wo major projects are poised to bring new prosperity to Humboldt County and the North Coast, and Humboldt State University has a transformative opportunity to play a major role.

Each one of these projects will have a stunning impact on its own. There is the new cable landing, with a high-speed undersea internet connection arriving at our doorstep in Samoa. And in the same location, Nordic Aquafarms is moving quickly on a $400 million facility that will create an estimated 150 permanent jobs, not including the jobs involved in building it.

In the midst of this, the California State University has just asked HSU to conduct a self-study on becoming the state’s third polytechnic university.

For HSU, I can’t overstate what a monumental change this could be, raising the profile of the institution, bringing new employers and industry to the region, and allowing us to pursue major new grants and research. We could build on our strengths and offer new and expanded programs in science, technology, engineering, applied sciences, such as health and agriculture, and many others. We have a chance to reimagine the polytechnic for the 21st century, with a grounding in sustainability, innovation, and service to rural and tribal communities.

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n our community and at HSU, this is truly a time to lift our sights and embrace new ideas. And I can assure you that more is happening behind the scenes, including talk about growth in athletics and planning for the University’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. It is definitely happening here at Humboldt.

Using an analogy, I have this image in my mind of a ballpark. And together, we as a community have decided we want to make it better, and it’s not enough to remodel the hot dog stand and update the lights. Instead, while honoring its history and spirit, we’re going to build an exciting new ballpark. In fact, we may even create all new rules for the game. That is the opportunity before us. Let’s not get caught up calling balls and strikes, but imagine, truly imagine, all things beyond.

It’s well-known nationally that universities are important economic drivers in their regions. In our small community, we are truly fortunate to have both a four-year master’s degree-granting university and a dynamic two-year college. There are only 23 communities with a CSU. Only 23. Even fewer communities have both a CSU and a community college. We are now in the perfect position to catapult forward. As College of the Redwoods and HSU have come into much stronger alignment with incredible joint aspirations, we as a community have a chance to support economic growth and opportunity by helping CR and HSU seize this moment and thrive together like never before.

Why does this matter? In a recent report to the CSU, the state identified locations in need of additional campuses or more opportunities for students. The North Coast was not mentioned. However, the state has also identified a great need for workforce-ready graduates to immediately contribute to California, and the CSU is supporting HSU to address this critical statewide need. It is a perfect scenario for HSU and the North Coast.

Humboldt State University, along with our colleagues at the College of the Redwoods, help shape and develop our region’s economy. In fact, both have played an important part in the big projects I mentioned earlier. For example, HSU has been deeply involved with broadband efforts and now with the cable landing, primarily through the work of the Redwood Coast Connect Consortium and Connie Stewart. And our longstanding expertise in fisheries and aquaculture was an additional benefit for Nordic Aquafarms when they were deciding whether to locate here. At CR, the strong connection to local workforce needs has never been more important, and they are dramatically expanding offerings related to the jobs that the aquafarm will create. The CR nursing program was instrumental in helping HSU launch our RN to BSN program. Looking further ahead, HSU’s Schatz Energy Research Center has worked closely with Blue Lake Rancheria at the forefront of renewable energy projects like microgrids (among many other efforts) that could be a boon to our region.

Now, for HSU, the possibility of being designated a polytechnic means the chance to do even more. We can broaden our curriculum, and support growth and development throughout the communities of the North Coast. We can raise our profile throughout the state and beyond, attracting students, new faculty, and new funding.

In this season of gratitude, I am personally grateful for all the people who are providing the vision and doing the work to create a bright, promising future for the North Coast. Because of you, our community can look ahead with hope and energy. We can see beyond our current challenges, as difficult as they are, to an aspirational tomorrow.

Be well.

Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr. is the president of Humboldt State University.