Faculty and students from Cal Poly Humboldt are collaborating with local groups to launch an in-depth Economic Development Study aimed at shaping the future growth and well-being of McKinleyville, a rapidly expanding community on California’s North Coast. The initiative unites academic experts and learners from disciplines including Business, Recreation Administration, Economics, Psychology, Environmental Resources Engineering, and Geography. Their joint effort will assess economic trends, infrastructure quality, public amenities, and broader quality-of-life indicators to identify both potential opportunities and existing challenges.
A key aspect of the research involves gathering input directly from residents through a broad survey and a series of focus group discussions. Community participation is strongly encouraged to ensure diverse perspectives are included.
Josh Zender, professor at Cal Poly Humboldt’s School of Business and project lead, emphasized the importance of community involvement: “This study offers McKinleyville residents a meaningful chance to influence the direction of their town. By combining interdisciplinary research with strong local partnerships, we can align development strategies with real community needs.”
The study aims to generate evidence-based insights that support strategic planning and policy decisions. Researchers will integrate survey results, focus group feedback, and analytical data—covering economic, social, and geographic dimensions—to produce tailored recommendations reflective of McKinleyville’s distinct identity.
Collaborating organizations include the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee, the McKinleyville Community Services District, and the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce. These alliances help anchor the research in local priorities and increase the likelihood that findings will inform future civic projects.
Findings will be compiled into a five-year economic strategy, which will be shared with stakeholders. All proposed actions will require formal approval from the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee upon project completion in Fall 2026. The research team stresses that widespread community engagement is essential to capturing the full range of resident experiences, needs, and aspirations.
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Cal Poly Humboldt Launches McKinleyville Economic Development Study
Cal Poly Humboldt faculty and students are partnering with local organizations to conduct a comprehensive Economic Development Study designed to help guide McKinleyville’s future growth and community well-being. n nThe interdisciplinary project brings together students and faculty from Business, Recreation Administration, Economics, Psychology, Environmental Resources Engineering, and Geography. Together, the team is examining economic conditions, infrastructure, community amenities, and quality-of-life factors to better understand opportunities and challenges facing McKinleyville, one of the fastest-growing communities on the North Coast. n nA central component of the study is a community-wide survey and focus group sessions, and McKinleyville residents are encouraged to participate. n n“This project represents a unique opportunity for McKinleyville residents to directly shape the future of their community,” said Josh Zender, the project lead and professor in the School of Business at Cal Poly Humboldt. “By working across disciplines and in close partnership with local organizations, we’re able to bring together community voices and applied research in a way that can meaningfully inform economic development efforts.” n nThe study’s goal is to provide data-driven insights that can support informed decision-making and long-term planning, while centering the voices and priorities of local residents. Researchers will combine community survey responses and focus group data with economic, social, and spatial analysis to develop findings and recommendations that reflect McKinleyville’s unique character and needs. n nThe project is being conducted in collaboration with the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee, the McKinleyville Community Services District, and the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce. These partnerships help ensure the research is grounded in local concerns and that results can be used to support future community initiatives. n nResults from the community-wide survey and study findings will be shared with community partners in the form of a five-year economic strategic plan. All recommendations arising from the study will be reviewed and formally approved by the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee once the project is complete in the Fall 2026 term. Cal Poly Humboldt researchers emphasize that broad participation will help ensure the study reflects the diverse experiences, needs, and aspirations of McKinleyville residents.