Introducing Ventura Prospector
The City of Ventura's Economic Development Division is making it easier for businesses looking to expand or relocate to Ventura with a new, free site selection service called Ventura Prospector.
You're just a click away from having immediate access to in-depth location information on all of Ventura's local commercial, industrial and retail properties for sale or lease. Ventura Prospector users can view each location's demographics, consumer expenditures, existing market synergy and competition, business and workforce figures, traffic counts and local proprietary data. Price, property description, brokerage company and contact information are also provided. Get started today and make Ventura Prospector the first step towards exploring Ventura, locating property and growing your business.
About Economic Development
The purpose of the Economic Development & Revitalization (EDR) Division is to design and implement policies, programs, and projects that enhance our community’s economy, create opportunities for our residents, increase City revenues, and improve our quality of life.
Within the EDR Division, there are four sections –
In the Business Development section we provide a variety of support services to attract, retain, and expand businesses by collaborating with other City departments and outside economic development organizations. As a result, we can offer a “continuum of care” that provides valuable services to businesses, big and small.
On a City level, we work with other departments to facilitate the development entitlement and permit processes, and identify possible fee incentives and deferrals. With our outside economic development partners, we leverage their resources to provide business services ranging from small business loans to employee training and recruitment.
We manage high-profile projects that are assigned to us by the City Council or the City’s Community Development Director. In the past, these projects included development of tourism-based performance indicators, a City surplus property disposition policy, the Downtown Housing Strategy, and coordination of the City’s “Most Livable” public relations effort.
In the CDBG/HOME section, we administer the City’s federal funds allocated annually through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs, in providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities for Ventura’s low- and moderate-income residents. We utilize the HOME and CDBG program funds in strengthening partnerships with non-profits and in leveraging private sector and public sector participation.
In the Affordable Housing section we are responsible for implementing and monitoring the City’s Affordable Housing Program. The City’s affordable housing program includes several rehabilitation programs for low-income residents and a homebuyers assistance program. The program also includes partnering with the Urban Development Division to negotiate inclusion of affordable units in private developments. The City recently adopted an affordable housing resolution for the downtown area that mandates 15 percent of all units constructed be restricted at the very-low, and low to moderate income categories. In addition, we continually monitor the affordability of the City’s existing 940+ income-restricted units and continue to work to increase the number of affordable units citywide.
Finally, it is our charge to oversee the day-to-day activities of the City’s Redevelopment Agency. We do this by managing its budget and by developing projects and programs that eliminate blight in the Downtown area. Most of our effort is concentrated on public-private partnerships to ensure that future development mirrors the recommendations outlined in the Agency’s Redevelopment Plan and the City’s Downtown Specific Plan. Critical to these recommendations, is the provision of affordable housing. The Agency also devotes 20 percent of all tax increment generated to the production of affordable housing within the project area.
The Economic Development & Revitalization Division is committed to the success of our community.
Contact Information
- To Contact the City of Ventura's Economic Development & Revitalization Division Click Here