Economic Development News
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From Our Executive Director
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If this global pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that shared disasters really have a way of bringing our community together when we need it the most. During the past couple of months, we’ve been so grateful for the opportunity of being able to work with economic development leaders from Mendocino, Lake, Trinity, and Del Norte counties. Together we’ve been able to collaborate and share ideas of how to demonstrate resilience and be an advocate for your businesses. If you haven’t seen, there are several valuable resources, trainings, and workshops available for businesses as they navigate the process of re-opening. Please take a look to get the support you need!
—Ross
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Redwood Coast Resilience Consortium
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Right as the COVID-19 pandemic started to reach our community, a group of community leaders throughout Humboldt County started to gather. Started by Gregg Foster, Executive Director of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, the COVID Economic Resilience Committee started meeting via Zoom daily. The goal was to strengthen lines of communication and to develop a unified approach to helping businesses survive the massive disruption of sheltering in place.
Over the last several months, this group has shifted from crisis mode to developing a proactive strategic plan across our region. Other economic development leaders from Mendocino, Trinity, and Siskiyou Counties joined to collaborate and share ideas of how to boost our resilience and advocate for businesses.
This unprecedented challenge is still constantly shifting and full of unknowns, but city and county leaders, chamber of commerce executives, lenders, and other organization leaders in the community are gathering virtually to prioritize and plan for the coming months.
Here are the prioritized and actionable goals we are focusing on:
- Communication: We are looking for ways to coordinate efforts to create consistent messaging and technical assistance support for businesses as they consider how to re-open safely.
- Broadband: We are discussing how to increase and speed up our investment in rural broadband infrastructure and access to local media through policy, grant-seeking, and unified support.
- Rural Advocacy: We are intentionally strengthening regional relationships for added regional visibility at the state level. We are also working to identify which main issues we want to focus on as we approach elected officials and statewide organizations.
- Workforce Training: We are assessing the new skills and training opportunities our workforce needs to meet new pandemic needs and looking for ways to quickly retrain and support displaced workers.
- Child Care. We are actively advocating to support child care providers as essential businesses and a necessary component to the infrastructure of our workforce.
- Business Debt Assistance. We are pursuing strategies to help business owners struggling with the burden of emergency debt, and helping them navigate out from under debt while staying open.
- Tourism. We are discussing strategies to help lodging businesses with protocols and preparedness for reopening, and developing safe messaging for visitors and advocating for this important component to our economy.
In the coming months, our regional community will need to come together in unified support for helping our region survive and thrive. The Redwood Coast Resilience Consortium is a great start. Our team at AEDC is encouraged by the collaboration and leadership emerging from this challenging time.
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Client Highlight: The Bigfoot TaproomC
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This month, the Bigfoot Taproom hosted the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce Virtual Mixer. Participants were able to pick up a beer tasting sampler prior to the event so everybody could enjoy their products while networking via ZOOM. They were even able to buy raffle tickets for a variety of prizes. Thanks to McKinleyville Chamber (and other local chambers who are offering mixers). Thanks, also, to those members who are attending, offering raffle prizes and agreeing to host these events. Our local businesses are crucial to our economic recovery. Frankly, beer is helpful, too.
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Prepare to Operate Safely in Humboldt
(Thriving Together Series)
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Join the SBDC for a series that will explore how your business can thrive despite the constantly changing conditions caused by the pandemic.
On Wednesday, June 3, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, Humboldt County's Economic Development director will walk retail and other eligible business owners and managers through the process of preparing and submitting a plan to operate safely. Please feel free to bring your ideas and questions.
Attending this webinar means you’ll be able to:
- Get clear next steps for submitting your reopening/operating plan.
- Learn about the resources and strategies that might help keep you, your employees, and your customers safe.
- Get your questions answered from the County Office of Emergency.
- Share your experiences and how your business has pivoted.
Call the Center Coordinator at 707-445-9720 if you have any further questions.
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COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Dine-in Restaurants
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Are you in the foodservice industry but a little unsure of what your next step is?
Download this PDF from the
California Department of Public Health
and
CAL/OSHA
provides guidance for dine-in restaurants, brewpubs, craft distilleries, breweries, bars, pubs, and wineries in order to support a safe, clean environment for their staff and customers.
This guide will cover:
- Workplace Specific Plans
- Topics for Employee Training
- Individual Control Measures and Screening
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
- Physical Distancing Guidelines
- Considerations for Restaurants
Click the button below to download your copy.
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Is your business opening back up anytime soon?
Watch this Eureka Chamber video to discover what steps employers and employees should take to reopen, resume operations, and move forward safely.
The
Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce
would like to support you in following state guidelines and creating your business reopening plan. Watching this video will help break down how your business can resume operations so that you and your employees can return to work in a safe environment while adhering to directives from the
Humboldt County Public Health Officer.
The County's Joint Information Center has created an online tool for businesses to submit their reopening plans and has included recommendations for CDC and Public Health protocols for all businesses in Humboldt, including those that are re-opening and those essential businesses that remained open during the shelter in place order.
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Arcata Economic Development Corporation
Fax: (707) 798-6130
Tel: (707) 798-6132
707 K Street, Eureka, CA 95501
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