Business Support
Arcata Business Community
Welcome to a new City of Arcata page dedicated to supporting our business community!
We want this page to be a one-stop shop for information business owners need, and a place for new business information and current events. If you have any suggestions about additions or corrections please let us know - email sdiehlmccarthy@cityofarcata.org.
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Use tabs to focus on areas of information.
- Arcata Loan & Grant Programs
- COVID Business Help & Info
- Other Financing (Including COVID)
- Other Resources
PROGRAM | GENERAL INFORMATION | HOW TO APPLY |
| Job Retention Loan Program | Created to assist for-profit businesses affected by COVID-19 and retain jobs for low-to-moderate income employees.
| Use the link below for an application. Application assistance is available through the North Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Deliver the application and documentation to City Hall, attention Keala Roberts (736 F Street). Applications may also be uploaded to a secure dropbox here. Job Retention Program Application |
| Business Resilience Emergency Loan Program | Created to provide emergency funding for businesses affected by COVID-19.
| Use the link below for an application. Deliver the application and documentation to City Hall, attention Keala Roberts (736 F Street). BRELP Application |
| Business Assistance Loan Program | Designed to help small for-profit businesses with start-up, expansion, and purchases. Construction funding also available.
| Find the application and other information here. Contact Susan at sdiehlmccarthy@cityofarcata.org to discuss making an application. |
| Microenterprise Loan Program | Designed to help small for-profit businesses with expansion or restructure.
| Determine whether your business qualifies for a Microenterprise Loan by completing this Pre-Application Checklist. If you qualify based on the checklist, complete this Pre-Application Form, and contact Susan for at appointment at sdiehlmccarthy@cityofarcata.org. |
| Microenterprise Grant Program | Designed to help small for-profit businesses build capacity to grow.
| Use the Microenterprise Grant Information flyer to determine whether your business may qualify. If it looks like you qualify, contact Susan for an appointment at sdiehlmccarthy@cityofarcata.org. |
PROGRAM | Information and Links |
NOTE: Information about programs not run by the City of Arcata is for the reader's information only, and is not endorsed or influenced by the City of Arcata. Information is updated as often as possible. | |
| COVID-Safe Outdoor Seating and Dining in Arcata | Restaurants and businesses may offer outdoor seating for dining and retail operations during the pandemic, by special Council authorization.
Encroachment permits are required. See the "Other Information" tab for an application and submission information. |
| North Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) | The SBDC offers one-on-one advising from industry experts, provides trainings and workshops, and can help guide a business owner to appropriate financing as well as assisting with application packages.
Find more information about the invaluable resources provided by the SBDC here. |
| Wear a Mask - Keep Humboldt Healthy Campaign | Help #KeepHumboldtHealthy by social distancing and wearing a mask. Be involved in the Wear a Mask campaign. Customized posters, buttons, and window clings are available, and we are looking for community members to record audio and video PSAs. Find more information at @wearamaskhumboldt on Facebook, and and the RREDC website. Contact Susan at sdiehlmccarthy@cityofarcata.org for more information. |
| COVID-Related Loans & Grants | Loans and grants to help businesses affected by COVID are available, but the information changes quickly and some of these links may be outdated. We try to update as often as possible.
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| Reopening Requirements and Certification | The County of Humboldt manages all reopening plans and the certification process for reopening. Click here to go to the County website for industry-specific guidelines, forms, and contact information. |
| Information About COVID in Humboldt | Humboldt County maintains a dashboard with a wealth of up-to-date information about the how COVID-19 affects our community. You can find the information below, and much more:
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| COVID Vaccine Information | Find Humboldt vaccine plan information, and submit an interest form for vaccination. |
| Land Use in Arcata - Can I do that here? Contact a Planner | For land use, zoning, planning, and development standards, contact Joe Mateer (jmateer@cityofarcata.org) or Delo Freitas (dfreitas@cityofarcata.org). To make an appointment, contact Keala Roberts at 707-822-5955. |
Who | What | Contact Info |
| California Relief Grant | Round 2 applications are being accepted from February 2 through February 8 at 6:00 p.m. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY APPLIED and got a message saying you are "eligible but waitlisted" you don't need to do anything more.
| Find the online application here. Get SBDC Help: Get web info here. Email: covid19triage@northcoastsbdc.org Call: 707-445-9720 Sign up for a daily webinar at 11 here |
| RREDC - Redwood Region Economic Development Commission | RREDC makes loans to businesses unable to obtain financing from banks and credit unions.
| RREDC Website Email Virginia Salvi at virginialoan@rredc.com or Gregg Foster at gregg@rredc.com.. Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak with RREDC before applying. |
| AEDC Small Business Lending Center | AEDC makes loans for a variety of purposes and from a variety of loan programs. Speak to a representative for information about which program may assist you.
| AEDC Website Call 707-798-6132 to speak with a specialist and find out how to apply. |
| Small Business Administration (SBA) | The SBA guarantees loans for a variety of purposes, working with local banks and businesses to provide guaranteed loans.
COVID - The SBA also provides business disaster loans, both directly and through banks. See the COVID Business Help tab for more information. Currently, the SBA is guaranteeing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through banks, and funding Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). | SBA Website |
| County of Humboldt GOHUMCO | The County has closed its COVID Small Business Restart & Recovery Grants program to applications. Check back here for information if other funds become available. You can find information about all County economic development programs and opportunities at their GOHUMCO website. | COVID Resources GOHUMCO Economic Development Email gohumco@co.humboldt.ca.us or call 707-445-7745 |
| CA State Treasurer Business Resources | The State Treasurer has a number of programs that may assist businesses on a local level. Check out their website for all the Treasurer has to offer. Here are some of the programs available through the Treasurer's office: iBank Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program for business resilience and continuance. Go to the iBank site here. Questions? Email COVID19loan@ibank.ca.gov.. CalCAP supports lenders with up to 100% coverage on loan losses. Go to the CalCAP site here. Questions? Email CalCAP@treasurer.ca.gov.. GoGreen Financing provides financing for energy efficiency improvements for businesses - including cannabis businesses. Go to the GoGreen site here. Questions? Email cheef@treasurer.ca.gov.. Sales and Use Tax Exclusion Program for Manufacturers is a competitive program for larger startups and expansions. Go to the website here. CalSavers Retirement Program for Small Business provides retirement program options. Find out more information here. | CA Treasurer Website |
Issue | Information | Links and Contacts |
| City of Arcata Business License | A business license is required to do business in Arcata, even if your business headquarters is not located in Arcata. Applications and payment can be made online. | Apply for a business license here. Questions? Call the Finance Department at 707-822-5915 or send an email to finance@cityofarcata.org. |
| City of Arcata Property Information | Find information about properties in Arcata - zoning, FEMA flood zones, historic districts, property size, and much more. All you need is an address or parcel number. You'll be surprised at all the information available! | Link to the Parcel Finder Get Parcel Finder Help |
| City of Arcata - Real Time Dashboard | You can find all kinds of pertinent information about Arcata and issues affecting the world. Locally, you can find weather, tide, power outages, wildfires, emergency services webcams, and more. Note that you will scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to move between topics. | Link to the Arcata Community Real-Time Dashboard |
| City of Arcata Encroachment Permits | Encroachment permits are required when rights-of-way are blocked, including sidewalks. Businesses with temporary outdoor dining and retail operations require an encroachment permit. | Encroachment Permit Application Email applications to engineering@cityofarcata.org |
| Emergency Preparedness | Find out how your family and your community can be prepared for emergencies. Listos California is a great resource for everything from making a plan to signing up for alerts and printing materials for people in your community. | Go to ListosCalifornia |
| Arcata Fire District | Find information and news about Arcata's Fire District, get permits applications, find board meeting information, and find press releases. | Go to Arcata Fire Department |
| County of Humboldt | The County website is rich with resources from COVID information to contact information for all County services. Sign up for alerts and take care of some transactions online. | Go to Humboldt County |
| Geo-Tracker (State Water Resources Control Board) | Use Geo-Tracker to find information about properties that impact (or may impact) water quality in California. There are records for sites that need remediation or are in the process of remediation. You can also locate facilities that are permitted and unpermitted for various activities. | Go to Geo-Tracker |