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From the Executive Director
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When I tell people AEDC is in Eureka now, sometimes I get a pause or even confusion. That's when I know I have an opportunity.
We started in Arcata, I explain, and have kept our familiar name. We have roots in Arcata but we've grown to serve clients over a six county area. Our location doesn't dictate where we focus our energy and in fact, moving to our own building in a more centralized location will help us better serve our clients all over the region.
In the last month, we've worked with people from all over the region, including Steve Rasmussen from Roundman's Smokehouse, who traveled from Fort Bragg to join us at Spotlight on Success. We worked with the youth in SoHum who are getting more actively involved in Lemonade Day. And, in Siskiyou County, small business owners who are IDA members have been receiving funds to purchase assets for their business.
You'll see our efforts haven't gone unnoticed- even at the state level with recent CALED award for Economic Development Partnerships for our work with the Carson Block Building.
We are inviting the community to see our new building and hear about many of the great things we're doing all across the region at our Open House on May 24 at noon. Meet our staff and see where we do our best to serve our clients in Arcata, Eureka and throughout the region.
-Ross
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AEDC Ribbon Cutting and Open House
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AEDC Client Spotlight
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Two years ago, Shelley and Nathan Nilsen were in the process of buying an established business when the bank they were working with backed out. Fortunately the loan officer suggested AEDC.
"The loan experience with AEDC was AMAZING! We were nearly three months into the acquisition process. We had been working with a bank on an SBA loan for two months and at the 11th hour they declined to proceed. They recommended AEDC and Kelli Sterling (AEDC Loan Manager) worked very fast to make it happen. We had some travel that had to happen during that time and she worked with us even through that," Shelley said.
 Thanks to AEDC, Shelley and Nathan were able to purchase Express Employment Professionals, a franchise with offices across the US, Canada, and South Africa. The local office had been operating since 2000.
"I have been very impressed with the investment that Express makes in its franchisees. They offer amazing training, support, and resources to make sure we can be a strong local business," said Shelley. "And, we have grown since we
 bought the company. I love being able to invest in a good team, bringing in training and leadership models that will serve them well while they work for me, as well as in the future if they decide to pursue other goals."
Before buying Express, Shelley was a Deputy Director for Department of Health & Human Services Children & Family Services. She said moving from human services management and leadership roles to business ownership in the staffing industry proved to be a smooth transition.
"We get to work with a variety of individuals seeking work, everything from executives to day laborers... " said Nilsen, who was born and raised in Humboldt County and left for 14 years before returning. "And I was ready to impact my community through job creation."
For more information, contact Express Personnel Services at
14 west Wabash Ave. Eureka
707-268-1866
Or visit them
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Community Project
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As the final piece of the improvement project at AEDC office, Greenway Partners and AEDC staff had a work party to complete the landscaping. Thanks to Greenway Partners for taking such a hands-on approach to finishing up this project with us !
Pictured: Jeff Rockefeller, Kirk Cohune, Fawn Scheer and Rocky Brashear from Greenway Partners and Ross Welch, Keif Chavera, Kelli Sterling, Tina Susmilch and Tony Rodriguez from AEDC
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Spotlight on Success a Great Success!
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Thank you to everybody who participated in AEDC's 10th Annual Spotlight on Success. The event was a great night of networking and celebrating our small businesses, many of which were at the event.
Thanks to our event sponsors:
- Coast Central Credit Union
- Tri Counties Bank
- Eureka Payments
- Forget Me Not
- Humboldt Area Foundation
- Mad River Union
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- Nilsen Feed Co.
- Redwood Capital Bank
- Umpqua Bank
- US Bank
- Wildberries Marketplace
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Thank you to our participating businesses:
- Ace Hardware: Fortuna, Shafer's and Willow Creek
- Arcata Pizza & Deli
- Arcata Theatre Lounge
- Beck's Bakery
- Beer Kissed/Six Rivers Brewery
- Brio Breadworks
- Cassaro's Catering
- Celebrations Tamales & Redwood Organics
- Christina Anastasia
- Dance with Debbie
- Dick Taylor's Chocolates
- Diane's Sweet Heat
- Drakes Glen Creations
- Eureka Car Stereo
- Eureka Women's Club
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- Express Personnel Services
- Fire and Light Originals
- Hoppy's FroYo
- Jessicurl
- LaDolce Video
- Los Bagels
- Mad River Farms
- Natural Decadence Bakery
- Ohana Organics
- O'Meara Brothers Brewing Company
- Panaderia Ortiz
- Roundman's Smokehouse
- Salt Fish House
- Sistah Vegan
- Southside Mike's Barbecue Sauce
- Wildberries Marketplace
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And thank you to our economic development and financial partners who participated, including:
- Arcata Chamber of Commerce
- Coast Central Credit Union
- Humboldt Made
- Redwood Capital Bank
- Tri Counties Bank
- Umpqua Bank
- US Bank
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Support our Youth
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Humboldt Lemonade Day
is Coming !
Please support our youth on Humboldt Lemonade Day
To find a stand in your neighborhood, or to help a child register, please visit our Humboldt Lemonade Day page here.
Please contact Susan Seaman for information on how YOU can support our youth entrepreneurs by sponsoring Lemonade Day
susans@aedc1.org or 707-822-4616, ext. 12
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AEDC News
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CALED News
AEDC was recognized at the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) Annual Conference for their work developing funding partnerships to help with the Carson Block Building. They were honored during the Celebrate Success Luncheon with an award of merit in the category of "Economic Development Partnerships," for development projects between public and private sector that exemplify the spirit of partnership in 2015.
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Training Opportunity
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Increasing Business through Government Contracting
June 7, 9 a.m.
Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, Eureka
the NorCal Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is presenting its 2016 Summer Speaker Series. This Eureka workshop will focus on federal contracting but will also include information on state and local contracting as well as offering tips for GSA contracting.
Keynote Kevin Grimes is a dynamic speaker who will highlight best practices on writing a thorough technical proposal and how to avoid common mistakes.
For more information or to register,
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Financing Business Opportunity 
