Editing Ventura, California (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Ventura State Beach, Ventura, California 8175278909.jpg|thumb|left|[[San Buenaventura State Beach]] is a tourist destination.]]
[[File:El Jardin Patio Building.jpg|thumb|right|Shops in Downtown Ventura]]
Ventura is a popular tourist destination in Southern California, owing to its historic landmarks, beaches, and the local leisure economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/story/money/business/2017/05/25/beaches-and-trails-lure-tourists-ventura-county/101429472/|title=Beaches and trails lure tourists to Ventura County|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|first=Tyler |last=Hersko|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> Businesses related to tourism and hospitality account for a significant portion of Ventura's economic activity.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

The outdoor clothing manufacturer [[Patagonia (clothing)|Patagonia]] is based in Ventura.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patagonia.com/us/jobs |title=Patagonia Job Listing for Ventura, CA, Reno, NV, and worldwide |publisher=Patagonia.com |access-date=May 12, 2014}}</ref> Diaper bag manufacturer [[Petunia Pickle Bottom]] was founded in Ventura.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McKinnon|first=Lisa|date=July 13, 2013|title=In the bag: Ventura-based Petunia Pickle Bottom branches out|url=http://www.vcstar.com/business/in-the-bag-ventura-based-petunia-pickle-bottom-branches-out-ep-292559713-351662471.html|access-date=November 6, 2020|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en}}</ref> Research and resource company [[The Barna Group]] is located near downtown Ventura.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In 2009 the City of Ventura created Ventura Ventures Technology Center,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.v2tc.com/ |title=v2tc.com |publisher=v2tc.com |access-date=May 12, 2014|archive-date=May 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222927/http://v2tc.com/}}</ref> a business incubator with a high-tech focus. Ventura Ventures Technology Center was created as an economic engine to develop jobs and companies locally, as well as attract entrepreneurs to the area. [[The Trade Desk]] was started in the incubator.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 25, 2019|title=The Trade Desk Plans Expansion In Ventura|url=https://www.socaltech.com/the_trade_desk_plans_expansion_in_ventura/s-0078543.html|access-date=November 23, 2020|work=socaltech}}</ref> The Trade Desk, an industry leader in advertising on [[Streaming media|streaming services]], is the second biggest [[publicly-traded company]] in Ventura County by [[market capitalization]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Biasotti |first=Tony |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Ventura's Trade Desk bucks industry trend, sees hefty profits from ads in streaming TV |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/02/15/venturas-trade-desk-bucks-industry-trend-reports-steep-profit-growth/69907294007/ |access-date=February 17, 2023 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Top employers===
[[File:Aerial view of the pier, Ventura, California LCCN2013631292.tiff|thumb|right|The historic [[Ventura Pier]]]]
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25618/2019-2020-Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Report |format=PDF |publisher=City of San Buenaventura |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Number of employees
! % of total city employment
|-
| 1
|[[Ventura County, California|County of Ventura]]
|8,232
|15.08%
|-
|2
|[[Ventura Unified School District]]
|2,650
|4.85%
|-
|3
|[[Community Memorial Hospital of San Buenaventura|Community Memorial Health System]]
|2,176
|3.99%
|-
|4
|Employer's Depot Inc.
|820
|1.50%
|-
|5
|[[Patagonia (clothing)|Patagonia Works]] (Lost Arrow Corp.)
|665
|1.22%
|-
|6
|[[Kaiser Permanente]]
|656
|1.20%
|-
|7
|[[Ventura County Community College District]]
|653
|1.20%
|-
|8
|City of San Buenaventura
|615
|1.13%
|-
|9
|[[Target Corporation|Target]]
|495
|0.91%
|-
|10
|Ventura Superior Court
|305
|0.56%
|}

===Cannabis===
{{further|Cannabis in California}}
Following the legalization of cannabis in California, local governments can prohibit companies from growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction by licensing none or only some of these activities but may not prohibit adults from growing, using or transporting marijuana for personal use. The state allows deliveries without local agency licensing at the point of delivery.<ref name="VCS 2019/01/02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/01/02/so-far-so-good-legal-marijuana-pot-cannabis-ventura-county/2406687002/|title=So far, so good for legal marijuana sales in Ventura County|last=Martinez|first=Christian|date=January 2, 2019|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> In November 2020, a ballot measure for taxation of cannabis was approved by city voters. The City Council adopted a resolution allowing a maximum number of cannabis businesses in the city in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Orozco|first=Lance|date=November 4, 2020|title=Marijuana-Related Tax Proposals Approved By South Coast Voters|url=https://www.kclu.org/post/marijuana-related-tax-proposals-approved-south-coast-voters|access-date=November 5, 2020|work=KCLU News|language=en}}</ref> The ordinances allow up to three retail permits and up to 10 distribution permits.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woods II |first=Wes |date=July 22, 2022 |title=Potential Ventura cannabis businesses make their case |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ventura/2022/07/19/potential-ventura-cannabis-businesses-make-their-case/10076156002/ |access-date=August 3, 2022 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2022, the City Manager selected four businesses to be allowed to operate in the city after a lengthy application and ranking process. Three retail and one distribution business without a retail component were selected. Two more permits for the city's coastal zone, which includes downtown were considered and rejected after further information requested from the [[California Coastal Commission]] was reviewed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woods II |first=Wes |date=January 8, 2023 |title=Appeals put Ventura cannabis operations on hold as frustration sets in |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/01/08/appeals-put-ventura-cannabis-dispensaries-on-hold/69775719007/ |access-date=January 9, 2023 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> Once the appeals process is completed, applicants worked with the city on safety, security, odor control and other issues before being able to open for business.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woods II |first=Wes |date=October 25, 2022 |title=Find out which cannabis businesses will open in Ventura |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ventura/2022/10/25/cannabis-businesses-open-ventura-heres-who-chosen/10590829002/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> In late June 2023, the three retail businesses that were selected filed a lawsuit against the city for a court order that would end the appeals and force the city to issue them permits. The other five finalists had appealed, resulting in a lengthy delay while the appeal was sent to the California Office of Administrative Hearings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Biasotti |first=Tony |date=July 14, 2023 |title=After yearslong wait, lawsuit filed as cannabis retailers ready to open in Ventura |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/money/business/2023/07/14/marijuana-dispensaries-ventura-california-lawsuits-appeals-permits-licenses-legal-cannabis/70402463007/ |access-date=July 15, 2023 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> The city decided in late July to issue permits to the three businesses already selected immediately after August 31 and also issue permits to three of the other five finalists.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Biasotti |first=Tony |date=July 28, 2023 |title=Ventura doubles number of cannabis shops it will allow; first of 6 could open in September |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2023/07/28/ventura-cannabis-stores-could-open-in-september/70471456007/ |access-date=August 1, 2023 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref>