Humboldt Supervisors Champion Local Entrepreneurs, Debate Coastal Policies, and Celebrate Community Milestones

Community Celebrations and Economic Futures Dominate Board Meeting

**HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA** – The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors navigated a packed agenda on Tuesday, October 7, balancing heartfelt community recognitions with significant decisions on economic development and coastal protection.

Startup Humboldt Aims to Create 250 Local Jobs

A major focus of the meeting was a presentation on Startup Humboldt, a new non-profit initiative designed to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem for local entrepreneurs. Co-founders Dan Phillips and John Ballard, both Cal Poly Humboldt alumni with successful careers in Silicon Valley, detailed their vision to create 250 new, well-paying jobs in the county over the next decade.

"We're all about Economic Development," said Ballard. The initiative, operating under the 501(c)(3) Lost Coast Ventures, will provide mentorship and funding to scalable local businesses. Phillips and Ballard emphasized that any financial returns from their investments will be funneled back into Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods.

Startup Humboldt has established a new innovation hub in Arcata's former Inter-news building, which now serves as a central location for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and other partners. The group is launching a business competition with a $200,000 funding pool to help commercialize promising local ventures. The competition will feature two tracks: one for micro-ventures and another for larger, scalable ideas.

Supervisor Rex Bohn praised the initiative, stating, "The level of your knowledge that you're going to be able to give to these young entrepreneurs is priceless... you have no financial investment, you just have a personal investment in giving back to the community and I do appreciate that so much."

Proclamations Honor Local Organizations and Causes

The board issued several proclamations recognizing the contributions of local organizations and raising awareness for important health and social issues.

* **California State Grange:** The board celebrated the 150th annual California State Grange Convention, hosted this year at the Van Duzen Grange. Representatives noted it was only the third time in 150 years the convention has been held in Humboldt County. The event will highlight local agriculture, forestry, and industries, with an open house on Wednesday and a public square dance on Friday.

* **Changing Tides Family Services:** In recognition of its 50th anniversary, Changing Tides Family Services was commended for its vital role in providing childcare support, mental health services, and family resources. The organization was credited with infusing over $48 million in non-county funds into the local community in the last three years alone to support children and families.

* **Breast Cancer Awareness Month:** Joined by representatives from the Breast and GYN Health Project, the California Cancer Crushers, and the Sheriff’s Office, the board declared October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Speakers emphasized the importance of early detection and highlighted local support services and fundraising events, including the Pink Patch Project and the upcoming "Crushing Cancer One Step at a Time" 5K.

* **Domestic Violence Awareness Month:** Humboldt Domestic Violence Services presented on their work to support survivors. In the last year, the organization handled over 3,800 calls on its 24/7 support line and provided over 1,700 individual counseling sessions.

* **Craniofacial Acceptance Month:** The board shared a moving proclamation recognizing a local family's journey with their son's craniosynostosis diagnosis, celebrating his success in sports and his role in raising awareness.

Board Passes Divided Resolutions on Signs and Offshore Oil

The supervisors also took action on two key coastal policies.

First, the board voted 3-2 to adopt a modified Coastal Sign Ordinance, accepting minor changes mandated by the California Coastal Commission for certification. The changes primarily align the county’s ordinance with the language of the Coastal Act, rather than the state's Outdoor Advertising Act. The vote followed a discussion on the potential impacts on local businesses and the differing legal frameworks.

Later, in a 3-1-1 vote, the board passed a resolution reaffirming its opposition to new offshore oil and gas drilling and deep-sea mining. The resolution also authorized the county to join a new coalition of local governments to coordinate advocacy on the issue, with Supervisor Mike Wilson appointed as the representative. The vote came in response to a recent court ruling that overturned a federal ban on new offshore leases. Chair Michelle Bushnell abstained, citing a need for more information, while Supervisor Bohn voted against the measure.

Other County Business

In other actions, the board:

* Introduced an ordinance to reduce the size of the Fish and Game Advisory Commission from 15 to 10 members, with two appointments per supervisorial district.

* Appointed Supervisor Rex Bohn to the Humboldt County Redevelopment Oversight Board.