Help is on the way as we tread through great tribulation. Press release from the County of Humboldt:

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The County of Humboldt’s Economic Development Division will partner with global engineering and advisory consultancy, Xodus Group, to work on a critical project to assess and map the local and regional workforce, supply chain needs and upcoming opportunities within the emerging offshore wind industry.

Xodus will undertake a sector gap analysis and opportunity assessment at a local and regional level, actively engaging interested parties to set out capabilities, analyze the broader offshore wind landscape and inform understanding.

By assessing relevant groups across the local, regional and national offshore wind sector, a comprehensive database of interested parties will be developed, paving the way for engagement through a combination of in person and virtual interviews and surveys. These learning sessions will inform key areas of interest in the study, highlighting needs as well as opportunities and actively engaging key contributors to describe local and regional capabilities.

“We need to gain a fuller understanding of the workforce and business resources our region has to offer the offshore wind sector and the opportunities this new industry presents. We hope to identify where we can meet those needs and opportunities, and where the gaps are,” said Humboldt County Economic Development Director Scott Adair. “This project will help ensure that Humboldt County workers and businesses can fully participate in this emerging industry. We are really looking forward to beginning this work with Xodus and our local partners.”

“The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a roadmap of strategic actions that prioritizes initiatives for supply chain and workforce development in the region, driven by in-depth community engagement, ” said Hillary Bright, US, VP of Renewables at Xodus. “By drawing on lessons from existing programs, the roadmap will identify and examine key parameters for effective and equitable implementation in Humboldt County and the greater Redwood Coast region.”

This collaborative effort between County of Humboldt and Xodus highlights a shared commitment to responsible offshore wind development that centers on community and input from those with vested interest. By leveraging the expertise of both parties, this partnership will drive economic growth and foster a resilient future for Humboldt County.

This project is being funded through a Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act grant under the preview of the Humboldt County Workforce Development Board.