August Economic Development News
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From Our Executive Director
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Every community has its challenges, but when I look through this month’s newsletter I am struck by all of the proactive things happening to address those challenges in our community. Our rural economy needs more information about available resources and ways to build our economy, and CALED brought their Rural Economic Development Exchange to Humboldt.
Many in the cannabis industry are struggling, but the County’s new Project Trellis is designed to help mitigate negative impacts.
We have challenges helping our young people take advantage of local education and career opportunities, and HCOE, the Eureka Chamber of Commerce and others are working hard to bridge that gap in understanding and build local workforce.
We have challenges, but we also have many of the tools and creative thinkers we need to address them.
On another note, I would like to wish AEDC’s Keif Chavera the best of luck on her next adventure. Keif has been a strong and steady part of AEDC for many years and we will miss her.
-- Ross
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Good Bye to Long-Time AEDC Employee
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Keif Chavera to leave after 13 years
Keif Chavera , AEDC’s Office Manager
, will be leaving soon for out of state opportunities – but Keif’s route to California wasn’t an easy one. “I have been in Eureka since evacuating from Hurricane Katrina in 2005,” Chavera explained. “I went through the Red Cross into LA and weeks later landed in Eureka.”
In 2006, after receiving two job offers, Keif chose AEDC and has remained with the organization for the last 13 years. “I am currently the Office Manager/Assistant Controller with AEDC and wear too many hats to list,” she said, noting that over her tenure, she has enjoyed witnessing AEDC’s growth in partnership and service offerings.
“It has been my honor to work for AEDC,” she added. “Working with both the past and present staff and Board has been extremely rewarding and has given me the opportunity for both personal and professional growth. I am leaving my employment thankful for our long association and I wish AEDC and the community nothing but the best going forward.”
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New Bike for Lemonade Day Participant
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Jameson White, age 8, had a successful lemonade stand by most measures on Lemonade Day. With a stand in front of his mom’s salon on Main Street during the Fortuna City Wide Rummage Sale, he raised over $400 profit for Ambrosini and Toddy Thomas Schools. Though the stand exceeded his goal of $150, he chose to donate all the proceeds.
Jameson, however, will have a new bike to commemorate his hard work. For the past two years, Lemonade Day has offered one free bike to be given away in a raffle to each Lemonade Day community. All participants who send in their business results are eligible to win the prize.
White was presented with his bike at the office of Arcata Economic Development Corporation by Susan Seaman, Program Director. Jeffrey Smoller, Community Development Coordinator from Making Headway for Brain Injury Recovery came to bring a helmet and fit it to him as part of their helmet donation program.
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Lemonade Day is an annual event presented by Arcata Economic Development Corporation and the Decade of Difference, to give kids their first taste of business ownership by running a lemonade stand. 2019 marked the ninth year for the program- with young entrepreneurs operating over 50 stands throughout the county.
Participants are asked to
- pay their investor for start-up costs
- spend a little
- save a little
- share a little
In 2019, about 68% of participants chose to share some, or all, of their proceeds with local organization. Donations were made to schools, churches, animal shelters, homeless programs, the zoo and more.
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Economic development professionals, elected officials, business owners and more recently attended the CALED (California Association for Local Economic Development) Rural Economic Development Exchange on August 7
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& 8
th
in Eureka.
Attendees received policy updates, learned more about resources available for rural communities and had a chance to connect and network with peers.
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More about the CALED Rural Economic Development Exchange
In May of 2018, the CALED Board approved the creation of a Rural Economic Development Exchange that allows CALED to direct some resources to support our efforts to help rural economic developers connect, share resources, and engage in policy conversations/initiatives. Specifically, CALED is committed to these goals:
- Convene rural economic development stakeholders at least one time per year (outside of CALED’s Annual Conference)
- Include a Rural Exchange opportunity at the conference for resource providers to share updates on how they can support rural economic development as well as showcase best practices
- Work with USDA Rural Development in California to identify ways CALED can support their priorities and promote their work/grants.
- Share what we learn with partners that may be in a position to assist in addressing priorities, challenges, solutions, and resources to grow rural economies
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Cannabis Companies Get Support
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Project Trellis
Humboldt County’s Project Trellis was officially launched with the first meeting of the Cannabis Micro-grant and Loan Advisory Committee on August 14.
The purpose of Project Trellis is, in part to
- bolster the cannabis industry
- protect future cannabis excise tax revenues by providing services to populations and communities in Humboldt who were adversely affected by the criminalization of cannabis,
- develop a framework for supportive programs designed to sustain and grow Humboldt’s cannabis industry, and
- assist cannabis businesses as they work to overcome the financial and logistical challenges of coming into compliance.
The committee oversees the loan and grant process for businesses and individuals and will review, rank and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding micro-grant and loan recipients/awards. The supervisors will then determine how those funds will be distributed.
Funding for the program come from local cannabis excise tax revenues, cannabis fines and fees, and state funding via SB 1294.
Trellis Program Details
Micro-grant program
Aimed at providing capital assistance and business resources to Humboldt County cannabis businesses. An advisory committee was recently established to recommend projects to be funded through this program.
Marketing and promotion
This initiative is designed to promote Humboldt-grown cannabis as a national and industry brand. A Request for Proposals will be issued for these services.
Local Equity Program
To serve those communities and individuals impacted by the war on drugs, and the implementation of which also serves as part of the qualifying criteria to receive Senate Bill 1294 funding.
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Advisory
Committee meetings are open to the public.
The next meeting is
Wednesday, September 4, 1 p.m. County Courthouse, Conference Room A, 825 5
th
Street, Eureka
For more information, visit
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Education at Work
Supports Workforce Development
Career Technical Education is alive and well through the Humboldt County Office of Education’s
Education at Work
program. The program infuses school-based skill development with real-world work experience and knowledge—and the Eureka Chamber of Commerce recently stepped in to help.
“Skilled trades are in demand in Humboldt County and promoting trades is a priority of the Business and Education Committee at the Eureka Chamber,” explained committee member Kathy Miller. “What better way to do it than to connect Chamber businesses with students, both in the classroom and on jobsites. These connections allow students to envision a career and future here in Humboldt.”
Individuals and businesses can sign up with the program to volunteer to participate in panel, speak at an event or in a classroom, provide mentoring or host student visits in their place of business—all of which provides career inspiration and supports career pathways for local students.
“The chamber saw this as a good opportunity for a collaborative partnership,” Miller added.” We are encouraging our members to get involved and become a resource that schools can draw from.”
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For more information or to volunteer, please contact:
SUSI HUSCHLE
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SBA 504 Current Rate:
3.63%
- Low down payment for borrowers
- Competitive fixed interest rate
- Long Term loan
- From $50,000 to $5 million for commercial real estate, construction and equipment acquisition.
Many commercial loans available on the market require a sizeable percentage down before the loan will be granted, and this can be an obstacle for many business owners looking to improve their facilities. The SBA 504 Loan offers a solution for that -- you can borrow up to 90% of your financing needs at a fixed rate, so only a minimum of 10% down is required.
The remainder is split between the SBA loan (40%) and a bank loan (50%), and the Arcata Economic Development Corporation will work with your bank to submit your loan application. Loan amounts range from $50,000 to $5 million, and some restrictions apply.
For more information, call Kelli Sterling, Loan Manager: 707-798-6132 ext. 214 or email kellis@aedc1.org.
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Arcata Economic Development Corporation
Fax: (707) 798-6130
Tel: (707) 798-6132
707 K Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Newsletter produced by
Lynette Mullen, Projects Delivered
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