News Flash

We know that Humboldt County has some of the worst roads in the state. This is partially because other counties, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, have passed transportation measures that give them access to billions in state and federal dollars that the County of Humboldt currently cannot afford to access because the county does not have the matching funds.

On Tuesday, July 23 the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to place Humboldt County’s Roads/911 Emergency Response Measure on your November 5, 2024 ballot. If passed, the measure would provide $24 million in local funding, that cannot be taken or cut by the state, that would allow the county to bring in additional millions in outside funding each year for roads and bus service for seniors, disabled and low-income people.

As the County of Humboldt works to create a sustainable, ongoing budget that meets Humboldt's needs, we want to hear from you. What are your top priorities for Humboldt County? This research is important as the county explores ways to further tighten its belt while providing essential services that residents expect and deserve.

Last fall, the county conducted a survey to obtain initial resident input on service priorities. Some of the priorities identified by your neighbors include:

• Maintaining 911 emergency response times
• Maintaining local streets and roads to reduce the need for future repairs 
• Providing communications services for medical and first responders after natural disasters
• Repairing deteriorating county roads 
• Becoming eligible for additional state and federal matching funds for road repair 
• Climate action, including transit
• Maintaining and expanding bus services for seniors, low-income and people with disabilities
• Providing services to address homelessness

The county wants to learn which of these priorities are most important to the community. 

Humboldt County residents are encouraged to share their input and priorities to help the county identify creative solutions that align with the community’s values while addressing the county’s current fiscal challenges.

The Humboldt County Community Feedback Survey is available online at humboldtgov.org/roads911. The survey will be open until Friday, June 28.

For more information, please call 707-445-7266.

Child care is an essential component of a strong and supported workforce. A small licensed family child care home with 8 children can help enable each of those parents to find or keep a job, providing the necessary workforce for local businesses and generating additional earned income, which ripples out in expanded economic growth. A staggering 80% of Humboldt’s working families struggle to find licensed childcare—and that was before the pandemic.

In March of 2020, roughly one-third of available child care facilities in Humboldt County closed, with six percent of child care facilities closing permanently. Between a higher rate of staff turnover and decreased capacity, our already weakened child care system is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. 

In the spring of 2022, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $4.86 million of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding to support our child care industry. Arcata Economic Development Corporation and the County of Humboldt, in partnership with the Humboldt Child Care Task Force, are proud to announce the Child Care Stabilization Fund, a variety of programs designed to provide immediate business support, long-term stabilization, and the financial support needed to grow a healthier child care system.

Learn more at the Humboldt Child Care Stabilization web page.

Partner Organizations

Humboldt County Administrative Office - Economic Development

This is one of the flagship efforts taken by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to support the community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the emergency, the Humboldt County Administrative Office’s Economic Development Division worked closely with local businesses, who identified the critical role that child care plays in supporting our workforce across all industries.

Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)

AEDC is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) committed to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream. AEDC provides loans and support to entrepreneurial, innovative business and community endeavors.

Changing Tides Family Services

Changing Tides is a resource and referral agency that provides families with information about available child care providers in the community and training and resources for child care providers. Changing Tides maintains a comprehensive database of child care providers, and also assists families to access subsidized child care, mental health services, and respite care services.

First 5 Humboldt

First 5 Humboldt aims to create an integrated support system for families of children in their first five years of life. They provide support and information through playgroups, early childhood education opportunities, and health initiatives.

Humboldt County Office of Education Local Child Care Planning Council

The Local Child Care Planning Council assesses, plans, and promotes quality, accessible, affordable child care and development services that reflect the diverse needs of families throughout Humboldt County. As part of the Humboldt County Office of Education, they complete a needs assessment every 5 years to set priorities for the allocation of state funding for child care

The Humboldt Bay Trail is a network of paved paths connecting the communities around Humboldt Bay. Efforts are actively underway to complete a continuous 14-mile, non-motorized trail from central Arcata to the southern end of Eureka.

The County is coordinating with other local agencies to develop a regional Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout Humboldt County.

The County of Humboldt Cannabis Business Micro-grant, Marketing, and Local Equity Program, commonly referred to as ‘Project Trellis,’ is a trailblazing support initiative for the county’s cannabis industry.