Thanks for visiting the USDA Rural Development California website. Here you’ll see that our agency has a proven track record of helping families purchase their first home, building critical infrastructure in rural areas, helping rural entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, and improving the viability of California’s rural economies. We can’t do our job though, without private investment and community leadership. That’s where you come in. We have 18 offices across California – from Alturas to El Centro. I welcome you to stop in for a cup of coffee sometime and tell us about your goals. Chances are, we have a program that’s right for you. You can learn more about USDA Rural Development resources in your area by clicking on the ‘Offices’ link above, or calling our state office at (530) 792-5800. -Ben Higgins, State Director
27% - The increase in vehicle traffic on state's rural roads between 1990 and 2003.
6,000 miles - The length of California's network of levees that protect areas from flooding.
18% - Segment of the state's rural population that completed college in 2000 vs. 26.8% of urban population.
1.4 million - The number of mostly rural Californians lacking broadband access at any speed
7.1% - The unemployment rate in California's rural areas vs. 6.2% in urban areas (2004 data).
3,400 - The estimated number of California jobs saved through the help of USDA Rural Development business programs in 2007.
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, USDA Rural Development, California Chamber of Commerce
July, 2008
■ 8 - Grand Opening of Central Avenue
Senior Apartments, Wasco ■ 23 - Rural Business Enterprise Grant check presentation to Siskiyou County Economic Development Council, Yreka
- Rural Business Enterprise Grant check presentation to Siskiyou
Training and Employment Program, Weed
|
June 13, 2008 USDA Rural Development Rounds Out National Homeownership Month in Mecca With Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC)
Pictured left: Coachella Valley Housing Coalition Executive Director John Mealey helped families cut the ribbon outside of the newly constructed homes. Also on hand were Single Family Housing Program Director Bob Anderson and Area Director John Jebian.
June 6, 2008 USDA Rural Development Celebrates National Homeownership Month in Gridley With Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) National Homeownership Month continued in Gridley with USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins joining staff from CHIP and homeowners to break ground at the future site of 13 self-help homes.
Pictured left:( L-R) David Ferrier, Executive Director for CHIP and USDA Rural Development State Director Ben Higgins. Higgins commended the families scheduled to start construction on taking the step toward homeownership.
Pictured right: Several family members joined in the celebrations and helped break ground at the future site of 13 self-help homes. Each family will spend 40 hours each week for the next 10-12 months constructing the homes.
USDA Rural
Development Celebrates National Homeownership Month in Orosi With
Self-Help Enterprises
Pictured left: Higgins kicked-off National Homeownership Month celebrations at a new self-help housing subdivision in Orosi. Higgins commended Self-Help Enterprises for the great work they have done over the years to help make homeownership a reality for so many families in the Central Valley.
Pictured right: The Zurita family with State Director Ben Higgins. Nicolas and Reyna Zurita worked with 10 other families to build each other's home in the Tulare County community of Orosi. Below: USDA Rural Development staff joined families still under construction on their homes with a wall-raising.
May 29, 2008
City of Mendota Receives $3.65 Million
for Wastewater Upgrades
The event was held at the City of Mendota's community center and included community leaders from around Fresno County.
In other
USDA Rural Development news...
Applicants interested in the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing loan program can view complete information on the application procedures published in the February 4, 2008 Federal Register or click here.
The report provides a comprehensive picture of broadband deployment in rural California and includes maps of current availability and speed. Although California was found to be a leader in broadband deployment among U.S. states, 1.4 million Californians, mostly rural, lack access to broadband at any speed.
The full report can be found at: http://www.calink.ca.gov/taskforcereport/
|
Rural
Development and the 2008 Farm Bill
