$11.4 million grant will fund the Arcata 30th Street Commons Project

The City of Arcata, in partnership with the Yurok Indian Housing Authority, is excited to announce the Arcata 30th Street Commons Project is now fully funded.



Last month, the Yurok Indian Housing Authority became the first Native American Tribe to receive an Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grant award. The $11.4 million grant will help fund this project, which includes the construction of 36 units of affordable housing in addition to several bike lanes, safe and accessible walkways, a one-mile active transportation multi-use trail and a pedestrian bridge that will connect tribal members and Arcata residents to surrounding neighborhoods and amenities.

Full Press Release:

City of Arcata, in partnership with the Yurok Indian Housing Authority (YIHA), is excited to announce the Arcata 30th Street Commons Project is now fully funded.

The Arcata 30th Street Commons Project was approved in 2007, and progress on this project was put on hold just after roads and utilities were constructed. Several prospective proponents attempted to reestablish the project, but were unable to due to financial constraints. The YIAH recently purchased the property and was able to overcome the fiscal barriers that halted the original project. The YIHA was awarded a 9% tax credit by the State of California in May as the first component of the funding.

With support from the BOOST Pilot Program, a partnership between the Institute for Local Government (ILG) and the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), Enterprise Community Partners and the California Coalition for Rural Housing, the City collaborated with the YIHA to ensure support for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant submission. In June, The YIHA became the first Native American Tribe to receive an AHSC award. This $11.4 million grant will fund the construction of 36 units of affordable housing in addition to several bike lanes, safe and accessible walkways, a one-mile active transportation multi-use trail and a pedestrian bridge that will connect tribal members and Arcata residents to surrounding neighborhoods and amenities.

“This project represents the first time that Yurok citizens will have access to affordable housing in an
area where there is a university, a Native American health clinic, transportation and all of the other
quality-of-life improving amenities Arcata has to offer,” said Richard “Dickie” Myers, the Chairperson
of YIHA’s Board of Commissioners. “We are extremely excited about this partnership with the City of
Arcata. We are equally proud to be the first tribe to receive an Affordable Housing and Sustainable
Communities grant, which is going to create numerous positive opportunities for tribal and non-tribal citizens.”

“It’s been a pleasure working with the Yurok Indian Housing Authority to bring this high-quality, amenity rich project to the community. We’ve worked diligently to ensure a successful project for the Tribe and the community at large, and we couldn't be more excited to move forward with this project,” said the City of Arcata’s Community Development Director, David Loya, of the grant award.
The City of Arcata is currently participating in the ILG’s BOOST Pilot Program, which is designed to help local governments advance their climate and equity goals by building capacity, developing equitable plans, identifying meaningful projects and securing adequate funding to create a better Californian for all.

“The Institute for Local Government is proud to support the City of Arcata and the Yurok Tribe in their collaborative efforts to continue to build more equitable and inclusive communities,” said Erica L. Manuel, CEO and Executive Director of the Institute for Local Government.

“The (AHSC) grant is a great example of our BOOST Program in action – helping local governments move the needle on climate change and equality while also increasing access to clean transportation, affordable housing, and economic opportunity.”


The Arcata 30th Street Commons Project is supported by the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program with funds from California Climate Investments - Cap-and-Trade Dollars at work. SGC is a cabinet-level State body dedicated to healthy, thriving, resilient communities for all.