History buffs and visionaries, listen up! The City of Santa Paula is announcing the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be part of the future of Santa Paula!
Chevron, through its affiliate Union Oil Company of California, has donated the former headquarters of Union Oil Company of California to the City of Santa Paula. The donation includes buildings and a parking lot currently used by the California Oil Museum located near the corner of Main Street and 10th Street, a $2 million grant to enable the City to perform deferred maintenance and select memorabilia displayed in the museum.
For over 130 years, the former Union Oil Company of California headquarters has been a major historic building that not only defines Santa Paula’s aesthetics but also serves as a cultural and economic anchor to businesses of all types in downtown Santa Paula.
Since 1993, Union Oil Company of California has leased its former headquarters and adjacent properties to the City of Santa Paula to operate the California Oil Museum. The City has been responsible for facility repairs and maintenance while the museum was run by the California Oil Museum Foundation, a small nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the historical importance of the pioneering petroleum industry and its impact on the initial development of the region. However, as a result of financial hardships caused by the pandemic, the California Oil Museum Foundation closed the museum in September 2021.
Our mission? To re-establish the Union Oil Building as the heartbeat of our community, enriching our culture and uniting generations! Imagine a space that captivates locals and attracts visitors, becoming a cornerstone of our City’s identity.
The City is officially extending the invitation to all the movers, shakers and dreamweavers out there! Submit your proposals by February 16, 2024, at 4 PM. Dive into the nitty-gritty details by visiting tinyurl.com/UnionOil.