Young Professionals are Finding a Home in Shasta County, CA
Find out why this is a great place to build a life and career.
Known for its abundance of sunshine, Shasta County, California, offers young professionals “the works.” Not only can residents and visitors explore a vast number of rivers, lakes and mountains, but its scenic beauty is complemented by a strong and sturdy economy. Industry sectors include forestry and wood products, health care, manufacturing, and engineering design. Shasta County is a growing region with just over 182,000 residents, and it is home to multiple groups where young professionals can meet and mingle to grow their networks, foster collaborations and cultivate relationships. To find out what it’s like to build a life and career in the region, we spoke with two local families who chose to make Redding, the county seat, their home.
The Mosshart Family
Dylan and Paige Mosshart moved to Redding in 2016 to attend college and fell in love with the city. The couple shared a love of thrifting, and they often planned their dates around rummaging through local thrift shops. In 2019, they started an e-commerce business to resell thrifted vintage clothing, and in March, they opened a brick and mortar in the heart of downtown Redding.
Named Friday’s Vintage Co., the shop houses thrifted goods from the ‘50s and ‘60s up to the early 2000s. Friday’s Vintage also doubles as an event space for concerts, gaming competitions, parties, and other fun events.
“We hand-pick all of our finds and source primarily through local Redding community members,” Dylan says. “We’re always looking and buying old clothes that have sat in people’s garages or storage units for years. We have been so humbled and feel so grateful for the support and eagerness that this community has shown us.”
The Mosshart family has been charmed by Shasta County’s outdoor beauty and the loyalty of its residents — not to mention its thriving small-business community, phenomenal coffee shops, and diverse music scene.
“We have found that staying connected to this flourishing business community has been key to launching our career,” Dylan says. “Whether that is attending Startup Redding classes, where people are given crucial tools and education to grow or start their own businesses, or joining the Redding Chamber of Commerce, which has an energetic and wildly diverse group of professionals who definitely know how to be the life of the party.”
Paige and Dylan love how local businesses are supportive of one another, citing Dutch Bros Coffee as a big encourager of their store and event space. Avid fans of Shasta County’s outdoor attractions, the Mossharts enjoy exploring the Shasta Cascade region, dipping into hot springs, hiking through forests, whitewater rafting and skiing the white-capped mountains. The couple mentioned they are looking forward to starting a family soon and continuing to enjoy all the area has to offer.
“We both feel like there is something unique happening here in Redding. Something draws a large amount of young, ambitious entrepreneurs that seem to call Redding their home. Paige and I are overall humbled and grateful to be a part of the growing group of young business enthusiasts,” Dylan says.
The Wallace Family
The Wallace Family, which relocated to Redding in 2005, likes to spend weekends camping and exploring Shasta County’s vast outdoors. During the week, Brian works for the City of Redding, while his wife, Sarah, works in legal sales and runs a yoga event company called Strive For Epic with their 12-year-old daughter, Bailey.
“We do yoga events in collaboration with local businesses, corporate yoga, consultation services, movement and mindset events for kids and so much more,” Sarah says.
In addition to her duties as a mom and business owner, Sarah is president of Shasta Business Builders, a referral-based business networking group, and for the last 10 years, she has served as an ambassador of the Redding Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce in nearby Anderson, CA.
“I love being part of the business community. There are so many free and inexpensive resources for new business owners, and getting involved has helped me expand my network and grow as a professional,” she says.
Though Sarah utilized the Shasta-Cascade Small Business Development Center to help form her business, Shasta County is home to several other groups and resources, like the Women’s Business Center at JEDI, which offers free coaching sessions with experts and mentors.
Outside of business, the Wallace family loves Whiskeytown Lake, attending Redding’s live music venues, salsa dancing, art exhibits, line dancing, comedy shows, painting classes, trivia nights, and the ever-growing list of local breweries and wineries.
“I am so in love with my city. I love the people, I love the resources, I love the beauty of where we live. I would highly recommend our city for young professionals and encourage them to get involved,” Sarah says.
This article was sponsored by the Shasta Economic Development Corporation.