UPPER LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe celebrated the grand opening of a new call center in Lake County.

The call center, which handles inquiries from customers of the tribe’s lending and financial institutions, brings 80 potential new jobs to the area, which continues to recover from the Mendocino Complex fires earlier this year.

“We are excited to bring our call center operations to our own Lake County community, which we all know has been through a lot this year,” said Sherry Treppa, chairperson of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. “Not only does this brand new facility represent economic development for our area, but also for our tribe, as we work toward self-sufficiency for our people. We are proud of the relationships we’ve built with Lake County leaders and residents alike, and we look forward to a continued and meaningful partnerships across the region and the state.”

This weekend’s celebration included an opening prayer, remarks from government leaders, the presentation of a $25,000 commitment to the Northshore Fire Protection District and Lake County, as well as traditional dancers, a tour and refreshments.

“Lake County is proud to both support and partner with the Habematolel Pomo Tribe,” said Lake County Supervisor Jim Steele. “Our governments are committed to working together to bolster the local economy and promote well-being in this beautiful region.”

The tribe’s new call center brings jobs for both tribal citizens and non-tribal residents, further building upon the tribe’s commitment to the local Lake County community.

In the past two years, the tribe has given more than $260,000 in scholarships and more than $272,000 in community giving grants to local organizations. Just two months ago, the tribe donated $4,000 to the Lake County Office of Education to be awarded to six local schools.

The opening of the call center also comes just months after the Mendocino Complex fires, which burned nearly half a million acres and more than 150 homes across Lake, Mendocino, Colusa and Glenn counties.

In the wake of the fire, the Habematolel Pomo oalso partnered with FEMA to open a Disaster Recovery Center, which provided critical resources to fire victims.