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Broadband News Roundup
Access Humboldt Receives Grant To Help Close the "Digital Divide."
The U.S. Commerce
Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) last week announced a grant award to Access Humboldt for
sustainable broadband adoption. Acc ess Humboldt will receive more than
$150,000 in funding and support from ZeroDivide, a San Francisco-based
foundation, for the Generation ZD Digital Literacy Program.
The
program, which fits into the goals of Access Humboldt's Digital
Redwoods Initiative, is aimed at teaching underserved and tribal youth
digital skills in new media, such as video and audio, and ultimately
promote broadband in the area. The curriculum includes training youth in
digital storytelling.
Click here for more information on this Access Humboldt project.
Redwood Coast Broadband Forum 2010 To Be Held On September 29th.
The 2010 Redwood Coast Broadband Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 29th from 8:30am to 4:00pm in Fortuna's River Lodge. This free event will feature project updates and plans from Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties. In addition, funders and policymakers from the State of California and Federal government will attend and present information on upcoming investments and policy changes that will affect the north coast. Finally, special topic sessions on adoption and applications will be held.
Click here for more information on past events.
Click here to sign up for the 2010 forum.
Bill to Provide Broadband Funding To Underserved Areas Advances.
SB1040 (Padilla) to extend and expand the California Advanced Services Fund has passed the state legislature and is awaiting Governor Schwarzenegger's signature.
The CASF was created in 2007 to provide funding for the
deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved an d underserved areas of California. The program is funded by an end-user surcharge
on intrastate telecommunications services. This bill, if signed by the Governor, will extend the sunset of the program until the
2015-16 fiscal year and authorizes the PUC to
collect an additional $125 million from telecommunication
ratepayers, to be spent over the remaining years of the
program. Specifically, this bill
authorizes $100 million per year to the Broadband
Infrastructure Grant Account, $10 million per year to the
Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant Account,
and $5 million per year to the Broadband Infrastructure
Revolving Loan Account (these funds would be available for
future loans as repayments are made).
The CASF provided
the support necessary for the Highway 36 fiber optic project, which will bring
telecommunications infrastructure redundancy to Humboldt County. In addition, the CASF is considering setting
aside $7.8 million for a project along Highway 299. This was originally awarded to a project for
Highway 299 that has not come to fruition.
For more information on SB1040, click here.
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RREDC Business Spotlight:
TOFU SHOP LAUNCHES NEW LINE OF ORGANIC KRAUTS
 The Tofu Shop's owner, Matthew Schmidt started making tofu
in the 1970's - long before tofu was known to most Americans. Today tofu is a
staple in home kitchens and on restaurant menus. Some of the very best comes
from The Tofu Shop Specialty Foods located in Arcata, California.
For over 30 years The Tofu Shop has manufactured tofu products and soy-based specialty
food items, producing approximately 1000 pounds of tofu each week.
The newest entry in Tofu Shop's line of ready to enjoy
specialty products - crunchy, organic raw krauts and pickles. Naturally fermented in small batches, Humboldt Organic
Green Sauerkraut, Purple Panacea & Supa Spicy Kraut are now in local
markets.
 The term "niche manufacturing" wasn't used when Matthew
opened his first store in Arcata, but that's what was happening. As the
business grew, The Tofu Shop became one of the first businesses in the Foodworks Culinary
Center, an innovative small business
incubator that promoted local food production.
In 2002 The Tofu Shop moved out of the Foodworks Culinary Center and opened its
own custom tofu plant. RREDC was proud to help with that move with a loan to help purchase the new building. A few years later an expanding product line and customer
demand prompted Matthew to again come to RREDC for a working capital loan. RREDC was
able to help Matthew at a critical point in his business' growth.
Community Involvement
The Tofu Shop business practices include being a dedicated
supporter of community events, organizations and the food bank. They are a
seven time WRAP recipient (Waste Reduction Award) for diverting 91.1% of factory
waste for recycled purposes.
RREDC is proud to be a part of this successful local business.
Local lending to local business is a win-win for everyone.
The Tofu Shop Specialty Foods are known throughout California and Southern Oregon. Visit The
Tofu Shop website for the complete line of products, tofu facts, recipes &
more, www.tofushop.com
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RREDC Makes Loans to Local Small Business
For
over 30 years, RREDC has been making loans to small businesses in Humboldt County.
Over 180
businesses from Garberville to Willow Creek to Orick and
everywhere in between have received over
$18 million in loans from
RREDC. Many well-known local businesses got their start or expanded
with our help.
We can make loans for:
- Working capital
- Inventory
- Equipment purchases
- Real estate acquisition
- Buying a business
We are also a "gap" lender. This means that we are willing to take more risk than traditional lending institutions. We offer fixed rate financing for terms up to 25 years.
Our
loan fund was created in 1978 with a grant from the U.S. Department of
Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). |
Arcata-Eureka Airport Update
Temporary Pain to Lead to Permanent Gain At the Arcata-Eureka Airport
Recently, travelers to and from the Arcata-Eureka airport have experienced
flight delays and cancellations as a result fog in SFO, the normal impact of local fog conditions and
FAA's temporary shutdown of the airports Instrument Landing System
(ILS). This system is an important component to pilots who are instrument rated
enabling them to land and/or take off during inclement weather or foggy days at
any airport. FAA's
shut down of the ILS system was necessitated by the  construction
of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required runway safety areas (RSAs)
installation of the long talked about
Emergency Material Arresting System on the airport's primary Runway 14
approach.. Failure to complete installation of the Congressionally mandated
RSA at each runway end
by the deadline could result in the loss of the Arcata/Eureka Airport's commercial air
service
certification. Recognizing the importance of this Congressional mandate and the
potential devastating impact that a loss of certification would have on the regional economy, the Aviation Division
aggressively pursued funding from the FAA for early project completion. The
total cost of this project, approximately $11,000,000, is being funded 95% by the FAA. While there
is a short-term economic impact and inconvenience as a result of this shutdown,
delaying this project could have resulted in a loss of FAA funding and
commencement of construction well into 2011. Construction is expected to
be completed by the end
of September.
Air Service Development is an Ongoing Process
The Airports Council International - North America (ACI - NA), says air service development is a high priority for many communities. This is supported by an exhaustive study of recruitment programs that was completed by the Federal Aviation Administration.  RREDC and the Humboldt County Aviation Division have been working together for nearly seven years to recruit and retain service. We started with a cooperative project with the Redding airport to develop the Horizon Air's service to LAX.
According to the ACI-NA, the bottom line for airlines is that they must be confident that its investment in new service will be profitable.
The challenge for any airport seeking new service is to make a
proposed route attractive. A community can convince a carrier that it
already draws inbound visitors - educational, industrial, recreational
features. It may be a case of pointing to a competing, but perhaps more
expensive carrier with a similar route. On the other hand, a community
may need to do more than roll out the red carpet - it may need to offer
some financial incentive. If the airline perceives a route to be risky
it may demand more.
What Airlines Are Looking For
An existing market with high origins & destinations (O & D) traffic Population and income growth trends The
market has a recognized draw: major business/industrial institutions,
educational center, government center, leisure/recreational facilities Proximity to currently untapped market New airport facilities New runway which can handle larger, heavier aircraft Airside terminal improvements which can ease fast turnaround of aircraft Terminal improvements that enhance the passenger experience - improved baggage claim New custom facilities, better hours
Incentives are needed. Options include:
- Local campaign to publicize the new route with paid or donated media
Waiver of landing fees or terminal rents Provide ground handling services Guarantee a block of ticket sales Monthly subsidy to underwrite costs of route if not enough tickets are sold Funds
for incentives can be obtained from local, public and private sources.
The local hotel/motel association or tourism bureau could be a source of
private funding. Some states and the federal government have grant programs. The major source of the federal money is the Small Community Air Service Development Program and the Essential Air Service Program.
Click here for a link to the ACI-NA Primer
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Economic Fuel Gets Ready for A Great Year
Click on logo to go to Economic Fuel website.
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2011 Information
Sessions Announced
Students and community team members interested in
competing this year are encouraged to attend at least one Information Session.
All sessions will cover what's new for 2011, eligibility criteria, rules and
entry guidelines, available resources, and more.
HSU Information
Sessions
Monday, September 13th
HSU, Nelson Hall East
11:00am - 12:00pm, room 113
Tuesday, September 14th
HSU, Nelson Hall East
11:00am - 12:00pm, room 113
5:00 - 6:00pm, room 115
Wednesday, September 15th
HSU, Nelson Hall East
11:00am - 12:00pm, room 115
5:00 - 6:00pm, room 115
Thursday, September 16th
HSU, Nelson Hall East
11:00am - 12:00pm, room 115
CR Information
Sessions
Tuesday, September 21st
CR Main Campus, Learning Resource Center
12:00am - 1:00pm, room 107
Wednesday, September 22nd
CR Main Campus, Learning Resource Center
12:00am - 1:00pm, room 107
CR Eureka Downtown Site, 605 K St, Eureka
4:30 - 5:30pm, conference
room
Thursday, September 23rd
CR Main Campus, Learning Resource Center
12:00am - 1:00pm, room 107
North Coast SBDC Information
Session
Thursday, September 23rd
Prosperity Center, 520 E St., Eureka
5:00 - 5:45pm
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News From Our Members
City of Arcata
The City of
Arcata is the process of securing funding for forest acquisitions to create an
Arcata Ridge Trail from West End Road to Sunnybrae Park. There will be three
events starting with Bat N Rouge. In October, there will be a world class bike
ride through the forest as well as a Horseback riding event touching on parts
of the forest not previously visited. Click here for more information on the trail.
Bat N
Rouge is the Comedy Softball fundraiser that will take place on Friday
September 10, 2010 with proceeds benefiting the Arcata Ridge Trail Project. This
first time event will begin at 6:30P and will take place at the
Arcata Ball Park. We hope to have between 500-700 attendees. Click here for more information on the event.
If you
want to get more information or join the fun contact Debi Farber-Bush at farbergirl@aol.com or Alex Stillman at
822-2269.
Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District
Last year, a diverse, 14 member Water Resource Planning
Advisory Committee was formed. At Stake:
water rights to 60 million gallons a day of untreated water currently permitted
to HBMWD. Their Charge: indentify community values, options and preferences for
long-term use of a plentiful resource delivered from the Mad River, to 80,000
customers in Humboldt County. Their focus:
develop a long -term plan to protect water rights, control water rates, and
maintain or enhance the Mad River Watershed.
To accomplish this task, they involved the
community-municipal customers, stakeholders, randomly selected citizens and
members of the general public who participated in any of the nine public
meetings or a day long workshop. Roughly
400 people gave their time to share their values, knowledge and
experience.
The end result is a 130 page report the Advisory Committee
presented to the HBMWD Board on August 12, 2010. Bill Thorington, president of the Humboldt
Watershed Council believes the report will give legitimacy to future water use
decisions. He said, "The report has so
much public input. It wasn't created by
a lobbyist or consultant paid to the work for the Board".
Four of the options recommended for "immediate pursuit"
include the expansion of district boundaries, sale and transport of water to
another municipality outside our area, continued pursuit of water intensive
businesses locally, and releasing water for environmental enhancement. Six additional options recommended for
"passive pursuit" include developing a lake in Blue Lake, aquaculture
development for appropriate species, diversion of water to the Mad River fish
hatchery, aquaculture for algae, develop micro-hydro in the watershed and sell
untreated water to a private entity.
The report in its entirety can be found at: www.hbmwd.com Click on the Water Resource
Planning icon and you will be directed to the report.
The Board expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Advisory
Committee for their dedication to the year long process and also thanked the
public for their input and participation in the process.
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RREDC Board of Directors
City of Arcata - Mayor Alex Stillman City of Blue Lake - Councilmember Sherman Shapiro* City of Eureka - Councilmember Linda Atkins City of Ferndale - Councilmember Ken Mierzwa City of Fortuna - Councilmember Ken Zazni City of Rio Dell - Mayor Pro Tem Melissa Marks City of Trinidad - Councilmember Julie Fulkerson* County of Humboldt - Supervisor Mark Lovelace* Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District - Commissioner Mike Wilson Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District - Director Bruce Rupp Humboldt Community Service District - Director Frank Scolari* Manila Community Services District - Director Dendra Dengler
McKinleyville Community Services District - Director Helen Edwards* Orick Community Services District- Director Kristina Combs Redway Community Services District - Director John Rogers Redwoods Community Colleges District - Trustee Tom Ross Willow Creek Community Services District - Director Tyler Holmes*
*Members of the Executive Committee
RREDC Loan Committee:
Chair:Scott Pesch-Coldwell Banker Commercial Pacific Partners Real Estate
Vice Chair:Liana Simpson-Sequoia Personnel
Helen Edwards-McKinleyville Community Service District-Director
Frank Scolari-Coldwell Banker Cutten Realty
Sherman Schapiro-Enrolled Agent
Jennifer Budwig-Redwood Capital Bank
Phil Sullivan-Umpqua Bank
Dan Sweet-Coast Central Credit Union
Angela Machado - Alternate Member from Umpqua Bank
Dean Charlton - Alternate Member from Coast Central Credit Union
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Gregg Foster-Executive Director
Virginia Fisher-Lender
Bonnie Smoller-Administrative Assistant
Suzanne Dockal, CPA - Accounting
Tiffany Driver - Receptionist
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