AEDC receives $5 million in sustainable industries grants
On Friday. The Arcata Economic Development Corporation announced that it was awarded a $5 million grant from the California Community Economic Resilience Fund to work on a planning process to develop sustainable industries that will create high-quality, accessible jobs for all. AEDC will manage the funds on behalf of the Redwood Coast Region, which includes Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino and Lake Counties, and is partnering with the California Center for Rural Policy at Cal Poly Humboldt.
“AEDC has worked to provide financing to small businesses within these four counties for decades,” AEDC Executive Director Ross Welch said in a prepared statement. “These funds will allow us to collaborate and think even bigger, tackling infrastructure and community development projects and programs that support the entire region. We’re excited to be a part of that.”
The Redwood Region RISE (Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable Economy) planning effort will run from November to September 2024 and produce a plan recommending project investments throughout the region that will grow industries and support goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
“(The California Center for Rural Policy) is excited to leverage its long history of participatory research and involvement in the region in CERF’s goals. Our mission is to set a table where people of all backgrounds, workers, business leaders, professionals, and policymakers can collaborate toward a vision of a prosperous, carbon-neutral, and just future,” said Dawn Arledge, CCRP’s executive director in a press release.
Coast Central Announces $100K in Grants
Coast Central Credit Union President and CEO James T. Sessa announced that the board approved $100,000 in Community Investment Program spring round grants to 12 local organizations, bringing the total awarded to $2 million since 2008. A total of 48 nonprofits had requested $600,000.
Recipients in fall 2022 include:
Humboldt County
- $20,000 to Eureka Rescue Mission for bunk beds and mattresses
- $20,000 to the Fortuna Senior Center for a bathroom for a new building
- $10,000 to Telegraph Ridge Fire Protection for fire station repairs and upgrades
- $9,800 to Hoopa American Legion Post 415 for a new roof on the community center
- $6,600 to the HCAR Bay Center for storage of the work program
- $6,500 to the Mattole Valley Resource Center for a backup generator
- $4,500 to the Humboldt Bay Rowing Association for repairs to the boat trailer
- $3,900 to Adult Day Health Care of Mad River for new office computers
- $3,500 to the Whitethorn Volunteer Fire District for new digital radios
Humboldt/Trinity Counties
- $3,500 to Willow Creek Fire Safety for brush reduction chipper maintenance
Del Norte County
- $9,200 to Lighthouse Repertory Theater for new equipment
Trinity County
- $2,500 to the Coffee Creek Volunteer Fire Dept for new radio accessories
“The program started 14 years ago as a way to give $100,000 a year to local nonprofits as part of the credit union’s longtime motto, People Helping People,” Sessa said. “Five years ago we were very fortunate to be able to increase that to $200,000 annually. We owe our members a huge debt of gratitude for their loyalty and our volunteer board for their continued support of this level of giving.”
The 2023 spring round opens on February 1, 2023 at coastccu.org/community/community-giving.
