BUSINESS BRIEFS
Fortuna foundation gets $25K for English classes
The Fortuna-based Rose Perenin Foundation was selected for a $25,000 grant to support English language classes, preparation for citizenship exams and interviews, community field trips and connections to local resources.
“We are impressed by the quality of services provided by this grassroots community organization and the drive and passion of its founder Mary Ann Hytken,” Keith Borges, the Foundation’s treasurer, said in a prepared statement. “English Express is able to open doors for our native Spanish-speaking neighbors here in the Eel River Valley and give them ways to achieve happier and more fulfilling lives. We are proud to be a part of this work we have funded since 2017.”
English Express provides free year-round inperson and online classes to English language learners, classes to prepare for the U.S. citizenship exam and interview, plus a calendar of community field trips and information and links to community resources.
English Express is a DreamMaker Program of The Ink People for the Arts, a local nonprofit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship to many community groups and projects.
Learn more about the program at https://englishexpressempowered.com/.
College of the Redwoods offering innovation grants
The College of the Redwoods President’s Innovation Fund offers three different grants to fund proposals brought forward from faculty, staff, students, or community members partnering with a CR faculty/ staff/student. Applications to apply for these grants are available at https://www. redwoods.edu/about-us/ Home/Presidential-Innovation-Funds-Grant
The newest grant, the Staff Innovation Grant will provide awards up to $5,000 to support staff, or staff partnering with a community member, for a project that aligns with the District’s Education Master Plan.
This staff grant joins two existing grants — the President’s Economic Innovation Grant and the President’s Academic Innovation Grant. The economic grant supports proposals brought forward from faculty, staff, students, or community members partnering with a CR faculty/staff/ student to develop an investable proof of concept. These projects must demonstrate a positive economic impact on both the Redwoods Community College District and the community at large. The Economic Innovation Grant can be as large as $50,000 and must be completed in a year and a half. The President’s Academic Innovation Grant provides mini grants of up to $5,000 to support CR faculty projects, which align with the District’s Education Master Plan.
“Our Education Master Plan urges us to strive for something greater than we thought possible,” College of the Redwoods’ President Dr. Keith Flamer said in a prepared statement. “Implementing these three innovation grants demonstrates our commitment to developing creative ideas that are tangible benefits for our students, our college, and our community.”
Students, staff, and faculty, as well as community members who partner with a CR constituent, can apply for grant funds for projects that directly support the six major anchor themes in the Education Master Plan, defined as critical areas for the future:
• Becoming the preferred transfer pathway to Cal Poly Humboldt.
• Expanding and prioritizing offerings that prepare students for living-wage jobs.
• Creating a more nimble and adaptable institution through improved strategic planning.
• Establishing stronger wraparound experiences for students’ total connection.
• Pursuing the future of learning.
• Increasing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Yurok Tribe now a member of RCEA
The Yurok Tribe is now a member of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, the tribe announced in a news release.
“We joined RCEA because its mission to implement initiatives that increase access to affordable, clean energy aligns with our core values,” Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers said in a prepared statement. “As an RCEA member, the tribe will be able to participate at the governmentto-government level in the planning and development of long-term renewable energy projects. We strongly believe the transition to sustainable energy sources is essential to the long-term health and prosperity of our community.”
“It is exciting to have the Yurok Tribe joining RCEA,” said RCEA Executive Director Matthew Marshall. “Over RCEA’s 20 years of serving Humboldt County, we’ve worked with the Tribe on many projects, and we are very much looking forward to building on
that relationship and having tribal representation on our governing board.”
RCEA’s Board of Directors and the Yurok Tribal Council passed separate resolutions approving a joint powers agreement, which made the Tribe an agency member.
Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers will represent the tribe on the RCEA’s Board of Directors.
UScellular invests nearly $22M in NorCal
UScellular announced this that it made a $21.9 million investment in its California network in 2022 in a news release. This includes $7.2 million in network upgrades and 5G modernizations that enhanced connectivity across the state and $14.7 million in 5G spectrum that will bring additional customer benefits in future years and advances the company’s multiyear 5G network strategy.
“We are committed to investing in our network to ensure our customers can connect to what matters most,” Sarah Pearson, area vice president for UScellular in the Northwest, said in a prepared statement.
Additionally, to elevate the in-store shopping experience, UScellular invested $103,000 to update its retail stores in Clearlake and McKinleyville.