Upcoming county-wide economic development summit at CR

EUREKA, CA. (KIEM) – Officials from all over Humboldt County will soon be discussing local economic development issues. This Friday, the Arcata Economic Development Corporation will be hosting a county-wide economic development summit. The event will feature over 20 speakers, discussing topics from health care to farming, cannabis-tourism to the manufacturing industry, as well as transportation and street art.

The summit will take place this Friday at the College of the Redwoods from 9 am to 4 pm.

Information provided by AEDC:

The event is open to the public and participants can register at the door at the Theater by 8:30 a.m. 

Presenters include (in order of scheduled appearance)  Susan Seaman, Arcata Economic Development Corporation; Scott Adair, Director of the County Office of Economic Development; Jenny Early, Executive Director of the Garberville Chamber of Commerce; Cyndi Bainbridge of the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce; Susan Ornelas, Economic Development Planner for Blue Lake; Debra Garnes, Mayor of Rio Dell, Jana Ganion, Sustainability and Government Affairs for Blue Lake Rancheria; Wendell Freeman, Treasurer for the Tribal Council of the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria; David Loya, Director of Community Services for Arcata; Liz Shorey, Deputy Director of Community Development for Fortuna and Rob Holmlund, Director of Development Services for Eureka.  

In addition the event will include panel discussions on topics. Health Care will look at the new nursing program at HSU, the new family practice residency partnership with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Open Door; and Health Care Pathways through Humboldt County Office of Education. A  cannabis panel will have presenters from the manufacturing industry, farming and canna-tourism. The Harbor session will include presentations from the Humboldt Bay Harbor District, Nordic Aquafarms and Redwood Coast Energy Authority. Arts & Culture will hear from the Eureka Street Arts Festival, 

the Humboldt Artisans Group and the City of Eureka on the new crop of cities working on Strategic Arts Plans. Transportation will include presentations from representatives from Fly Humboldt and Caltrans.  

AEDC is an independent non-profit economic development corporation located in Eureka, whose mission is to provide loans and support to entrepreneurial, innovative business and community endeavors in their service region, which includes Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, Siskiyou and Trinity Counties.