McKinleyville is among the largest unincorporated towns in California, with a population of 15,000 and growing.  It has the highest concentration of children in Humboldt County, and over half of local students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. Located just south of the Redwood State and National Parks, the town supports small retail and resource-based enterprises and serves as a “bedroom community” to the twin cities of Eureka and Arcata, where major employers Humboldt State University and Humboldt County government are located. 

From 2013 through 2023, Cowell’s investment here comprised 47 grants totaling $4.4 million for initiatives that are helping leaders in this historically disjointed community respond to long-obscured needs, generate pathways to opportunity, and foster civic cohesion.