Recycling Market Development Zone

North Coast

Humboldt and Del Norte Counties are located on the northern coast of California in the heart of the timber industry. The Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) encompasses both counties, including the incorporated cities of Trinidad, Blue Lake, Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, Ferndale, Rio Dell, and Crescent City. The nearest major metropolitan centers are 250 miles to the south (San Francisco) and 400 miles to the north (Portland, Ore.).

• Incentives
• Employment Incentives
• Target Materials
• Infrastructure
• Contact

Incentives

The City of Eureka is a designated California Enterprise Zone, which offers credits dealing with hiring, equipment, sales, and personal tax. Local jurisdictions have minimized start-up times and costs for permitting of recycling-based industries. The Northcoast Small Business Development Center is available to assist with business plan development. The Redwood Region Economic Development Corporation offers revolving loans, ranging from $2,500 to $150,000. The cities of Arcata, Fortuna, and Eureka offer similar loans, limited to projects within their respective city limits. Small Business Administration loans of up to $1 million are also available. Pacific Gas and Electric offers incentives for commercial businesses within the zone.

Employment Incentives

A survey by California Business Magazine found that Humboldt County, with a skilled labor rate of $7.25 per hour, had the lowest labor cost in 26 labor markets. Currently that figure is up to $8.50 per hour. Along with 7.5 percent unemployment rate, the county has low industrialization and a sizable California State University campus, making it a year-round employer’s market. Skilled labor in light manufacturing and modest fees for labor training are available through the College of the Redwoods, the Private Industry Council, and local agencies.

Target Materials

Available feedstock materials for manufacturing include, but are not limited to, organic material, including wood waste, yard waste, food waste, and sludge; ferrous metals; inerts; reusable and repairable items; and traditional recyclables, including bottles, cans, cardboard, and other paper grades.

Infrastructure

Highway service is available from State Highways 101 and 299. United Airlines and Horizon Airlines provide daily freight and passenger service from the Arcata/Eureka airport, and a publicly owned railroad serves the zone. Humboldt Bay is the only California deep water port north of San Francisco, and is being developed to accommodate large freighters and tankers. There are eight business parks on 850 acres, plus an additional 1,200 acres, countywide, of vacant land presently zoned for commercial and industrial development. Eureka offers ocean access buildings on Humboldt Bay, and the largest building complex in the zone is 406,000 square feet on 209 acres, with rail access.

Contact Information

North Coast RMDZ http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RMDZ/NorthCoast/Default.asp Maureen Hart, Private Consultant/Contr Humboldt Waste Mgmt Authority 27 South G St. Arcata, CA 95521 Phone: 707-822-9502 Fax: 707-822-9577 Email: hartmo@humbolt1.com CIWMB Contacts for this RMDZ: Zone Liaison: Yasmin Satter Loan Officer: Jeremy Callihan

Zone Search/Map

Last updated: September 23, 2008