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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Launching in January of 2023, LRC will be a master class on personal leadership development, the unique issues and assets we face as a region, and a transformational opportunity to engage with leaders from throughout our region.
This program is being implemented through Arcata Economic Development Corp.
“A regional leadership program complements a lot of economic development efforts happening in our region,” said Susan Seaman, program director at AEDC. “As an annual program, it will continue to strengthen our collaborative efforts in the counties we serve.”
While LRC is launching this year, it has been in the works for a while.
“When I moved to Humboldt County a few years ago, I hoped to help build a regional leadership program," said Nancy Olson, LRC director of program and development. “Before moving here, I ran the Southern California Leadership Network in Los Angeles. We facilitated various local, regional and statewide leadership programs and graduated over 700 leaders during my time there. I saw, firsthand, the ways these programs shaped not only their own personal journey but also the impact these leaders went on to have in effecting change and engaging in their communities."
LRC will start Jan. 12 to 14, 2023, in Humboldt County, with a cohort of 30 individuals from across the region. In the first session, participants will explore their personal leadership styles, build an understanding of adaptive leadership framework, and hear from regional leaders about the future of equitable economic development across the Redwood Coast.
In subsequent sessions, the cohort will travel to each of the different counties to get a first-hand look at how various community leaders and sectors are responding to housing issues, climate resiliency, workforce development, infrastructure, and many other factors that impact our shared quality of life.
The cohort will meet in Mendocino County March 2 to 4, Lake County April 13 to 15, Del Norte County June 8 to 10, and will conclude with an exploration of Humboldt County and cohort graduation on July 13 to 15.
Tuition for this program is $3,750 and includes full participation in seminars, leadership materials, hotel accommodations, and meals for all five sessions. Tuition assistance may be available for qualified candidates with demonstrated financial need.
Those who apply by Oct. 15 will receive a $250 discount. The cutoff for all applications will be Nov. 15.
Join an upcoming virtual info session via Zoom to learn more, happening on Oct. 4 from 5 to 6 p.m. and Oct. 11 from noon to 1 p.m.
Visit https://www.leadershiprc.org/apply to register for an info session and to learn more.
Submit your application today at https://www.leadershiprc.org/apply. Should you have any questions, please contact Allie Jones, communications and outreach coordinator, at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This two-day virtual economic summit is designed to foster innovative thinking throughout our region of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino counties, as well as adjacent tribal lands.
Lake County is joining this conference for the first time this year, as an important initiative to strengthen collaborative efforts between the four counties that make up the Redwood Coast Region.
As a rural community, Lake County shares many similar challenges as well as economic drivers.
This conference allows the participants a chance to share the insights and innovative solutions they have been working on in our county, and to hear from other communities for inspiration as well.
The conference will center on conversations and networking with a focus on industry opportunities, infrastructure needs, and improving quality of life for all in the midst of a changing economic, climatic and cultural landscape.
On Thursday, Sept. 22, they will hear from keynote speakers addressing relevant topics for our region, and engage in interactive breakout sessions on key regional focus areas.
They will hear from Sen. Mike McGuire; Tara Lynn Gray, director of California Office of Small Business Advocacy; Robert Eyler, professor of economics at Sonoma State University; Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California; and Ken Hamik, futurist.
Friday will provide a range of breakout sessions on exciting economic and business development opportunities for entrepreneurs and policymakers across the region, from broadband and medical care to food security, arts, culture, housing, and so much more.
Several Lake County leaders will be presenting, including:
• Creative Solutions to the Housing Crisis: Workforce and Affordable Housing Solutions from Clearlake and Fort Bragg. While the entire state is struggling with affordable housing shortages, rural communities like ours are especially hard hit. Explore how Clearlake’s Homestead Program and Housing Mendocino Coast use two different creative approaches to make workforce housing more affordable and accessible. Presented by Alan Flora, city manager of Clearlake, and Sarah McCormick, assistant city manager of Fort Bragg
• Blue Zones: Live Better, Longer. The Blue Zones’ “Power 9” reverse engineers longevity using international communities with the longest-living people thriving as models. In this session, we will share how our teams are implementing the Power 9 in Lake and Mendocino counties. Presented by Jamey Gill and Tina Tyler-O’Shea, executive directors of Blue Zones Projects Lake and Mendocino counties, respectively.
• Best-in-class regenerative, organic farming comes naturally to the Redwood Coast. Hear the story of two certified regenerative organic farms: Alexandre Family Farm in Del Norte and the Shannon Family of Wines in Lake County. Learn how and why to farm like the world depends on it and explore the three pillars of Regenerative Organic Certified farming: soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. Presented by Blake Alexandre, owner of Alexandre Family Farm, and Joy Merrilees, VP of production for Shannon Family of Wines.
Read the full line-up of presenters and more about the summit at bit.ly/GrowingForward2022.
This conference will be primarily virtual on Sept. 22 to 23, but there will be an in-person mixer at the fabulous Lady Luck Garage from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday. A joint event with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Mixer, this networking event will be a great chance to continue conversations from the day and meet other leaders from the community. If you’ve wanted to check out this one-of-a-kind vintage car showroom and event venue, located at 4010 Main St. in Kelseyville, now’s your perfect chance.
In addition to the virtual presentations, participants will receive a conference package, including conference swag and a detailed program overview with highlights from our community. The robust virtual platform will make it easy to participate live, watch recordings later, network with other attendees, and participate in virtual exhibits.
Learn more and register for the conference at bit.ly/GrowingForward2022. General admission tickets are $75. Attendees will get admission to the live event, access to recordings afterward, a generous “swag bag” filled with goodies from our sponsors, entrance to the in-person Mixer at Lady Luck Garage on Thursday evening, and a printed program highlighting the economic state of our region.
The Redwood Coast Region Economic Development Summit is a collaborative effort between organizations across Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino counties, as well as adjacent tribal lands. Our sponsors include AEDC, Blue Lake Rancheria, Cal Poly Humboldt, City of Arcata, City of Eureka, City of Rio Dell, Coast Central Credit Union, College of the Redwoods, County of Humboldt, Headwaters, NorCal for Health, North Coast Small Business Development Center, North Coast Tourism, PG&E, Redwood Capital Bank, RREDC, Savings Bank and Vocality.
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- Written by: California Department of Public Health
Health care facilities, other congregate settings and schools will no longer be required to administer weekly COVID-19 testing of unvaccinated and under vaccinated workers.
The changes take effect this Saturday, Sept. 17.
The state’s vaccination and booster requirements for employees in healthcare, correctional health, and adult residential settings remain in effect.
In addition, changes to the vaccine-or-test policy regarding state workers will be announced separately by CalHR.
“We’ve entered a phase of the pandemic where the majority of people in these workplace settings are vaccinated, and our youngest Californians are now eligible for vaccination too, which protects all of our communities against severe illness, hospitalization and death,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón. “While unvaccinated individuals remain at greatest risk of serious health consequences from COVID-19 infection, weekly testing of unvaccinated groups is no longer slowing the spread as it did earlier in the pandemic due to the more infectious Omicron variants.”
State public health leaders urge all individuals to stay up-to-date on the COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves from severe illness and slow the spread of the virus.
As Omicron variants keep emerging, the updated booster is an important tool against severe illnesses, hospitalization, long COVID, and death.
California expects to receive more than one million doses of the updated booster and will have ample supply to meet demand.
While weekly testing requirements are ending, employers and schools are encouraged to continue providing testing resources to staff and students to slow the spread of COVID-19 in all communities.
Vaccination and testing are two key measures that help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, as is masking and improving indoor ventilation.
The state has distributed another round of 10 million at-home tests to K-12 schools and continues to support additional testing resources for schools as well as school and community testing sites, some of which offer COVID-19 treatments.
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- Written by: Governor's Office
AB 257, the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), authorizes the creation of the Fast Food Council comprised of representatives from labor and management to set minimum standards for workers in the industry, including for wages, conditions related to health and safety, security in the workplace, the right to take time off from work for protected purposes and protection from discrimination and harassment.
“California is committed to ensuring that the men and women who have helped build our world-class economy are able to share in the state’s prosperity,” said Gov. Newsom on Monday. “Today’s action gives hardworking fast-food workers a stronger voice and seat at the table to set fair wages and critical health and safety standards across the industry. I’m proud to sign this legislation on Labor Day when we pay tribute to the workers who keep our state running as we build a stronger, more inclusive economy for all Californians.”
Members of the Fast Food Council at the Department of Industrial Relations will include fast food workers and their advocates, franchisees, franchisors and representatives from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the Department of Industrial Relations.
For full text of the bill, visit http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Under the Newsom Administration, California has made important strides to support workers and advance workplace safety.
Last year, the governor signed legislation to protect warehouse workers from unsafe production quotas and nation-leading legislation to end exploitative piece-rate compensation for garment industry workers.
The governor also signed a measure directing Cal/OSHA to create an advisory committee to recommend state policies to protect domestic workers and a bill to ensure that workers with disabilities are paid a fair wage.
In 2019, the governor signed legislation giving child care workers the right to join a union and collectively bargain with the state.