Regional planning begins for economic resilience

COVID-19 Relief funding of $5 million has been awarded to the Arcata Economic Development Corporation. This funding is administered by the California Economic Development Department through the Community Economic Resilience Fund established by AB 2342. Thirteen regions across the state were funded, including the Redwood Coast Region, to support equity-centered carbon neutral economic development.

These planning funds will establish a High Road Transition Collaborative (HRTC) for Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino Counties. Together, stakeholders will design a blueprint for the region's recovery from COVID-19 and transition to a carbonneutral economy. The project will deploy a community and worker-centered approach to economic planning and development. This 18-month process is designed to be complementary to existing economic development work within the region.

The local convener is the California Center for Rural Policy (CCRP) at Cal Poly Humboldt, a research and evaluation center that promotes the health and wellbeing of people living in rural California. The local community outreach and engagement partner is North Coast Opportunities, the Community Action Agency for Lake and Mendocino Counties. Recruitment is underway for talent to support communications, outreach and administration for this new project.

“CCRP is excited to leverage its long history of participatory research and engagement in the region in the service of CERF goals. Our mission is to set a table where people of all backgrounds, workers, business leaders, professionals, and policymakers can collaborate towards a vision of a thriving, carbon neutral, and equitable future,” said Dawn Arledge, CCRP executive director.

The first step will be to establish the Redwood Coast Region HRTC and begin work on the Regional Plan that is due to the state in March. The HRTC will meet on Feb. 23, at 11 a.m. For more information about the Redwood Coast Region CERF project contact CCRP at ccrp@humboldt.edu.

NCO is the Community Action Agency that serves Lake and Mendocino Counties, as well as parts of Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte and Solano Counties. NCO reacts and adjusts to community needs, including disaster response and recovery.

For more information, visit www.ncoinc.org or call (707) 467-3200.