CERC Update - 9/21/26

Greetings!

Since we started as a COVID response group in 2020, the CERC has been sharing updates, coordinating resources, and ensuring consistent communication to our community's businesses and the general public.

In that time, we've accumulated over 170 presentations (linked below) and have published weekly updates. We continue to believe that authentic collaboration is the best way to tackle our region's issues and create a stronger, more resilient economy.

If you want to share something with the group, email us here. Our meetings are open to all. Working together, we all do better.

September 23th - Cyndi Ankiewicz, California Care Force and Susan Vogel, County of Humboldt - Dental and Health Care Clinics and Public Health

California CareForce and the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Public Health Branch will share how they are working to improve access to health care and strengthen community well-being. California CareForce organizes volunteer-supported, no-cost clinics offering dental, vision, and medical services to people regardless of income or insurance status. They will hold a Humboldt County clinic on November 6–8 in Eureka.

Humboldt County Public Health provides a wide range of local services, including immunizations, public health nursing, maternal and child health programs, nutrition assistance, disease prevention, and health education. Together, the presentations will highlight resources available to Humboldt County residents.



Learn more about California Care Force

Learn more about Humboldt County Public Health

Recent Meetings

September 16th - Shruti Narain

Northern California Resiliency Training Coordinator, CALOSBA

CalOSBA’s Outsmart Disaster program helps California businesses and nonprofits prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters and other business interruptions. The no-cost program offers training, webinars, recovery resources, and a customizable Resiliency Roadmap covering risk assessment, communications, operations, hazard mitigation, insurance, finances, and emergency response planning. Originally launched in 2018, the initiative now uses an all-hazards approach to strengthen business continuity statewide.

Shruti Narain is CalOSBA’s Northern California Resiliency Training Coordinator and an entrepreneur with experience providing marketing support to nonprofits and small businesses. She works with communities across Northern California to help businesses strengthen disaster preparedness and long-term resilience. Narain also conducts and coordinates Outsmart Disaster training, helping local businesses and organizations develop practical plans for maintaining operations and recovering from disruptions.



Learn more about Outsmart Disaster

September 9th - Nick Bown-Crawford, Executive Director, Humboldt COAD

Humboldt Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is a nonprofit coalition that helps Humboldt County prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Its network includes nonprofits, tribal governments, faith-based organizations, businesses, volunteers, and public agencies working together to improve communication, coordinate resources, and address unmet community needs.

COAD’s role expanded significantly following the December 2022 Rio Dell earthquake, when it helped coordinate nongovernmental response and long-term recovery efforts. The organization has also supported residents affected by more recent emergencies, including flooding and wildfires, by connecting households with recovery resources, temporary housing, advocacy, and other assistance.

Executive Director Nick Bown-Crawford has played a key role in developing COAD’s regional presence. A Humboldt County native who has also served as Executive Director of Humboldt Made, Bown-Crawford emphasizes community-led recovery, strong cross-sector partnerships, and long-term resilience. Under his leadership, COAD has become an important bridge between residents, local organizations, government agencies, and disaster-response resources.

Learn more about COAD.

August 26th - Eva Shepherd-Nicoll, ChicoSTART/ CleanSTART, Building Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure

Friend of the CERC, Eva Shepherd-Nicoll will be joining us to discuss an exciting project to build otu ZEV infrastructure. ChicoSTART is an entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and small businesses through training, mentoring, and access to resources.

In 2025, ChicoSTART received a California Office of the Small Business Advocate grant to study zero-emission vehicle infrastructure in partnership with CleanStart. The project examines charging technology, incentives, infrastructure gaps, and barriers to ZEV adoption, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities. The effort also identifies opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to participate in the growing clean transportation economy. Findings will support technical assistance, infrastructure planning, workforce development, and expanded access to ZEV charging throughout Northern California.

Learn more.

August 19th Meeting, Christy Prescott - Forest WRX Alliance

The Forest WRX Alliance is a regional partnership working to improve forest health, strengthen rural communities, and expand the forest-based economy. It brings together businesses, nonprofits, Tribal organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions to develop productive uses for forest material generated through restoration and wildfire-risk reduction.

The Alliance focuses on building the workforce, infrastructure, technology, and markets needed for a sustainable forest bioeconomy. Key initiatives include workforce training, mass-timber manufacturing, rural housing, forest-restoration financing, and development of new wood-product markets. Forest WRX also promotes Traditional Ecological Knowledge and economic opportunities for Tribal and rural communities. Its goal is to create jobs and investment while reducing wildfire risk, improving forest health, and strengthening the long-term economic and environmental resilience of the Redwood Region.

They are holding the "Forest Bioeconomy Symposium: From Fire Risk to Circular Stewardship" summit on September 29–30, 2026. This is a working gathering built for action — bringing together state agency leaders, elected officials, tribal economic development leaders, philanthropic funders, investors, manufacturers, and university partners to advance a shared vision: a thriving, circular forest stewardship economy in the Redwood Region.

Learn more here.

Do you have something you'd like to share in the CERC Update? We have an email list of over 300 key individuals in the region, at state agencies, and in supporting organizations.

Email Gregg with your news items.

Join us at 10:00 a.m. Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88902973868.

CERC general meetings are Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.

Let us know if you are interested in presenting or have a program suggestion.

Did you miss one of the excellent Wednesday CERC presentations?

Don't fret. We save them for you. Click to watch and enjoy at your convenience.

Note that this and all CERC recordings are off the record.

Please contact individual speakers directly for permission to quote or share any statements.

Never Forget A CERC Meeting.

Click below to download a calendar invite.

Humboldt County Growers Alliance Seeks Executive Director

Now marking its 10th year, HCGA’s mission is “To preserve, protect, and enhance Humboldt County’s world-renowned cannabis industry, its farmers, its legacy, and its future.” The organization is hiring an Executive Director at a defining moment: a new strategic plan has been adopted, and the organization is ready to move from board-run to professionally led with an emphasis on market development. This is a chance to shape how a decade-old organization operates for the next ten years, not step into an established playbook.

What They're Looking For:

• Proven leadership and organizational development experience. Someone who has built or scaled a team, established internal systems and processes, and can run day-to-day operations independently.
• Marketing and brand-building experience. Direct experience leading a rebrand, brand strategy, and public-facing storytelling; this is the role's primary focus.
• Fundraising and revenue development experience. Grant management, member/donor development, and/or a track record of growing an organization’s revenue base.
• Comfort with digital tools and technology, including WordPress, membership/CRM systems, Google Drive, and social media platforms.
• Experience building partnerships with allied organizations, local government, and representing the membership’s interests publicly.
• Strong communication skills. Public speaking, professional writing, and the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders, from members to elected officials.
• Experience planning and executing community, industry, or member-facing events.

Spooktacular 2026

Oct 23, 2026 / 6:00 PM PDT

Blue Lake Casino and Hotel

Join We Are Up for Spooktacular, an unforgettable evening of dining, dancing, and community celebration! Enjoy delicious appetizers, a full bar, and a gourmet dinner featuring your choice of prime rib, salmon, or a flavorful vegetarian entrée.

Dance the night away to live music from Dr. Squid and browse dozens of exciting silent and live auction packages. Whether you're coming for the entertainment, the auction, or simply a great night out, Spooktacular promises an evening of fun, excitement, and lasting memories. Don't miss this Spooktacular event!

Made in California: Look for the Label

The State of California recently launched “Made in California”, a new statewide labeling and marketing program to empower California manufacturers to capitalize on the state’s global reputation for quality.

Whether the company makes surfboards or salsa, beer or biotech products, as long as it is substantially made in the Golden State, manufacturers big and small have the opportunity to add the valuable “Made in California” label to their products.

Learn more.

The Redwood Coast Region Economic Summit returns October 1–2, 2026, at the Arcata Community Center with this year’s theme: Rural Innovation: Build, Connect, Grow.

This annual two-day gathering brings together leaders, businesses, and community members from Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Trinity counties, along with neighboring tribal lands, all focused on fostering innovation and strengthening regional collaboration.

This year’s summit will highlight manufacturing, networking, and collaboration, with conversations focused on how we can build on our region’s legacy and future—from niche production to food and beverage—while supporting emerging industries and strengthening connections across the Redwood Coast.

A Farm to Table Dinner is planned for Thursday evening, hosted by the Arcata Chamber, Humboldt Made, and the North Coast Growers Association, offering another opportunity to connect (additional ticket required)! The summit will also kick off with a Welcome Event on Wednesday at Start Up Humboldt, hosted by the Arcata Chamber, Start Up Humboldt, and Humboldt Made—plus a full weekend of events happening across Humboldt County for those who choose to stay and explore!

Learn more and Register Here

Registrations Open for California

Economic Summit

The California Economic Summit, produced by CA FWD in collaboration with the California Stewardship Network, is our flagship annual event convening regional leaders from business, community, government, philanthropy, labor, and more to catalyze a New California Economy.

The Summit connects people and communities to elevate shared learning and engagement, celebrates successes across regions, catalyzes action at the state and federal level, and ultimately creates the space to work together to promote system change toward an economic model that is truly resilient, sustainable, and inclusive.

Learn more here.

PG&E Capacity Planning Questionnaire - Long Term Development Plans 2026 Survey

Electric demand is growing quickly due to electrification and new business development. By sharing early information about future projects, you can help PG&E consider those needs in long-term capacity planning before a formal service application is submitted. This questionnaire is for potential projects that have not yet been formally submitted to PG&E. Information provided will be kept confidential and used only for internal planning. Submitting information through the questionnaire does not start a formal service request or trigger project action.

Fill out the Capacity Planning Questionnaire

Before starting, you may want to gather information about:

• Planned business, industrial, or critical infrastructure projects
• Projects that may require additional electric load or depend on state or federal funding
• Sustainability, fleet electrification, charging, or zero-emission vehicle plans
• Environmental or community considerations related to future development

Food Production Investment Program (FPIP) Grant – Opening Soon

This program has an estimated $5M to fund the implementation and demonstration of advanced energy and decarbonization technologies in food processing and supporting facilities by targeting commercially available and proven technologies that maximize greenhouse gas emissions reductions, lower energy consumption, and enhance electrical grid reliability. CA Energy Commission staff will hold a Pre-Application Workshop to discuss this solicitation with potential applicants on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Visit the program page here for more information.

Ask an Economist with Dr. Robert Eyler – September 22nd

On Tuesday, September 22nd, at 8:30 a.m., Dr. Robert Eyler will give an insightful economic update highlighting key opportunities and challenges ahead for Northern California’s communities. Hosted by Chabin Concepts. Register here.

Trinity County Recruitment Video Series

Trinity County officially launched a comprehensive recruitment video campaign designed to showcase the unique rewards of living and working in the region. Staff debuted a featured two-minute video for the Board, offering a striking visual journey through Trinity County’s changing seasons, vibrant community, and diverse public service careers. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FIw6TeRsZQ&list=PLE7k46GfnQlA

North State Jobs First Meeting – September 3oth

North State Planning and Development Collective and Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, co-conveners of the North State Job First Initiative, invite you to attend the next in-person, public meeting for the North State Region, “Setting the Foundation for Long-Term Resilience.” The event will take place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Gaia Hotel in Anderson. Program is 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Register here

What do you think about compost in California agriculture?

California is developing a statewide agricultural compost strategy, which would advance compost use in California agriculture. If you are an agricultural producer in the state, you have valuable opinions and experiences to help the state develop and implement this strategy. Whether you are currently making or using compost, thinking about it, or not using it at all, please share your experiences and opinions in this 15-minute survey.  

All responses are anonymous. The survey will close October 1, 2026. California Agricultural Compost Strategy Survey Link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8943720/farmer-survey 

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