The North Coast Co-op is inviting tax-exempt, local nonprofit organizations (or organizations fiscally sponsored by one) and/or public schools located in Humboldt County to apply for its Cooperative Community Fund grant program.
This year there is $22,000 available for grants ranging from $500 to $3,000.
Funds will be granted to projects that address at least one of the following:
Sustainability – recycling, alternative transportation Community development – health care, social services, diversity, equity & inclusion Food security and education – sustainable agriculture, local food economy, food nutrition and education Cooperatives – co-op organizations, co-op development, co-op educationApplications for Cooperative Community Fund grants are being accepted through March 24.
Applications are available online or can be picked up at the Arcata and Eureka Co-op customer service desks.
For more information and to download the application go to https://northcoast.coop/CCFGrants.
Coast Central opens up grant programCoast Central Credit Union announced that the spring 2023 round of its Community Investment Program is now open. With the recent Board of Directors’ approval of an increase up to $300,000 in grants annually, $150,000 is available this round to support local organizations throughout Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity counties.
Grant amounts generally range from $3,000 to a maximum of $25,000, and there are usually eight to 12 recipients. Recent grant recipients have included Eureka Rescue Mission, Hoopa American Legion, and Adult Day Health Care of Mad River.
In 2023, CCCU planned for an unprecedented $650,000 in total community giving through its grant, sponsorship, and college scholarship programs. Additionally, its employees volunteer over 3,000 hours throughout its three counties.
Applications and more information can be obtained online at coastccu.org under the Community tab, and by contacting Coast Central’s VP of Marketing & Communications Colleen Toste at 707-445-8801 ext. 1309 or ctoste@coastccu.org. The deadline is Feb. 28, at 5 p.m., and applications are due to Humboldt Area Foundation, either via email at grants@hafoundation.org or mailed to 363 Indianola Rd, Bayside CA 95524.
The board’s decisions will be announced by late April.
Redwood Capital announces financial resultsRedwood Capital Bancorp announced unaudited financial results for the three- and 12-month periods that ended Dec. 31, 2022. Redwood Capital Bank reported record earnings and unprecedented loan growth.
“In 2022, Redwood Capital Bank again received the ‘5-Star’ rating from Bauer Financial and ‘Super Premier Performing’ from The Findley Reports,” President and CEO John Dalby said in a prepared statement. “These very prestigious awards are presented by two of the most well-known and respected financial rating agencies within the banking trade. We are honored to have received these awards and believe they are a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”
Total assets as of Dec. 31, 2022, were $521 million and total deposits stood at $471 million as of Dec. 31, 2022. Total loans as of Dec. 31, 2022, net of unearned income, were $379.5 million, an increase of 6% over the Sept. 30, 2022 figure of $359.2 million and a 14% increase over the Dec. 31, 2021, total loans of $332.3 million.
Consolidated net income before taxes for the three and twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2022, totaled $2.7 million and $8.4 million, an increase of 13% from the figure reported for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2022, and a 10% increase from the figure reported for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2021. The company also reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $1.9 million, while net income for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, was reported as $6 million. The annual earnings represented an 8% increase from the year ended Dec. 31, 2021. These record earnings are a result of robust loan production, strong non-interest income and controlled expenses.
Additionally, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on Feb. 14 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 30.
Funding available for carbon-neutral projects$5 million in COVID-19 relief funding was awarded to the Arcata Economic Development Corporation. This funding is administered by the California Economic Development Department through the Community Economic Resilience Fund established by AB 2342. Thirteen regions across the state were funded, including the Redwood Coast Region, to support equity-centered carbon-neutral economic development.
The planning funds will establish a High Road Transition Collaborative for Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. Together, stakeholders will design a blueprint for the region’s recovery from COVID-19 and transition to a carbon-neutral economy. The project will deploy a community and worker-centered approach to economic planning and development. This 18-month process is designed to be complementary to existing economic development work within the region.
The local convener is the California Center for Rural Policy at Cal Poly Humboldt, a research and evaluation center that promotes the health and well-being of people living in rural California. The local community outreach and engagement partner is North Coast Opportunities, the Community Action Agency for Lake and Mendocino Counties. Recruitment is underway for talent to support communications, outreach, and administration for this new project.
“CCRP is excited to leverage its long history of participatory research and engagement in the region in the service of CERF goals. Our mission is to set a table where people of all backgrounds, workers, business leaders, professionals, and policymakers can collaborate towards a vision of a thriving, carbon neutral, and equitable future,” said Dawn Arledge, CCRP executive director, in a prepared statement.
The first step will be to establish the Redwood Coast Region HRTC and begin work on the Regional Plan that is due to the State in March. The HRTC will meet on Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. For more information about the Redwood Coast Region CERF project contact CCRP at ccrp@humboldt.edu.
Coast Central donates to sports programsCoast Central announced the Arcata High and McKinleyville high schools received donations for athletic projects through its sponsorship program.
Arcata High had requested funds for a new portable scoreboard that could be used at all soccer and softball games.
“Our previous scoreboard was unrepairable, and a long-term replacement could not be installed in time for our girls’ softball season this year,” Principal Ron Perry said in a prepared statement. “Additionally, our soccer teams had never had a scoreboard. Coast Central came through for our student athletes big-time.”
The school received $3,000 from CCCU.
McKinleyville High had requested funds to improve its softball field.
“Our outfield had become a safety hazard that required numerous hours of maintenance every season,” Girls’ softball coach Drew Riddle had said in a news release. ” The district had funded much of the field renovation, but funds were still needed for the softball area. We are so grateful for the $3,000 from Coast Central to complete the work.”
The field is also used for the school’s PE classes as well as by Humboldt Fastpitch and the Lost Coast Chaos traveling softball team.