By Gregg Foster, RREDC Executive Director
Published by the Times-Standard, December 1, 2002
Conventional wisdom suggests almost nothing new happens outside of the urban centers of the United States. Rural areas are seen as the “antidote” to the competitive urban experience. Sure, a new kind of tomato or creative uses of corn may come from Small Town, USA, but true innovation is a rarity in “the country.”
Of course, like most conventional wisdom, this is a gross oversimplification of a much more complex truth. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in small communities where, increasingly, creative individuals are locating to create the new products and services that will meet the changing needs of the United States and the world.
Humboldt County is an example of the innovative, entrepreneurial, “next wave” rural community. We are home to inventors, artists, researchers, designers, and innovative companies with a worldwide reach.
Largely driving this innovation are our two institutions of higher learning, College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University, and an unparalleled quality of life, which is attracting new, talented entrepreneurs from throughout the United States.
Our traditional industries have responded to changes in the market and regulatory environment with creative solutions. For example, we are the home of the first totally chlorine free paper pulp mill in the United States. This facility was successfully retrofitted the to meet tough new environmental standards. Water and air emissions have been reduced significantly. Now, this company is looking to alternatives to trees for a source of pulp.
New, innovative, high quality small companies also call Humboldt County home. Probably the most well known is Yakima Racks, which grew from a very small manufacturer to the major international supplier of roof rack systems. Others include Fire and Light Originals, a maker of 100 percent recycled glass dinnerware; Silicon Defense, an internationally known designer and maker of computer network intrusion detection and defense products; Wing Inflatables, world renowned for its manufacturing of commercial grade whitewater rafts and other state-of-the-art watercraft; Amulet Manufacturing, a leader in the design and manufacture of excavator/backhoe attachments; and Carlson Wireless creator and maker of wireless systems that bring broadband data access to rural areas throughout the world.
Other examples of leading edge companies include organic dairies and producers of dairy products; award winning breweries and wineries, computer programmers and technology consultants with clients across the globe, well-known, highly talented artists in a variety of media, an alternative energy company in Garberville with a worldwide clientele, a hydroponics manufacturer who is developing products that will allow people to produce food with a fraction of the water and fertilizer required by traditional agriculture.
The common threads among all of these businesses and the many more not listed are their creativity, their entrepreneurial spirit, their passion for quality, and their deep love for the community they call home. They’ve known for years what many are discovering now; that loving what you do and loving where you live leads to a level of creativity and innovation that can’t be matched anywhere else.
However, it takes more than creative individuals and innovative companies to make a community and economy thrive. It takes an educated populace, high quality schools, responsive and creative government, livable communities, and strong business climate. Parents must work closely with the schools to provide atmosphere that encourages learning at home and at school. Education creates opportunity. However, education is no longer the domain of the young. Adults must continue to learn and upgrade skills to remain competitive in the workforce. It’s truer now than ever; good jobs go to the educated. Government must be responsive to the needs of business while protecting the quality of our communities. Zoning regulations must be updated to reflect the needs of today. Permitting processes must be understandable, consistent, and evenly applied. Economic and business development programs must be cutting edge and willing to risk failures in the quest for even greater successes. We need to support innovation in our traditional industries while we nurture the companies of tomorrow.
In the future, I will discuss in more depth the efforts being taken by the “Prosperity Network” and others who provide support for business and economic development. There has been great progress in the quest for a more responsive, innovative network of service providers. There is also much more that can be done.
One last word on innovation, risk, and responsiveness. Or, rather, the lack of it. All of the businesses, organizations, educational institutions, and individuals discussed here are being hurt by the lack of high-speed data access on the North Coast. It’s sad to see the utter lack of effort on the part of the State of California and Pacific Bell to resolve this issue. Our hopes were raised briefly with what appeared to be progress toward a resolution. However, it appears now that both sides have retreated to their respective corners, content to return to the blame game. Its ironic these two great institutions, which tout their focus on the future and their desire to do things differently can’t even settle a dispute over laying cable in Southern Humboldt County. They don’t even seem to have the desire to try. Their lack of creativity does a disservice to all of those entrepreneurs in business, education, and government that are working hard to make our community a better place to live and work. Thanks to the all those that continue to struggle against this sorry situation. Don’t give up the fight.