Project Description
Ventura County used their grant funds to support the struggling Habitat
for Humanity ReStore, Ventura County's only reuse option for C&D discards.
The majority of the funds were used to collect donations of reusable
building materials from homes and construction sites for two years. This was
key to the project's success as no pick-up service was available. The
remaining funds were used to create on-screen ads in two theatres; Spanish
language radio ads; and quarterly, targeted bulk-mailings intended to
generate high-quality donations, increased awareness of the ReStore, and its
tax donation benefits. Funds were also used to expand the ReStore's customer
base in the English and Spanish speaking communities of the County.
The steps required to accomplish their project are as follows:
Task 1: Secure Contract with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) for
ReStore Workers.
Unfortunately, CCC work-team managers were
stationed throughout the state during the fall firestorms and didn't return
to their Camarillo Headquarters until the middle of December 2003. EERD was
unable to begin drafting the contract until they could meet with them and
finalize the details. Compounding the County's problem was the Habitat for Humanity's
surprise announcement the last week in November 2003 that due to liability
issues, they could not provide transportation for the CCC workers. The
Department was charged with finding dependable transportation for the CCC
workers for the duration of the Reuse Assistance Grant. As of Friday,
January 9, 2004, Ventura County has finalized the work schedule for two CCC
workers for the next 16 months and drafted a contract that Terri Kirby,
Manager of CCC work-teams, has approved. Finalizing this contract is the
County's number one priority and will be dealt with at warp speed beginning
January 16, 2004. Task 1 is 40 percent complete.
Task 2: Sixteen months of CCC Labor at the Habitat for Humanity's
ReStore.
A completely revised work schedule has been
approved the by the CCC and the Habitat for Humanity: two CCC corps-members
three days a week for ten months and two CCC corps-members two days a
week for six months. Task 2 is five percent complete.
Task 3: Prepare and Process Purchase Orders for American Cinema
Advertising at Century 16 and Century 10 Theatres.
The on-screen advertising at the Century 16 Theatre began running
November 28, 2003 (the day after Thanksgiving) and will run until February
26, 2004. These ads are run seven days a week, and are shown three times
before every movie screened at the multiplex from 11:00 a.m. until the last
feature of the day. Task 3 is 100 percent complete.
Task 4: Run Theatre Ads at Century 16 Theatre in City of Ventura.
These ads are paid for and the County's first
survey has been taken. EERD staff will continue to do spot surveys there
until February 26, 2004. Task 4 is 100 percent complete.
Task 5: Run Theatre Ads at Century 10 Theatre in City of Ventura.
Although the advertising has been paid for, these on-screen ads are not
scheduled to begin running at the Century 10 multiplex until February 27,
2004. These ads will run seven days a week, and be shown three times before
every movie screened at the multiplex until May 27, 2004. Task 5 has not yet
been started.
Task 6: Survey at Century Theatres to Gauge Effectiveness of
Advertising.
Only one survey has been taken at the Century 16 theatre to date.
Surveys will be done on a weekly basis in the coming weeks by EERD staff or
an intern. Theatre management has approved the survey work. Task 6 is 25
percent complete.
Task 7: Create Database for Habitat for Humanity Advertising and
Flyers.
A Senior Analyst in the Information and Technology Division has been
assigned to work on this. Given other Department priorities it has not
begun, but will be addressed by February 1, 2004.
Task 8: Create Flyer for Habitat for Humanity's ReStore Advertising.
Staff will work with the Habitat for Humanity's management to determine
the content of this flyer after work on the mailing database has begun.
Proposed date for first targeted mailing from the ReStore is mid-March,
2004. Task 8 has not yet been started.
Task 9: Pay for Postage to Mail ReStore's Advertising and Flyers.
Unnecessary until the flyers are printed and the date for the mailing is
scheduled. Task 9 has not yet been started.
Task 10: Prepare and Process Purchase Order for Six Weeks of Radio
Lazer Advertising.
Hispanic outreach via Radio Lazer advertising is scheduled to begin in
November 2004. The ads have been written and translated into Spanish but
airdates have not been finalized. By running the theatre ads and radio ads
at different times, the County will be able to gauge their effectiveness by comparing
their run time with the Customer Tally/Survey Sheets at the ReStore. At the
ReStore's cash register customers are asked, "How did you hear about the
ReStore (e.g., radio, TV, theatre advertising, other, etc.)?" A tally of
customers during each advertising period may reveal that radio ads are more
effective than theatre ads - or vice versa! This would provide the County with
useful information for future projects. Task 10 has not yet been started.
Tasks 11 and 12: Run Hispanic Radio Ads on Radio Lazer.
See explanation in Task 10. Tasks 11 and 12 have not yet been started.
Task 13: Prepare and Process Purchase Order for Three Nesting Platform
Carts (ReStore).
Task 13 is 100 percent complete.
Task 14: Purchase Three Nesting Platform Carts.
The ReStore picked up the carts. Task 14 is 100 percent complete.
Task 15: Prepare and Process Purchase Order for Large Door Cart
(ReStore).
Task 15 is 100 percent complete.
Task 16: Purchase Large Door Cart.
The ReStore picked up the cart. Task 16 is 100 percent complete.
Task 17: Prepare and Process Purchase Order for Small Door Cart
(ReStore).
Task 17 is 100 percent complete.
Task 18: Purchase Small Door Cart.
The ReStore picked up the cart. Task 18 is 100 percent complete.
Task 19: Prepare and Process Purchase Order for Three Lightweight
Pieces of Equipment for ReStore's Senior Citizen Volunteers.
Task 19 is 100 complete.
Task 20: Purchase Three Lightweight Pieces of Equipment.
The ReStore picked up the equipment. Task 20 is 100 percent complete.
Task 21: Prepare, Process Purchase Order, and Buy Three More Pieces of
Light Equipment for ReStore.
The
ReStore picked up the equipment. Task 21 is 100 percent complete.
Task 22: Prepare Winter VCMAX 2003-2004 Reuse Catalog and Insert
Advertisement for the RAIN Project and the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.
PDF of Winter 2003/2004 VCMAX catalog provided with electronic
submission. Task 22 is 100 percent complete.
Task 23: Research Viability of Bus Transportation for the CCC Workers.
This preparatory work included calls to two different bus lines in the
County and work with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC).
The VCTC oversees a countywide program that offers "GO Ventura" bus passes
which provide ridership on two bus lines, Vista and SCAT, for the price of
one bus pass. Task 23 is 100 percent complete.
Task 24: Prepare and Process Purchase Order to Pay for Two 12-month
"Go Ventura" Bus Passes.
A check for $960 to VCTC has been issued. Task 24 is 100 percent
complete.
Tasks 25 and 26: Preparation for, and Purchase of, Two "Go Ventura" Bus
Passes at the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Offices.
On Friday, January 16, 2004 staff has scheduled an appointment with the
Director of the VCTC to fill out the application, waiver, and purchase two
"Go Ventura" bus passes. The County requested, and received, special
permission from VCTC's Director to issue these bus passes in the name of the
CCC so different crew members could use them in the coming 12 months. This
process was held up as the VCTC offices were closed over the holidays and
they didn't reopen until January 5, 2004. Task 25 and 26 are 80 percent
complete.
Task 27: Prepare and Process Purchase Order to Pay for Four More
Months of "Go Ventura" Bus passes for Two CCC Employees.
The County will not begin this task until December 2004 with a planned
purchase date of February 2005. These bus passes will cover the last four
months of the grant as only purchase 12 months of bus passes can be
purchased in advance on the "Go Ventura" program. Task 27 has not yet been
started.
Task 28: Deliver the "Go Ventura" Bus Passes to the CCC's Camarillo
Headquarters, Speak with Staff and Management, and Discuss "Tracking and
Attendance" Protocols.
The "Tracking and Attendance" protocols have been drafted and faxed to the
CCC work-team manager for comment. The bus passes will delivered a week
before the workers are scheduled to begin commuting to the ReStore. Key
to this process is finalization of the CCC contract, which is the County's number one
priority. As previously noted, EERD was unable to finalize a contract until
dependable transportation for the CCC workers was found. This was an arduous
process further exacerbated by the VCTC's closure for most of December 2003.
Task 28 is 50 percent complete.
Task 29: Arrange for Training of RAIN Project Volunteer at the
ReStore.
EERD will make arrangements for the RAIN Project volunteer(s) to be
trained and begin work in late spring 2004. Volunteer training is offered at
the ReStore twice a month. Task 29 has not yet been started.
Task 30: Prepare Quarterly and Final CIWMB Grant Reports.
This is Ventura County's first quarterly
Progress Report. Task 30 is 25 percent complete.
Task 31: EERD Staff to Work at the ReStore Intermittently for Duration
of the Grant to Monitor Outcomes for ReStore and Work of the CCC.
This effort won't begin in earnest until the CCC workers have been
trained and have begun to work regularly at the ReStore. EERD staff
maintains ongoing contact with Stephanie Varella, the ReStore's manager, to
discuss problems, successes, and ensure they are tracking calls and querying
customers when they are at the cash register. ReStore has labeled all of the
equipment paid for by the Reuse Grant as "Property of the County of
Ventura/CIWMB" to ensure that should a County or State audit occur, the
equipment is easily identifiable. Task 31 has not yet been started.
Task 32: Five Percent Department Overhead.
The County is not requesting reimbursement for anything at this time.
Task 32 has not yet been started.
Special thanks to Sarah Weimer and Jeff Hunts of the CIWMB for all of
their support, flexibility, and patience during the past few weeks when the
County requested, and received, approval to modify the original grant
submission. The County realizes this created more work and is sincerely
grateful.
Prepared and submitted by Pandee Leachman, Reuse Assistance Grant
Coordinator on January 14, 2004.
*Permission was obtained from grant recipient to publish project profile.
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