Our Roadmap: Ten Interconnected Investment Areas

Through our Regional Roadmap's comprehensive approach, RISE aims to foster a resilient, thriving Redwood Region that balances natural resources with innovation, ensuring holistic regional development. We envision our region a healing place where everyone belongs, with stable jobs, accessible healthcare, and a flourishing natural environment. Through collective effort, the initiative strives to build a future where anyone can thrive, transforming the region into a model of sustainable and inclusive growth.

Key Sectors:

1. Arts, Culture, and Tourism: Resource sharing, creative placemaking, and inclusive strategies.
2. Health and Caregiving: Workforce pipelines, telehealth expansion, and equity-driven health initiatives.
3. Renewable and Resilient Energy: Workforce training, community microgrids, and clean energy hubs.
4. Working Lands and Blue Economy: Market integration and expansion, disaster resilience, and local enterprise support, policy advocacy, and ocean research.

Key Enablers:

1. Broadband: Form a regional coalition, implement a “dig once” policy, explore innovative connectivity solutions, establish a digital equity fund, and promote public-private partnerships for broadband expansion.
2. Entrepreneurship: Build an entrepreneurial culture, enhance education, improve support infrastructure, and increase access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs.
3. Food Security and Access: Expand food supply chains, reduce cultural food insecurity, advocate policies, and develop community-owned food outlets and institutional purchasing partnerships like food-as-medicine programs.
4. Housing: Create a Comprehensive Rural Housing Policy addressing barriers, reducing costs, rehabilitating homes, and expanding affordable housing options for all income levels.
5. Infrastructure and Transportation: Enhance connectivity, safety, and walkability; optimize supply chains with infrastructure upgrades and resource sharing; and develop disaster-resilient energy and mobility hubs.
6. Workforce Development: Align rural training resources, adopt “grow your own” workforce approaches, and strengthen regional partnerships to advance workforce readiness and skills for thriving careers.