The Economic Development Collaborative in Ventura County has partnered with California Manufacturing Technology Consulting to provide services to manufacturers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.The collaborative has a goal to meet with manufacturers throughout the region to identify and understand their specific needs, challenges and opportunities and to provide them with assistance for recovery and growth.The free service includes assistance locating funds; permitting and site selection help; and information on workforce development programs.“We recognize that manufacturers in our community are in need of support and we want to ensure they have access to the services and programs they need to sustain their operations now and in the future,” collaborative Chief Executive Bruce Stenslie said in a statement.State Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin said that the partnership between the collaborative and the manufacturing group is important for the region’s recovery as Ventura and Santa Barbara counties manufacturing base makes up more than 20 percent of the region’s economy.“Strengthening the region’s manufacturing supports our highest paying jobs and brings wealth back to the entire community through its sales of high value products across the globe,” Irwin said in a statement.