The Southern Humboldt Business & Visitors Bureau was originally established with the intent of operating as a nonprofit, and we spent nearly two years pursuing that path and completing the required filings. During the federal tax-exemption process, it became clear that our mission to promote Southern Humboldt's economy and tourism, inclusive of the cannabis industry presented challenges under the exemption we were pursuing.

Rather than change our mission or exclude a significant part of our local economy, we chose to remain true to our purpose and community. Following professional guidance, we reorganized as a California corporation so we could continue serving the community in compliance with state and federal requirements.

The landscape has changed since we first began. If we were applying today with the same inclusive mission, the process and available options would likely be different, and that's great! This is simply another chapter in our story and part of the natural evolution of our organization.

As Southern Humboldt has evolved, so has our organization. We are now moving forward with establishing Visit Southern Humboldt as a 501(c)(6), a structure that better aligns with the work we do and the communities we serve. Throughout every stage of that evolution, our mission has remained the same: to support Southern Humboldt's businesses, visitors, and economy inclusive of all sectors that make our region unique.