GOVERNANCE OF THE HEADWATERS FUND

The Headwaters Fund Board reviews and recommends policies, budgets, grants and loans to the County Board of Supervisors. The Headwaters Fund Board is comprised of seven community members. Members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Community members interested in serving on the Headwaters Fund Board can fill out an application and send it to the Headwaters Fund Coordinator. Links to download applications are below. The application would be considered for the next vacancy on the board. Applications are reviewed by a sub-committee of two members of the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrative Officer and the Community Development Services Director. The sub-committee makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors which has final approval.

The next scheduled vacancy on the Headwaters Fund Board will be in March of 2012. There will be at least one vacancy at that time. The deadline to apply is December 30, 2011. For questions about board service or the application, contact Dawn Elsbree at 476-4805.

Application to be on the Headwaters Fund Board 

The Headwaters Fund Board Manual provides more information about the structure of the board.

Current Members of the Headwaters Fund Board

Mark Burtchett
Benchmark Realty Group
Apointed 2004, Current Term through 2/12

Jackie Deuschle-Miller
Green Diamond Resource Company
Appointed 2011, Current Term through 2/13

Margaret Gainer
Gainer & Associates
Appointed 2011, Current Term through 2/13

Leigh Pierre-Oetker (Vice-Chair)
McLean Foundation
Appointed 2010, Current Term through 2/12

Cedar Reuben
Humboldt Investment Capital
Appointed 2010, Current Term through 2/12

Edward Webb
Retired - Humboldt State University
Appointed 2011, Current Term through 2/13

Zachary E. Zwerdling (Chair)
Zwerdling Dibble LLP
Appointed 2009, Current Term through 2/14

$20,000 is now available annually in mini-grants for local programs and projects to promote economic development. Headwaters Mini-Grants are available in $1,000 -$1,500 increments and request letters are accepted on an ongoing basis. See the link below for more information.

Mini-Grant Program

Recently approved $200,000 grant for mariculture expansion on Humboldt Bay. Developed by local oyster farmers in collaboration with the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District, the grant pays for permitting additional acreage in the bay for mariculture. This project should result in doubling the available acreage from the 325 currently in production to over 600 and result in at least 33 additional jobs.

Mariculture Expansion Proposal