Chamber Member Spotlight

B GHP Client Services team of volunteers and staff . Photo provided by BGHP.

Breast & GYN Health Project

In 1996, there was a breast cancer movement happening in the United States. One in eight women could expect to get breast cancer, and treatments were so harsh that people demanded changes. The breast cancer awareness stamp had been released as part of the movement. Locally, Julie Ohnemus, MD, and family practice physician at North Country Clinic in Arcata had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. After getting treatment locally, her breast cancer came back, so she sought out a breast cancer specialist at Stanford Medical Center. That breast cancer specialist happened to be Dr. Ellen Mahoney, before Dr. Mahoney moved to Humboldt. Julie Ohnemus also got services at a nonprofi t that Dr. Mahoney helped start called Palo Alto Breast Health Project (now Bay Area Cancer Connections). Palo Alto Breast Health Project was run by breast cancer survivors for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Julie Ohnemus found information she had not been able to fi nd (even as a doctor) and she immediately experienced the hope and compassionate understanding of the breast cancer survivors she met. She came home to Humboldt and gathered her circle of support around her kitchen table. Julie told them about the Palo Alto Breast Health Project and her vision to create a similar organization here. They were all eager to help local breast cancer patients, so Humboldt Community Breast Health Project got started in 1997. Eventually, HCBHP expanded to serve people with gynecologic cancers, and the name was changed to Breast and GYN Health Project (BGHP).

Facing breast or gynecologic cancer can be a scary, overwhelming, and confusing time because 12 it is a life-threatening illness and all the decisions cancer patients face. Because BGHP works with breast and gyn cancer patients every day, its staff and volunteers provide excellent emotional support, education, and even hope to help local people with breast or gyn cancers step by step along the way.

BGHP is located in a sweet little house in Arcata by the Arcata Co-op. In 2021, it helped 344 local people with breast or gynecologic cancer or cancer concerns. A group of seven experienced “Warmline” volunteers, many of whom are cancer survivors themselves, work alongside staff to provide cancer resource support services as people travel their cancer journey. The volunteers and staff include nurses and a Medical Consultant so they can provide high level education and support services.

Now in its 25th year, BGHP off ers “an extra layer of support,” which includes a lending library, eight different support groups (on Zoom currently), patient navigation, decision support consultation, wigs, and much more. ALL services are free of charge, thanks to thousands of local donors, vacation raffl e ticket buyers, and grant funding. Anyone curious about how BGHP might be able to help is encouraged to call (707) 825-8345 or visit www.bghp.org.

Humboldt Area Foundation and the Wild Rivers Community Foundation

Humboldt Area Foundation and the Wild Rivers Community Foundation, along with supporting organizations - including the Native Cultures Fund, Equity Alliance of the North Coast, and Humboldt Health Foundation - serve the four-county region of Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity counties in California and Curry County in Oregon. Their vision is to enable and empower our unique region to thrive as a just, healthy, and equitable place for current and future generations.

For nearly 50 years, they’ve been recognized for their innovative work and approaches. From incubating grassroots organizations to leadership

development and training programs to local loan and impact investment portfolios, the community foundation has long-supported capacity building, social and fi nancial infrastructure, and philanthropic advice essential to the well-being and progress of our region.

HAF+WRCF also serves as a community facilitator, organizer, and capacity-builder of local and tribal governments, as well as public, private, and nonprofit organizations, to accomplish together what other single entities cannot.

As a whole, Humboldt County is often defi ned by bodies of water, with miles of coastline, multitudes of watersheds, lagoons, lakes, and fl owing rivers. These lands were the ancestral homes of generations of Indigenous peoples before the arrival of European settlers. Today, there are 23 tribal nations, reservations, and rancherias in the service area with the most concentrated group of Native American tribes in California. The extensive service area extends beyond 10,000 square miles—about the same as the state of Massachusetts—with a census population of about 200,000. Today, the region has emerged as a dairy and agricultural hub for the state, including a transitioning cannabis industry. Its largest employers are governments, nonprofi ts, and retail services.

One of their community grants is the Natives Cultural Fund with a deadline of October 15. Grants of $1,000-$10,000 are made to individuals, non-profi ts, community partnerships and Tribes engaging in projects that refl ect California Indian culture, art, values, and traditional practices. Email nativecultures@hafoundation.org or call 707-2679906. More info can be found at hafoundation.org/ NCFGrants. Humboldt Crabs

The Humboldt Crabs is a community owned organization founded in 1945 by Lou Bonomini. They are the oldest, continuously-operated, collegiate, independent, wood-bat, summer baseball team in the country. This year will mark the 78th consecutive year of Crabs baseball. Players come from all over the West Coast and are NCAA eligible players from community colleges, state colleges, or universities. The Crabs’ mission is to promote family entertainment by providing high-quality summer collegiate baseball games to the public at a reasonable price, provide talented collegiate-level baseball players with a positive summer baseball experience, support youth sports programs (with an emphasis on baseball or softball) in the Humboldt County area, and to preserve and build the tradition of Humboldt Crabs Baseball.

The Humboldt Crabs infuse millions of dollars into the local economy during the summer months with hotel rentals, food, services, and other goods from the 30,000 plus fans who visit Arcata and Humboldt County. As a non-profi t organization, the Crabs rely on a dedicated group of non-paid volunteers for the day-to-day operations. The volunteer Board of Directors range in size from 12 to 15 individuals. Each board member is responsible for handling many behind-the-scenes tasks that allow the Humboldt Crabs Baseball team to continue operating. In the past 20+ years, the Board, with the help of many loyal and dedicated sponsors, have turned the team around to the point where the Crabs have set attendance records, pulling in more than 34,000 fans in the months of June, July, and August. Be sure to catch their fi rst game of the season on June 3 when they play the Ventura Pirates. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with fi rst pitch at 7:00 p.m. The Crabs will play 42 home games this season at the Arcata Ballpark (888 F Street). For a complete schedule, please visit humboldtcrabs.com.

Humboldt Redwood Company

The Mendocino Family of Companies include Allweather Wood, Humboldt Redwood Company, Humboldt Sawmill Company, Mendocino Forest Products, and Mendocino Redwood Company. In Humboldt County, Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC) and Humboldt Sawmill Company (HSC) collectively employ 250 people earning family-level 13

Leadership Fortuna participants got to tour Humboldt Redwood Company’s Scotia sawmill in 2019 as part of the Fortuna Chamber program. Sal Chinnici and Mike Richardson gave the team an up close, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a mill dedicated to ethical and environmentally sustainable practices. Photo credit: Renee Lindsay.

wages and benefi ts. The collective company culture underscores a highly engaged management team, a focus on safety and loss prevention, fi nancial commitment, and community involvement and giving.

HRC was created through the reorganization of the former Pacifi c Lumber Company (PALCO) and related entities in Scotia. HRC’s purpose has been to demonstrate it is possible to manage productive timberlands with a high standard of environmental stewardship and operate a successful business. HRC owns 209,300 acres of Forest Stewardship Council® certifi ed redwood and Douglas-fi r timberlands. HRC’s intent is to maintain these lands for long-term ecological, social, and economic vitality. HRC has a policy of open and transparent operations and is willing to take interested members of the public anywhere in its forest.

HSC owns the manufacturing assets in Scotia where redwood and Douglas-fi r logs from HRC lands are manufactured into lumber and timbers. Products are sold mill direct to wholesale and distribution accounts as well as through company-owned distribution centers to retail lumber yards and home improvement retailers throughout the Western U.S. and beyond.

In 2021, HRC and HSC donated over $81,000 to youth and community groups, including a generous $50,000 donation to the Redwood Memorial Hospital Foundation in support of the new ICU unit at the Fortuna hospital. They also off er a generous college scholarship program to Humboldt County graduating high school seniors. The program off ers a benefi t of $1,000 per year for a total benefi t of $4,000 per student. For more information, please visit getredwood.com.

Photo provided by Nordic Aquafarms.

Nordic Aquafarms

While many may think of Humboldt County as rural and isolated behind the redwood curtain, Nordic Aquafarms recognized it as an ideal place to locate their half-a-billion-dollar state-of-the-art land-based fi sh farm.

In 2018, Nordic Aquafarms, with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) facilities in Europe and one in progress in Belfast, Maine, searched the west coast for a location for its fi fth land-based RAS aquafarm. Nordic representatives discovered the blighted pulp mill site on the Samoa Peninsula—it had challenges but off ered promise that couldn’t be ignored.

The central location will allow Nordic to deliver fresh fi sh via truck to West Coast markets. The coastal dependent zoned site has access to clean, cold fresh and sea water and an existing outfl ow pipe to discharge Nordic’s treated effl uent 1½ miles out into the Pacifi c Ocean. As part of the project, Nordic will clean and clear the site and generate hundreds of local jobs in construction and over 150 permanent positions when the facility is completed. The development will also off er ancillary business opportunities, increased domestic food production, and substantial economic impact.

FACTS ABOUT NORDIC:

Nordic plans to fund site clean-up and invest approximately $600 million in the project.

Nordic plans to produce approx. 25-27,000 metric tons of fi sh annually—approximately 15% of the total West Coast demand in 2030.

Nordic is working with Cal Poly Humboldt, College of the Redwoods, and the Humboldt County Offi ce of Education to build training programs for local youth interested in working in aquaculture.

Nordic recognizes that the project is on historic Wiyot land and looks forward to supporting and collaborating with local tribes.

Nordic‘s facility will NOT discharge anything into the bay.

High level of treatment and removal of nutrients ensures less than signifi cant impacts to the surrounding waters or marine life.

Nordic’s freshwater demand is less than 5% of previous demand and can be supplied by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District without negative impacts.

The facility will be built to withstand impacts from earthquakes and tsunamis.

Multiple physical barriers prevent fi sh escape.

In 2020, Nordic volunteered to prepare a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as part of the permitting/CEQA process. The company hopes to secure permits in 2022. For more information on this project, please contact Nordic’s Community Liaison, Stacy Atkins-Salazar at satkinssalazar@gmail. com or visit https://nafnewsdesk.com/humboldt-faq/

North Coast Growers’ Association

In 1978, a group of local farmers started the Arcata Farmers’ Market, and the North Coast Growers’ Association (NCGA) was established in 1979 as an agricultural support organization. In addition to providing direct sales outlets through farmers’ markets, NCGA has led the eff ort to allow farmers’ markets to accept EBT (at the time this program was called food stamps), WIC (Women, Infants, Children), and helped formed the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets to advocate on behalf of small family farmers. Today, the Arcata Farmers’ Market is the longest continually operated certifi ed farmers’ market in the state and NCGA operates 10 farmers’ markets across the county, continues to provide advocacy and educational opportunities for farmers, has created a multi-farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and is leading the eff ort to create a regional food hub (that will develop outlets for local food through marketing and distributing services specifi cally for local farmers, ranchers, and food producers).

NCGA farmers’ markets provide many great benefi ts for our community other than just access to high quality, nutrient dense food. When customers spend their money directly with local farmers, a much higher percentage of that money is retained in our local economy. This is called an economic multiplier. Estimates of this multiplier indicate that for each dollar earned by a farmer at the market, $.48 is reinvested in the local economy. For every job at a farmers’ market, it is estimated that another .45 of a job is created in the community. Even further, EBT benefi ts spent at farmers’ markets see a 1:1.5 multiplier and incentive programs (like the Market Match that NCGA off ers, which doubles EBT customers’ spending power) see a 1:3 multiplier.

To give this some context, in 2021, $12,260 of EBT and $6,743 of Market Match benefi ts were issued at the Fortuna Farmers’ Market. Using the 1:1.5 for EBT and 1:3 for Market Match economic multiplier, these two programs generated around $38,619 for the local economy. This doesn’t even include the bulk of sales that happen at the market, as cash or credit card purchases.

NCGA works closely with many food-focused organizations. Open Door Community Gardens provides their clients with “produce prescription” vouchers that can be spent at the farmers’ market. Food for People not only buys local produce from local farmers to feed our community but also provides farmers’ market vouchers to their clients. NCGA receives general funding through the Department of Health and Human Services to cover some of their staff time for providing such high levels of support for food access.

Photo provided by NCGA.

Recently, they have been focused on creating a more resilient food system. The pandemic and recent supply chain disruptions have aff ected rural areas like Humboldt much more than urban areas. NCGA meat producers sold an entire year’s worth of meat in one month when corporately-owned meat processing facilities were closed at the onset of the pandemic. This quick response is a testament to the strength that a local food system can have, especially during times of emergency, but the pandemic has also highlighted gaps in our food system. Humboldt County’s current infrastructure (meat processing, cold storage, shared distribution networks, centralized ordering systems, and a physical space that can be used for the buying and selling of wholesale produce and meat) is inadequate to fi ll the food needs of our communities, so as the world changes to adapt to “the new normal,” NCGA is working collaboratively to shore up local food response through the creation of a food hub. For more information, please visit northcoastgrowersassociation.org. Be sure to visit the Fortuna Farmers’ Market every Tuesday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at 10th & Main from June to October.

Photo provided by NCCBB.

Northern California Community Blood Bank

Started in Eureka in 1951 by a group of local physicians who recognized the need for a safe way to collect and store blood, the Northern California Community Blood Bank (nccbb.org) truly is a community institution. “When we call ourselves a community organization, we really mean it. When you donate blood with us, your donation serves our community. Your donation is sent fi rst to local hospitals and patients. Your gift helps heal our neighbors, friends, and families,” said Blood Bank CEO Kate Witthaus.

The impacts of the COVID crisis have been signifi cant, but with the hard work of their staff and dedication of their donors, NCCBB is looking forward to emerging from the pandemic ready to meet the community wherever they are and deliver the gift of life to local patients. With a staff of 50, a group of dedicated volunteers, and nearly 18,000 blood donors, NCCBB carries out their mission to serve the community while meeting and exceeding state, federal, and international standards. Blood Bank staff includes high school students working their fi rst job, Clinical Laboratory Scientists, friendly Donor Care Specialists performing phlebotomy, and a behind-the-scenes team keeping everything running smoothly. The Blood Bank is supported by a volunteer board of directors whose goal is to maintain a local focus, meet patient needs with an excellent standard of care, and maintain fi nancial stability.

To maintain a safe blood supply, only volunteer donors are accepted at NCCBB. In some regions, there are facilities that pay donors for plasma donation, but the products collected at those facilities can only be used for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. Blood products collected at NCCBB are used for transfusion directly to patients.

There is no substitute for human blood. The blood supply is a perishable commodity, and must be replaced regularly. Members of our community make the Blood Bank’s mission attainable by donating regularly throughout the year, to help maintain an adequate, consistent blood supply that will help through times of crisis or disaster. All blood components have a limited lifespan and can’t be stored indefi nitely, so donate regularly throughout the year. Your donation could be the one to save a life when it’s needed.

Without the generosity of community members from all over Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, NCCBB would not be able to meet the needs of local patients. Save a life. Give blood. Learn more at nccbb.org.