado insectos comestibles? Pruebe comida como chapulines fritos con ajo y quesadillas de chapulines. ¡Habrá muchas opciones para probar y experimentar con insectos comestibles!
20 cabinas de vendedores con temática de insectos: ¡Aprende sobre las mariposas monarca y otros insectos, o incluso llévate algunos a casa! Los vendedores venderán tarántulas, escorpiones, ciempiés y larvas de mariposa monarca. También habrá oportunidades para comprar arte con temas de insectos; venta de insectos enmarcados con alfileres; plantas exóticas que comen insectos; y la oportunidad de comprar herramientas para explorar insectos, como lupas y cajas para insectos.
Actividades gratuitas: Pase por varias cabinas educativas sobre insectos e ingrese a la zona para niños para experimentar artesanías orientadas a los insectos. A las 11 a. m., el patrocinador del evento ZooMed realizará una presentación con insectos vivos. Los eventos de la tarde comienzan a las 12:30 p. m., donde se distribuirán premios para el mejor disfraces de insectos en el concurso para niños. Hay cuatro categorías: edades 0-18 meses; 18 meses a 4 años; 5 a 10 años y 10 a 14 años.
Música en vivo gratis: El entretenimiento incluye a Ernando and the Nandos de 11:30 a.m. a 1:30 p.m. y una banda de covers de los Beatles, Beetlemania tocando desde las 2 p.m. a 4 p.m., ambos en el gran escenario. Alias Dance Fam de PAL actuará entre las presentaciones de la banda. Un club de autos Volkswagen mostrará insectos y gusanos especiales de Volkswagen.
Panel Especial de Cata de Insectos Comestibles: ¡Observe cómo los miembros del consejo de Oxnard, los jefes de policía y de bomberos y otros invitados especiales prueban y experimentan con insectos comestibles!

Gracias a los patrocinadores del evento: ZooMed, la División de Agua de Oxnard, Terminix y Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. Para obtener más información, visite la página de Facebook del Festival de Insectos de Oxnard.

May 4, 2022 by Katie Casey

2022 Juneteenth Celebration

The Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Juneteenth Committee of Ventura County (JCVC), is taking place on Saturday, June 18, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Plaza Park.

For more information, visit: www.juneteenthoxnard.org

A PDF of the flyer is available here.

May 3, 2022 by Katie Casey

PDF available here: English | Spanish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 3, 2022

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Katie Casey, Communications Manager
(805) 816-4330 | katie.casey@oxnard.org

City of Oxnard Partnership With Amazon Gets Local Residents Hired

OXNARD, Calif. – With Amazon’s new Oxnard fulfillment center officially open for business, the City of Oxnard highlights how its partnership with Amazon ensured local residents got hired.

In October 2020, when Amazon announced it was building a new fulfillment center that would create more than 1,500 new, full-time jobs with industry-leading pay and benefits, the City began to work with Amazon to notify and prepare Oxnard residents for these much needed jobs. Through this collaboration over the past year, about 60% of Amazon’s new hires at the fulfillment center are from the City of Oxnard.

“As part of the City Council’s economic development priorities, we’re focused on getting the necessary training and education for our residents so they can compete for better jobs with local companies,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “Our partnership with Amazon is a great example of working with our business community to push the pipeline connecting Oxnard residents to local businesses.”

While the facility was being built, Oxnard city employees worked with Amazon Workforce staff to build an interest list of more than 2,000 Oxnard residents wanting Amazon jobs.

As the facility was nearing completion, City staff helped Amazon to coordinate and share news of five pop-up information sessions for residents to learn more about available jobs. Staff also worked with Amazon Workforce representatives to coordinate weekly in-person, bilingual job application assistance events at an Oxnard hotel in the lead-up to the facility’s opening.

“We’re working hard to deliver results. Our residents want and need good paying jobs with healthcare benefits, and our businesses want good employees,” said Mayor John C. Zaragoza.
“Our collaboration with Amazon, and our continued partnership with Oxnard College and the West Ventura County Business Alliance to grow the Oxnard Employee Pipeline, will continue to create economic opportunities for both our residents and businesses that will benefit the entire Oxnard community.”

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 3 de mayo de 2022

CONTACTO CON LOS MEDIOS:
Katie Casey, Gerente de Comunicaciones
(805) 816-4330 | katie.casey@oxnard.org

La asociación de la Ciudad de Oxnard con Amazon consigue que los residentes locales sean contratados

OXNARD, Calif. – Con el nuevo centro logístico de Amazon en Oxnard abierto oficialmente, la ciudad de Oxnard destaca cómo su asociación con Amazon aseguró que los residentes locales fueran contratados.

En octubre de 2020, cuando Amazon anunció que estaba construyendo un nuevo centro logístico que crearía más de 1,500 nuevos empleos de tiempo completo con salarios y beneficios líderes en la industria, la Ciudad comenzó a trabajar con Amazon para notificar y preparar a los residentes de Oxnard para estos trabajos tan necesarios. A través de esta colaboración durante el año pasado, alrededor del 60% de las nuevas contrataciones de Amazon en el centro logístico son de la ciudad de Oxnard.

“Como parte de las prioridades de desarrollo económico del Concejo Municipal, nos enfocamos en brindar la capacitación y educación necesarias a nuestros residentes para que puedan competir por mejores trabajos con las empresas locales”, dijo el administrador de la ciudad, Alexander Nguyen. “Nuestra asociación con Amazon es un ejemplo de gran trabajo con nuestra comunidad empresarial para impulsar el camino de empleo y conectar a los residentes de Oxnard con las empresas locales que están contratando”.

Mientras se construía la instalación, el personal de la ciudad de Oxnard trabajo con el personal de Amazon para crear una lista de interés de más de 2,000 residentes de Oxnard interesados en trabajos de Amazon.

Cuando la instalación estaba a punto de completarse, el personal de la ciudad ayudó a Amazon a coordinar y compartir noticias de cinco sesiones informativas emergentes para que los residentes obtuvieran más información sobre los trabajos disponibles. El personal también trabajó con los representantes de Amazon para coordinar eventos semanales de asistencia para solicitudes de empleo bilingües en persona en un hotel de Oxnard antes de la apertura de las instalaciones.

“Estamos trabajando duro para entregar resultados. Nuestros residentes quieren y necesitan trabajos bien remunerados con beneficios de seguro de salud, y nuestras empresas quieren buenos empleados”, dijo el alcalde John C. Zaragoza. “Nuestra colaboración con Amazon y nuestra asociación continúa con Oxnard College y la Alianza Comercial del Condado del Oeste de Ventura (WVCBA, por sus siglas en inglés) para hacer crecer El Camino de Empleo de Oxnard, continuará creando oportunidades económicas tanto para nuestros residentes como para las empresas que beneficiarán a toda la comunidad de Oxnard”.

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