January Economic Development News
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From Our Executive Director
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Charles Kettering
once said that every time we tear a leaf off a calendar, we present a new place for new ideas and progress. I write this newsletter at the start of a new year, hoping our business owners, non-profits leaders and others have taken, or will take stock to assess where they are, and where they want to be in 2018.
At AEDC we already know we want to continue successful initiatives like Lemonade Day that support our future entrepreneurs and add value to the community. We also want to explore new ways of doing things, like our experimental workforce weekend, designed to better match potential employees with employers that can help them thrive and meet their maximum potential.
We will also continue keeping our partners and the community informed with our newsletter and an exciting new format for the economic development forum, which is designed to better engage and inform the wider community about exciting economic development efforts.
And you? What are your goals for 2018?
Ross Welch
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Meet New AEDC Board Member
Ray Litchfield
AEDC is pleased to announce Ray Litchfield, CEO at California State & Federal Employees Credit Union, to the AEDC Board of Directors . He brings business acumen and the benefits of his executive leadership experience in the finance world.
“I hope to show support to the management team and offer business insight/best practices. I also want to further the mission of AEDC and ensure we are maximizing our resources,” he said, adding that he views AEDC as an important community supporter. Litchfield said he recognizes the value of AEDC’s ability to tap into resources traditional lenders don’t have access to and offer funding when financing through local and regional banks is not an option. “I am a big believer in small business enterprise and municipal projects that improve the community. In both, AEDC is truly is a difference maker.”
Litchfield joined the Board in January 2018. He is originally from Massachusetts. He lived in Orange County, New York for 8 years before accepting the position of CEO at California State & Federal Employees Credit Union and coming to Humboldt County.
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AEDC Welcomes Lemonade Day Coordinator
Mary Elise Conzelmann, an HSU student in recreation and business, plans to finish her Bachelor’s degree in three years and is bringing that same drive and dedication to her new role as AEDC’s new Lemonade Day Coordinator.
“I am very passionate about what Lemonade Day stands for,” Conzelmann explained.
Lemonade Day is a youth focused community event that teaches kids how to start, own and operate their own business using a lemonade stand. Participants learn to set goals, develop a business plan and budget, seek investors and are encouraged to give some of their profits back to the community.
They also have an opportunity to learn important job skills like money management, customer service and more. Lemonade Day
is recognized nationally and presented locally by AEDC and Decade of Difference with additional support from local sponsors.
“I am the Program Director for the McKinleyville Community Services District Kids Camp and have been working with children for a long time," said Conzelmann. "I enjoy being able to support kids in pursuing knowledge and exploration.”
Conzelmann has already reached out to local Parks and Recreation departments and schools to schedule workshops and registration events and is teaching a six week class to McKinleyville 4th and 5th graders in the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program which will help the students create a business plan, learn basic business terms, and gain financial awareness. She has secured Lemonade Day sponsorship from radio station KJNY and has started a search for this year’s VIPs, who volunteer to visit stands on Lemonade Day to recognize and encourage the youth in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
“I am loving working with the community to organize the Humboldt County Lemonade Day and truly believe in what it stands for,” she said. “I anticipate watching participants use their creativity, resourcefulness, and passion to build their business plan and stand and can’t wait to see how the participants develop their individual stands to reflect their personality!”
Conzelmann
plans to focus on increasing
the awareness for families in the community and provide accessible information and registration to increase overall participation.
“I also want to thank Susan Seaman for the opportunity to serve as the Humboldt County Lemonade Day Coordinator and continue to gain experience working with local organizations,” she added.
Humboldt Lemonade Day 2018 is Saturday, June 2!
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Save the Date: Economic Development Forum March 22
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Save the date for an all new Economic Development Forum coming March 22 at the River Lodge in Fortuna.
AEDC, together with the Prosperity Network, will host a day long forum with updates from representatives from all across the County and a check in with participants who work improving the economic development of our community. The Forum is being sponsored by AEDC, Redwood Region Economic Development Commission and the County of Humboldt Office of Economic Development.
Look for registration information coming soon.
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Workforce Weekend recruitment program hopes to bridge gap for employers and young professionals
AEDC recently received $10,000 from US Bank to launch Workforce Weekend, an experiment to create a more compatible workforce for employers and young professionals.
According to AEDC program director Susan Seaman, this project was launched in response to recent research projects by Humboldt State University and the Job Market which revealed, in part, that
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mployers are not getting the response they want for available jobs and students often do not know what kinds of job opportunities are available in our area. The project focuses primarily on finding the right “fit” between a company and potential employee, rather than focusing only on specific job opportunities.
“Companies desire employees that have strong soft skills and a good fit with the company’s work culture. By tweaking the approach to seeking employees and employers, we hope to address many of the expectation gaps we're hearing from both sides of the workforce,” Seaman said.
The project will include the following
- Creation of an online catalog of 25 to 50 Humboldt County companies that want to participate in the program.
- Creation of an online application that is based on professional personality traits and work habits rather than technical skills.
- Creation of a website that includes the catalog, an on-line application (interactive form), a career resources page, and an honest location recruitment page for participants who want to live in this area.
- Distribution of the “catalog” to HSU, CR as well as out of the area young professionals with an application deadline of early January 2019.
Companies will then schedule interviews with top applicants over the period of one weekend in February to evaluate how candidates might fit into their business based on skills and interviews (operations, sales, marketing, manufacturing, finance). These discussions could also expose applicants to jobs they may not have considered, or even been aware of.
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This is a measurable one-time experiment," said Seaman. "There will be some time expended by employers to participate, but it’s limited in scope and businesses can easily gauge if it will be a useful way to engage a workforce in the future."
Companies interested in more information should contact Susan Seaman at (707) 798-6132 or email susans@aedc1.org.
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SBA 504 Current Rate:
4.64%
- 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. 212 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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