22 December 2020 • Ridge Business Journal
Community Honor Roll
Got something or someone to brag about? Email monica@paradisechamber.com
Paradise Ridge Chamber is proud to congratulate the following newsmakers for their contributions to our community
URCC recognized as the Voice of the Upper Ridge The Upper Ridge Community Council (URCC) was recently honored by the Butte County Board of Supervisors in a resolution recognizing the URCC as representative of the communities of Magalia, Lovelock, Nimshew and Stirling City (Upper Ridge). Passed and adopted on September 15, 2020, the resolution identifies the goal of the URCC as advocating for the preservation and enhancement of the quality of life on the Upper Ridge by providing a means for Upper Ridge residents to have input on matters that impact public health and safety, wildfire safety, forest management, transportation, water quality, land use and recreation. The URCC may now represent the Upper Ridge to any agency or entity on any matters concerning the Upper Ridge and, working in collaboration with County departments, will promote communication, input and information-exchange across all entities working together to improve the quality of life on the Upper Ridge. The URCC was formed after the 2018 Camp Fire when a group of volunteers created an emergency food bank that fed 2,000 residents over ten days. Many returning Upper Ridge residents were isolated by snow and ice blocking the only open road to Magalia. Lack of access to food was the impetus behind the community organizing to provide a voice for the Upper Ridge.
Rebuild Paradise Foundation named Town California Non-Profit of the Year Engineer R e b u i l d a Top 25 P a r a d i s e Foundation Newsmaker is proud of its of the Year selection as a 2020 California Non-Profit of the Year by Senator Jim Nielsen. Nielsen has been a staunch supporter of the Paradise Ridge and entire Camp Fire recovery. The Rebuild Paradise Foundation team and its Board of Directors are grateful for all mentors and donors supporting their work!
Rebuild Paradise Foundation is one of over a hundred other non-profits honored by their state senators and assembly members for their tremendous contributions to the communities they serve. “The pandemic and shelter-in-place orders of the last few months have put non-profits – usually hidden in plain sight – in the spotlight,” explains Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Non-profits. “California Non-profit of the Year is an opportunity for our elected officials to celebrate the good work they see non-profits doing in their districts, and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of non-profits in our communities.” The Rebuild Paradise Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving the long-term needs of Butte County’s disaster affected residents, businesses and workforce. The current focus of the foundation is to provide resources to help lower barriers to entry for those building in the Camp Fire footprint. For more information about resources offered, please visit their website, www.rebuildparadise.org.
Marc Mattox, Paradise Public Works Director/ Town Engineer, recognized as one of Engineering NewsRecord’s Top 25 Newsmakers of the Year Each year, the Engineering News-Record (ENR) recognizes 25 outstanding individuals for their news-making achievements in the field of engineering and/or public works. According to the ENR “They work in the public and private sectors, in the U.S. and abroad, and for employers of all sizes. But they have in common: the spirit to go above and beyond their day jobs to give back in many different ways.” Earlier this year, The Town of Paradise was proud to learn Mattox, Public Works Director and Town Engineer was recognized for his outstanding work in response to the Camp Fire. Even after losing his own home, in the days and months after the fire Mattox worked long hours to coordinate the removal of hazards such as trees, power lines and cars from roadways to allow the Town to reopen to residents. These efforts, in addition to his day-today dedication to his job helped earn him this national recognition from the ENR. In his 8th year with the Town of Paradise, Mattox feels called to help rebuild after the fire. “Paradise is a special place, and I feel honored to be in a position to help our community rebuild.”