Photos: Hoopa Valley Tribe.

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Press release from the Hoopa Valley Tribe:

The Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District (HVPUD) celebrated the grand opening of its new NTIA Data Center on July 17, marking a major milestone in the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s efforts to expand reliable, high-speed internet access throughout the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, Willow Creek, and Trinity County.

More than 50 community members, HVPUD staff, project partners, and local leaders attended the event. Guests toured the new facility, enjoyed a barbecue, and heard remarks from Hoopa Valley Tribal Vice Chairman Jordan Hailey, General Manager of HVPUD Linnea Jackson, and Broadband Manager Matthew Douglas.

“This is truly a great day for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, for the department and for the Hoopa people,” said Vice Chairman Hailey. “It makes me proud as a Hoopa Tribal member and a member of this community to see everything that they’ve accomplished.”

The NTIA Data Center is a key part of the Tribe’s broadband project, which will support Fiber-to-the-Home connections for residences and businesses across the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and surrounding areas. The facility will house the critical equipment needed to operate the fiber network while providing a dedicated home for Acorn Connected, the Tribe’s internet service provider.

“We’ve increased our technology, and we’re looking to have our community support us in our next fiber journey, starting with this Data Center,” said Jackson. “It’s going to be our hub. It’s going to be for our customer base, and it’s for our Hoopa people.”

The facility was designed by a regional architect and constructed by ACGC of Eureka. Hupa design elements, wood accents, and artwork from local artists were incorporated throughout the building to create a facility that reflects the culture and identity of the Hoopa Valley Tribe.

“This is a celebration of not only our Tribal staff, but our Tribal people and what Hoopa is bringing to the table,” Jackson said. “We are a regional leader, and we anticipate being in that same position for years to come.”

Beyond supporting the expansion of broadband service, the NTIA Data Center represents an important step toward Tribal Data Sovereignty by allowing the Tribe to maintain greater ownership and control over the infrastructure, systems, and information serving its community.

“I want to commend the entire staff—and that is everybody across the board,” Jackson said. “I want you to feel proud of yourselves and invested in this project because it’s going to uplift all of us. Hoopa, be proud of this. Be proud of who we are and what we are going to achieve.”

The grand opening recognized the Tribal staff, leadership, contractors, and project partners whose work helped bring the facility to completion. As the HVPUD continues building its fiber network, the Data Center will serve as the operational center supporting Acorn Connected and the delivery of dependable internet service to the community.

To learn more and follow construction updates, visit AcornConnected.org.