Redwood Region R.I.S.E.

Over the next decade, Redwood Region R.I.S.E. will create a vibrant, regenerative economy catalyzed by the implementation of community-driven innovations and collaborative governance. 

To guide and support an equitable, comprehensive, transparent, and inclusive regional planning process generating policies, projects, and funding that will advance long-term prosperity, carbon neutrality, economic resilience, and pathways to high-road industry initiatives and employment opportunities. 

• Build economic development capacity to maximize opportunities for growth and effective implementation of projects across industries, agencies, and disinvested/BIPOC communities. 
• Create an equitable regional economic plan aligned with existing plans and informed by data, community participation and community priorities. 
• Increase diversity of the regional workforce employed in high-road occupations by ensuring training and pathways to flourishing-wage careers for people historically under-represented in growth sectors. 
• Identify funding opportunities driven by stakeholder participation in decision-making for priority projects.

• Convener

The California Center for Rural Policy (CCRP) at Cal Poly Humboldt, will facilitate a participatory planning process accounting for shifting dynamics in intra- and inter-regional industries and talent pools. CCRP is a research and evaluation center committed to informing policy, building community, and promoting the health and well-being of people living in rural California. Founded in 2005 by a diverse group of community members from Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino Counties, CCRP collaborates with numerous organizations and partners throughout rural Northern CA and has managed over 150 projects, conducting research and evaluation. CCRP utilizes a community-based participatory research approach to involve stakeholders in all phases of the research process. 

• Fiscal Agent

Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is a regional Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Small Business Lending Center (CDC), and Economic Development Corporation serving Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, and Lake, as well as Trinity and Siskiyou Counties. AEDC works with partners across the Region to administer approximately $27 million in loan funds from a variety of private and government sources and provides training and technical assistance to build individual, small business, and community wealth. Each funder requires unique and specific reporting requirements. AEDC staff has experience making accurate and timely payments and tracking and reporting to funders and partners in an accurate and timely manner. AEDC has a long-standing reputation as a trusted financial partner in the Region. 

• Outreach for Disinvested Communities

CCRP will partner with North Coast Opportunities (NCO, Mendocino and Lake), Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA, Humboldt County), and True North Organizing Network (TNON, Del Norte and Humboldt County), Disinvested communities are defined by the state as certain census tracts impacted by environmental health hazards, experiencing high poverty and unemployment rates and median household incomes at or below 80% of the statewide median income or classified as low income.  Disadvantaged communities are also defined as California Native American Tribes as defined by the Native American Heritage Commission Tribal Consultation Policy. CCRP analyses show populations in our Region that fall in these groups are most likely to be Seniors, Opportunity Youth, Tribal Communities, Farmworkers, and People of Color.

The initial members of Redwood Economic Collaborative have signed letters in support of this agreement and have a history of working collaboratively within and across counties that comprise our Region, as well as with organizations in neighboring CERF regions. These members will now compose the initial Redwood Economic Collaborative (REC).

The REC will be coordinated by a Steering Committee comprised of two members nominated from the REC teams. The Steering Committee will review and approve all analyses, plans and proposed projects. A Review Caucus open to those on R.I.S.E. who identify in whole or in part as BIPOC or a member of a disinvested community or impacted worker will, as a group, review and offer guidance on policies; strategic directions; and inclusivity. 

The REC will be structured with teams who will organize the R.I.S.E. work. Teams may break into smaller working groups and will be coordinated by members of Local Leadership Teams with support from CCRP. R.I.S.E. teams will gather and interpret local data, provide input and develop recommendations throughout the planning process, including recommendations for priority projects and will function as a conduit that ensures information is shared across all counties in the Region.

REC will make decisions using a participatory consensus model. Any recommendation with 75-100% consensus approval from the Caucus will be adopted or negotiated towards adoption by the Steering Committee and the Caucus. Recommendations falling short of consensus will be revised or held for serious future consideration. Members of REC understand the governance and participation model may change as the planning process evolves and are committed to moving the process forward in collaboration with the Regional Convener to achieve CERF objectives.

• Blue Economy: The Noyo Harbor Ocean Science Center, Nordic Aquafarms, The Klamath Dam removal and habitat restoration project 
• Green/Regenerative Economy: Blue Lake Rancheria microgrid, The CORE Hub 
• Regional Partnerships: The Covid Economic Resilience Consortium (CERC), The Prosperity Network, supported by Humboldt County’s Department of Economic Development
• Community well-being, education, workforce development: Building Healthy Communities, the Yurok Nation 
• Broadband: Lake County Broadband Master The world’s longest subsea cable to expand broadband in Humboldt County, Mendocino County, Fort Bragg has municipal broadband, and is planning more projects to expand access
• Arts, Leisure, Tourism: Lake County Tourism Improvement District, joint Recreation District between Clearlake; The Great Redwood Trail; Mendocino County several arts-related projects, including a Fort Bragg Performing Arts Center and Industrial Arts Center
• Public/Private Partnerships: PG&E supported workforce development in the past; the US Forest Service timber value chain project; Mendocino Opportunities for building a Vibrant Economy (MOVE2030) created to lay the groundwork for a more resilient economy created through public and private partnerships

Many partners joining the initial Collaborative represent more than one category of organization engaged in developing this application but are listed only once. 

• 8/23/22 CERF Meeting Slides
• 7/20/22 CERF Meeting Slides
• 7/15/22 CERF Meeting Slides
• 6/30/22 CERF Meeting Slides
• 6/23/22 CERF Meeting Slides
• 6/8/22 CERF Meeting Slides
• 5/23/22 CERF Meeting Slides