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Airport and Broadband Update
AVIATION NEWS
RREDC continues to partner with the County of Humboldt Aviation Division to support and increase convenient and aff ordable air service in and out of Humboldt County.
Representatives from both agencies recently attended the
Regional Aviation Association Conference in Memphis to meet with representatives from SkyWest, Horizon and others to strengthen partnerships and explore ways to expand and improve air service to and from the redwood region.
In January, local representatives also plan to attend the Airline Recruiting Conference in Phoenix to meet with the following airlines, among others:
- SkyWest
- Allegiant
- American Eagle
- Frontier
"Our goal is simple, we want more flights to more destinations."
~Fly Humboldt~
The County now offers a fee waiver package and other incenti ves and has made extensive improvements to airport infrastructure to attract new carriers to the recently improved facilities.
FUN FACT: Thanks to an extension in 2011, the Arcata - Eureka Airport runway is 300 feet longer than that of the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Improvements were completed to meet FAA requirements and allow Humboldt County to better accommodate larger aircraft.
For more information visit flyhumboldt.org
BROADBAND UPDATE
Construction on Second Fiber Optic Completed!
December marked the successful completion of a community-wide effort to install a new redundant fiber optic cable along the 131-mile Highway 36 corridor through Humboldt and Trinity counties.
Multiple outages over the years prompted the push to ensure that Humboldt County residents and businesses have steady access to the Internet in order to facilitate personal business, credit card transactions and fund access from ATMs.
"A second line was imperative to meet the telecommunication needs of this community," noted Gregg Foster, Executive Director of RREDC.
Internet providers Suddenlink, 101 Netlink and AT&T have taken advantage of the second line with more expected to sign on.
"AT&T has said all along that we would lease capacity to help support an alternative fiber route. We will use the alternative route to provide a redundant path for our North Coast customers."
~Rhuenette L. Alums, AT&T Area Director - External Affairs
Local consumers are urged to verify that their carrier is connected to the redundant line to ensure that service continues even if one line is compromised. "This backup option does no good if your carrier is not connected," he noted.
The completed line also means that small communities along the route now have broadband access provided by local Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) 101 Netlink.
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The Headwaters Fund Announces Grant Application Deadline of Feb. 1, 2012
GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE
The next Grant Round deadline is February 1, 2012. There is close to $200,000 available to award in this round.
The Headwaters Fund seeks applications for projects that meet its mission to improve the economy of Humboldt County. The Fund holds almost to $18 million, representing one-half of a percent of the total local economy, and is strategically managed to be a catalyst for long term business and economic development.
The Primary funding focus of the Grant Fund is to support projects benefitting base industries in Humboldt County. The Fund encourages projects which work cooperatively within or between industry clusters, and in particular those projects identified in the industry cluster workplans.
The nine industry clusters are:
- Lumber and Wood Products
- Tourism
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Dairy & Dairy Processing
- Specialty Agriculture & Horticulture
- Manufacturing
- Arts & Culture
- Education & Research
- Information & Technology
Interested applicants can find the answers to Frequently Asked Questions HERE and Headwaters Grant Applications HERE
For more information and to discuss project ideas, contact Dawn Elsbree at 476-4805 or email delsbree@co.humboldt.ca.us.
You may also review the grant criteria and download applications by going to The Headwaters Fund website.
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RREDC Business Spotlight:
McKeever Energy & Electric Inc. is a full-service electrical contracting and energy consulting firm specializing in environmentally responsible construction practices that emphasize renewable energy. A recent RREDC loan made it possible for McKeever Energy and Electric, Inc. to fund the upfront costs needed to install a solar system at Aster Place,
 | | Nate McKeever |
an affordable housing project in the Myrtletown area of Eureka. The solar system in each building cluster is expected to greatly reduce each tenant's monthly electric bill.
McKeever, a Navy veteran and HSU graduate with a degree in Industrial Technology emphasizing Construction Management, provides a great example of a young entrepreneur making a living and a life in Humboldt County.
Click to meet the McKeever Energy and Electric, Inc. TEAM and learn more about their SERVICES
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RREDC Updates
GET REGULAR UPDATES VIA FACEBOOK & RREDC.COM
Regularly updated information on RREDC activities and economic development in general can be found via the RREDC website
and on our Facebook page.
To sign up for regular updates via Facebook, simply click the image below.
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Small Businesses Succeed With RREDC Loans
 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
- Machinery and equipment
- Real estate acquisition
- Buying a business
- Financing receivables
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.
Click here if you would like more information on RREDC's loan program.
Our loan fund was created in 1978 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA).
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Prosperity News
On January 24, 2012, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will review a proposal that outlines a public engagement process to update the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and a grant application for US Economic Development Administration funding to support process Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
In 1999, the County Board of Supervisors adopted a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to guide local economic development investments, including those from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Entitled Prosperity! The North Coast Strategy, the CEDS laid out a strategy that prioritizes the needs of nine "base" industry clusters-those that export products and services to customers outside the region.
To learn more, visit the North Coast Prosperity Website |
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Small Business Development Center Offers Free Classes For Businesses
 The SBDC's Business Basics workshops provide good information for start-up businesses as well as good refresher course material for those in business.
The schedule for January & February, 2012 is: Books and Records: Wed, Jan. 25, 6-8 p.m.
Business Plan Basics: Thu, Jan. 26, 6-8 p.m.
Financial Basics: Tue, Feb. 7, 6-8 p.m.
Start Up Basics: Wed, Feb. 8, 6-8 p.m.
QuickBooks Bootcamp for Beginners: Fri, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Marketing Basics: Tue, Feb. 21, 6-8 p.m.
Business Plan Basics: Thu, Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m.
Books and Records: Wed, Feb. 29, 6-8 p.m.
Classes are free and held at the Prosperity Center, 520 E Street, Eureka. In addition, classes are held in Crescent City. For more information, go to www.northcoastsbdc.org or call Jeanette at 445-9720. |
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Tech Grant Training
On January 25th
The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
at Humboldt State University is hosting a free workshop on how to write winning grants for
These government grants support early stage technology ideas and award $2 billion to small high-tech businesses annually. The presenter will be Roger Cohen from New York. 
Click HERE to view event flyer.
If you go:
When: Jan. 25, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: HSU University Center Banquet Room (Behind the Depot)
Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Contact: (707) 826-5159 for information or to register.
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RREDC Board of Directors
UPCOMING MEETINGS
- Monday, Jan. 23, 2012
- Monday, Feb. 27. 2012
Meetings are held the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Prosperity Center, 520 E Street, Eureka.
For agendas and minutes, click here
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
City of Arcata - Councilmember Alex Stillman
City of Blue Lake - Councilmember Sherman Shapiro
City of Eureka - Councilmember Mike Newman
City of Ferndale - Councilmember Ken Mierzwa
City of Fortuna - Councilmember Mike Losey
City of Rio Dell - Councilmember Richard "Bud" Leonard
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 Bill Wennerholm
Orick Community Services District- Director Nancy Koke
Redway Community Services District - Director John Rogers
Redwoods Community Colleges District - Trustee Richard Dorn
Willow Creek Community Services District - Director Tyler Holmes*
*Members of the Executive Committee
Chair:Scott Pesch-Coldwell Banker Commercial Pacific Partners Real Estate
Vice Chair:Liana Simpson-Sequoia Personnel
Frank Scolari-RREDC Board
Sherman Schapiro-Enrolled Agent
Jennifer Budwig-Redwood Capital Bank
Phil Sullivan-Umpqua Bank
Dan Sweet-Coast Central Credit Union
Greg Bowen - Alternate Member from Umpqua Bank
Dean Charlton - Alternate Member from Coast Central Credit Union
Executive and Loan Committees meet on an as needed basis |
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Gregg Foster-Executive Director
Virginia Fisher-Lender
Bonnie Smoller-Administrative Assistant
Suzanne Dockal, CPA - Accounting
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