Ventura, Calif.—Ventura College Foundation's Weekend Marketplace will temporarily move to a new location on the Ventura College campus while solar panels are installed at its current site (East Parking Lot). The Marketplace will open at the campus' West Parking Lot on November 28. The Marketplace will be closed November 21 and 22 in preparation for the move. The solar panel installation is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.

Because of the COVID pandemic, the Weekend Marketplace has faced challenges in 2020 that have impacted Ventura College Foundation operations. The proceeds from Marketplace space rentals support much of the foundation's operating costs and a portion of foundation's core programs including scholarships and textbook lending. The Marketplace was closed in March because of COVID restrictions. It was allowed to reopen in May but on a smaller scale.

"With the COVID closing and limited reopening, the Marketplace net revenue has been reduced by more than 60%. Since we are a nonprofit, these are critical operating funds for the Ventura College Foundation. A successful relocation is essential to preserve our current capacity to support students," says Anne Paul King, the foundation's executive director. “Closing for an extended period of time was never a viable option for us or those vendors and staff who have kept the Marketplace alive through the pandemic. We are all in this together.”

The Weekend Marketplace has hosted vendors and patrons for more than three decades, providing a shopping opportunity for the community to purchase fresh produces and goods. "We are grateful for the wonderful support of the Ventura College leadership, campus police, athletic department, IT department, and the facilities, maintenance and operations team to enable us to move to our temporary location and still serve the community," says King.  “Though the West Lot location is smaller, all of our current vendors are working with us to implement a safe operations plan that includes smaller booth spaces and use of the adjacent V Lot and Sportsplex patio on West Campus Way."

To offset the additional costs incurred during the temporary relocation and to make up for the reduced Marketplace rental income, the Ventura College Foundation is relaunching its "Stronger Foundation, Stronger Future" fundraising campaign and participating in #GivingTuesday 2020 on December 1.

Once the solar panel installation is completed, the Marketplace will return to its original, larger location.

COVID-19 Marketplace hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. COVID safety and spacing protocol remains in place for both vendors and patrons. All visitors must wear face coverings and practice proper social distancing.

Admission and parking are free. For vendor information, contact Esmeralda Juarez, marketplace supervisor at 805-289-6062 or email, ejuarez@vcccd.eduPara obtener información general sobre el Mercado, visite www.venturacollegefoundation.org/weekend-marketplace.

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Fundada en 1983, la Fundación Ventura College es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) y opera de manera financieramente independiente de Ventura College. Transforma las vidas de los estudiantes a través de la educación al brindar recursos innovadores y vitales y apoyo financiero. La Fundación colabora con Ventura College para mejorar el potencial humano, el compromiso cívico, las carreras y el éxito académico de los estudiantes, lo que permite su impacto efectivo y su legado en la universidad, la fuerza laboral local y nuestra comunidad. La Fundación también organiza el Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; una experiencia de compras al aire libre que se lleva a cabo todos los fines de semana en el campus de Ventura College. Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Julie Harvey al (805) 289-6502 o jharvey@vcccd.edu o visitar www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org.