California's rural areas offer some of the most picturesque scenery in the world with an array of geography found no where else. The USDA Rural Development Photo Gallery offers images depicting the considerable work to transform rural economies, and some of the key people working to make positive change for rural California.

USDA Rural Development California Staff

State Director Ben Higgins

Chuck Clendenin, Business-Cooperative Program Director

Bob Anderson, Single Family Housing Program Director

Janice Waddell, Community Program Director

Stephen Nnodim, Multi-Family Housing Program Director

Business and Cooperative Programs
(10/25/07)

As part of Co-Op Month celebrations, USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins presented a $300,000 Value-Added Producer Grant check to Sunsweet Growers, Inc. President and CEO Arthur Driscoll.  The grant funds will be used to assist the Yuba City-based cooperative in marketing a new plum juice product, "PlumSmart Light."

Sunsweet Growers Vice President of Operations Gene Dodson prepares to take Higgins on a tour of the Sunsweet plant.

USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins presented a $300,000 VAPG check to Sunsweet Growers, Inc.L-R Higgins, Sunsweet Growers President/CEO Arthur Driscoll, Sunsweet Growers Board of Directors Chairman Gary Thiara

Single Family Housing Programs
(1/16/08)
USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins and Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez presented Mrs. Virginia McCleary with the keys to her new home at an event held outside the home. To help reduce expenses, the City of Orange Cove waived all permit fees and provided both fencing and landscaping, and Fidelity Title waived all their fees. McCleary has been a resident of Orange Cove for 45 years.

Mrs. McCleary outside her beautiful new home.  Her original home was damaged during a fire and had to be torn down and rebuilt.

L-R: Mayor Victor Lopez, Mrs. Virginia McCleary, State Director Ben Higgins.  Lopez and Higgins presented Mrs. McCleary with the keys to her home.

Community Programs
Earth Day
(4/22/08)
USDA Rural Development celebrated Earth Day 2008 on April 22 in the City of San Joaquin.  State Director Ben Higgins announced a total of $6.1 million in loans and grants for improvements to the city's wastewater system.  Additional activities included e-waste recycling, paper shredding and recycling, and recognizing winners of an Earth Day poster and essay contest from San Joaquin Elementary School.

Pictured L-R: Higgins; Gary Horn, City Engineer, Chris Rosander, Congressman Costa's office; Amarpreet Dhaliwal, Mayor of San Joaquin

Students from San Joaquin Elementary were honored for their Earth Day inspired posters and essays.  L-R front: Victor Garcia, first place essay-4th grade; Alejandra Valdez, first place poster-3rd grade; Jackie Rodriguez, third place essay, 6th grade; Ben Higgins; Arin Dhesi, second place essay-4th grade; Sol Ramirez, first place poster-1st grade; Bereniz Dominguez, first place poster, 2nd grade. Back row: Mayor Arampreet Dhaliwal; San Joaquin Elementary School Principal Sylvia Grider; City Engineer Gary Horn; Congressman Costa's representative Chris Rosander.

.Victor Garcia, a fourth grader at San Joaquin Elementary read aloud his first place essay on what he would do to help the environment in San Joaquin

Community members old and young came to drop off their electronic waste at the Earth Day event.  The e-waste recycling was sponsored by Mid Valley Disposal

(3/27/08)
USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins announced a commitment of $1 million in grant and $2 million in long-term low-interest loan to the community of Santa Margarita for critical fire protection, water storage and drought preparedness infrastructure upgrades.

USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins announces a $3 million commitment for urgent water infrastructure upgrades.  The announcement was made at the Santa Margarita Community Park.

USDA Rural Development staff joined Santa Margarita County Service Area 23 representatives for the check presentation.

Multi-Family Housing
(11/20/07)

USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins attended the Grand Opening celebrations for the Benito Street Farm Labor Center in Soledad.  The original units were demolished in late 2006 and replaced with 73 new farm worker housing units.  USDA Rural Development supported the project with a $4.2 million loan.

The old housing consisted of 3 bedroom units constructed in the 1960's.  With funding in place from USDA Rural Development and several other sources, the units were demolished in late 2006.

The new 73-unit farm labor center features townhome-style units ranging in size from 1-5 bedrooms.

State Director Ben Higgins was among the speakers at the Grand Opening celebration held November 20.  Higgins commended the housing authorities, city and other partners for their hard work and dedication to provide decent affordable housing to area farm laborers.

Representatives from the City of Soledad, County of Monterey, Congressman Farr's Office, USDA Rural Development, and the Housing Authorities of Monterey County and City of Soledad joined to officially cut the ribbon on the Benito Street Farm Labor Center.

Miscellaneous

(2/8/08)
USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins released the agency's 2007 Annual Report today which details the full array of the $405 million in assistance USDA Rural Development delivered in California in the prior fiscal year.

A complete copy of the report can be viewed or downloaded (PDF) in our publications section.

 

State office of USDA Rural Development in Davis.

News editors: If you would like an image that is not featured in the gallery, contact us to handle your photo request by calling (530) 792-5801 or via e-mail to Sarah Pursley. 

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