LAKEPORT >> A promising pitch generating more bang for the buck by setting up an emergency hub, which serves as a resilience center, and as a network facility for economic development, came before the Board of Supervisors during their November 14 meeting.
The state program dangling a carrot before the counties is the Cal Jobs First Catalyst Fund. “It would be primarily an emergency facility, a kind of command-and- control center to intervene for emergency,” Ben Rickelman, deputy county administrative officer said. And it will be a multi-purpose hub during non-emergency times that would function as a site for entrepreneurs conducting pre-development programs, looking through fiscal analysis, environmental assessment, architecture and engineering work.
” Since I started at the county, I’ve had several conversations of the need for collaboration space; high quality offices for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, to work at.” Rickelman added. “There’s no real space like that currently in Lake County. It’s done in an Ad Hoc manner, so this could present a real opportunity.” And a hub could also provide demonstrations, workshops, networking events while working with other industries offering upscale technology presentations.
The Catalyst Fund, formerly, Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) will allocate $600 million for the entire California Jobs First initiative (CJF). There are 13 CJF regions throughout California. Lake County, in Redwood Region RISE also includes Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte. The Redwood Region RISE CJF has a total allocation of $9 million. “So, we were thinking of about $350,000 for our region for the hub,” Rickelman said.
What the state is looking for by the end of November is the Region’s overall plan for submitting projects. Rickelman has been talking with a team led out of Cal Poly, Humboldt with in – depth discussions regarding the different types of projects which will be occurring. “What I heard from project leaders it might roll out in May, but it’s a little unclear from this date.”
District 3 Supervisor Ed Crandell expressed concern over the vagueness of the proposal. “A lot of this seems to be pre-emptive,” he said. “What is in place for implementation of the projects … or did I miss something?”
It is still early on in the process. But the county administration desired to let the board know the county was moving toward submission. “The funding is not guaranteed but since our region has a good chance for the 4-County allocation, Lake County has a good shot for a grant,” Rickelman said.
District 4 Supervisor Michael Green noted that if Lake County is doing business development in a place which draws entrepreneurs or doing startups for micro-businesses, he pledged his support of it. “But it is not central to the Resiliency Hub and Spoke (model) we spoke about when Terry Logsdon (chief climate resiliency officer) was here,” he said. “Is it possible to attract private sector contribution to this proposal? If we can distinguish ourselves from other counties, it would not be just a vision of this synergy of emergency and non-emergency uses of this facility. Do support networks exist and are they poised to take advantage of participating in this Hub?”
Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer informed the board it was she who encouraged Rickelman to bring the proposal to the board now. “In January, we’ll look at possible federal earmark projects, and then the next round of CDBG funding,” she said. “So, I didn’t want to lose this. opportunity.”
Rickelman pointed out if a start-up begins driving economic growth, job creation, and serving an underserved community, it is a positive aspect for getting a grant. Simon noted the board had recently discussed an emergency center and recounted the area has historically been vulnerable to wildfires and floods and needs to prepare for those contingencies. “But ultimately we need to prepare for economic development,” he said. “It’s a positive thing, and I’m supportive of it. But we don’t have any specific projects, but hopefully that will be worked on by Mr. Rickelman and the CAO.”
Simon reminded the board the presentation was just for direction and no action would be taken immediately. Parker said it was a chance to ask the board if they wanted to offer advice. “I wanted to get you up to speed before we continue with the regional group.”
