|
Fall 2024 issue | USDA Rural Development California Newsletter
|
|
Dear Community Partners,
As we close one fiscal year and begin another, I want to take a moment to celebrate the progress we have made together in advancing equity and prosperity in rural California.
Over the past year, we invested $760.9 million in rural California, and more than $3.4 billion since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration. Together, we helped families achieve the dream of homeownership, supported business owners and agricultural producers, and ensured communities have access to essential community facilities and the infrastructure they need – including clean drinking water, reliable wastewater systems and high-speed internet. We also prioritized investments in disaster recovery and resilience and continued advancing our commitment to serving historically underserved and unserved rural, Tribal and colonia communities.
This year also marked a transition for our team, as we said farewell to many long-time public servants who retired and welcomed new members to our leadership team and field offices. These additions continue to reflect the diversity and passion of our state and strengthen our capacity to advance our mission.
As we look to the year ahead, I invite all of you to engage with our newest members of the leadership team and continue partnering with us to advance equity and prosperity in rural California.
It is an honor to serve the Biden-Harris Administration, alongside a dedicated team and rural leaders and partners who share our mission to uplift rural voices and meet community needs. I look forward to what we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
In Service,
Maria Gallegos Herrera, California State Director
|
|
|
|
Ensuring equitable access to our programs and services has been a high priority for USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration. In 2022, we launched the Creating Opportunities through Rural Engagement (CORE) effort in California to increase investments in underserved rural communities by increasing engagement.
This year, we held listening sessions in Salton Sea Beach, Ducor, and Happy Camp to better understand local needs and advance community priorities.
 The California USDA Rural Development team engages in listening sessions with community members in Salton Sea Beach (left) and Ducor (right).
|
|
|
We also continued supporting communities engaged in 2022 and 2023 and most recently announced $150,000 in Community Facilities Program grants to support the communities of Allensworth and Westmorland.
The Allensworth Community Services District received a $50,000 grant to build a wrought iron fence to protect and restore their historic cemetery. The project, totaling $174,000 is supported by the County of Tulare, Central Valley Community Foundation, and California Wellness Foundation.
Allensworth Elementary School District received a $50,000 grant to re-paint and install air conditioning on a district school bus and purchase a storage shed.
The Westmorland Community Presbyterian Church received a $50,000 grant to purchase a truck for collecting and transporting food donations within the area, supporting their weekly distributions that benefit Westmorland residents.
USDA leadership present a symbolic check to the communty of Allensworth to protect a historic cemetery (left). Personnel at the Westmorland Community Presbyterian Church celebrate a new food delivery truck with USDA staff (right).
Since CORE efforts began in 2022, we held listening sessions and established partnerships in 15 underserved rural and Tribal areas, helping us better understand the self-identified needs of rural residents and enabling us to invest more than $4.2 million in projects that support essential services and advance rural prosperity.
In September, we had the honor of hosting USDA officials, including our Acting Deputy Under Secretary Lillan Salerno and the USDA Equity Commission in community conversations and tours in Fresno, Northern Tulare County, Allensworth and Delano. These visits highlighted the progress we have made to advance and institutionalize equity in rural California. Moreover, we were proud to attend the final Equity Summit in Washington, D.C. alongside four leaders from rural Tulare County, who shared powerful stories about the impact our investments had in their communities and the power of partnerships.
 Tulare County leaders attend USDA's final Equity Summit in Washington D.C., and meet USDA leadership including Under Secretary Basil Gooden, Acting Deputy Under Secretary Lillian Salerno and California State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera.
|
|
|
In late 2023, we onboarded a Community Planner, with responsibility for ensuring the underserved rural communities and Tribal areas engaged through CORE continue to receive support and partnership opportunities beyond the initial engagement period.
Monica Telles, Community Planner
Monica Telles has served as the Community Planner since September 2023. She joined Rural Development in 2022, as a Community Programs Loan Specialist, helping rural and Tribal communities in rural Southern California access funding to improve water infrastructure and ensure access to essential community facilities. Prior to her federal service, she worked as the Housing Ombudsman for Riverside County to improve housing conditions for the farmworker community. As a long-time resident of the Eastern Coachella Valley and former migrant farmworker, she is committed to helping historically underserved rural and Tribal communities obtain equitable access to the programs and services that Rural Development has to offer. Monica earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
|
Water and Environmental Programs – Supporting Colonia Communities and Disaster Recovery
Recently, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the long-awaited Wastewater Treatment Plant and Collection System Improvements Project for the colonia community of Niland. Our multi-year $6.7 million investment through colonia funding to the County of Imperial will support substantial improvements to the Niland County Sanitary District’s wastewater treatment system. This project will ensure reliable wastewater services, protect groundwater and support future growth.
 The community of Niland gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking of its long-awaited wastewater treatment plant project.
This year, we also awarded the first-of-its kind Water Disaster Grant to the City of Weed and are working to process several applications from rural and Tribal communities impacted by disasters in 2022. The City of Weed was impacted by the Mill Fire in 2022, which damaged its existing stormwater system. In response, the city applied for and successfully secured a $1,090,000 award to restore safe stormwater passage through the replacement of curbs and gutters in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. Additionally, the city is pursuing additional disaster funding to repair damages their water and wastewater systems.
Community Facilities Disaster Awards – Investing in Disaster Recovery and Resilience
In August, we awarded two first-of-their-kind Disaster Grants to Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel ($675,000) and City of Ukiah ($225,000) for flood recovery efforts. These investments will support the purchase of equipment to make repairs to the roads that were damaged during the severe storms of 2022 and 2023.
|
|
 Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel was awarded a Community Facilities Program grant for disaster relief.
|
 City of Ukiah was awarded a Community Facilities Program grant for disaster relief to help with flood recovery efforts.
|
|
Single-Family Housing – Helping Rural Californians Achieve Homeownership
Despite a challenging funding year, the California Single Family Housing team continued its tradition of being the top-performing team in the nation, obligating 420 loans, totaling $140.7 million. We continued partnering with lenders, government agencies, packagers and our mutual self-help providers to help rural Californians achieve their dreams of home ownership, home repair, and recover and rebuild after a disaster.
In June, we celebrated National Homeownership Month alongside 10 families, who built their forever homes in Brawley, Imperial County through our Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grant program with the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition.
|
In March, we traveled to Paradise and joined our partners at Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) to welcome two Camp Fire survivors to their forever homes. Joanne, who lost her family gathering place and Benny, who lost his primary residence during the 2028 Camp Fire, spent many weeks working on building their homes together with local volunteers, family and friends. Their determination to reestablish their lives in Paradise, along with our partnership with CHIP and direct investments made these new beginnings possible.
|
Housing Preservation Grant - Self Help Housing Improvement Program (SHHIP)
Through our partnership with SHHIP, we recently provided a homeowner a much safer option in and out of her home by replacing steps with a new handicap-accessible ramp.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
We continue to partner with rural small business owners and agricultural producers to help them lower energy costs and expand their businesses through REAP. Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have invested more than $183 million in 154 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across rural California.
This year, we provided the William J Young Aspen Enterprises, a rural small business, in Watsonville a $278,400 REAP grant to support the installing an energy efficient solar photovoltaic system. The system is estimated to produce 236,850 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 22.28 homes.
In August, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and RD staff toured the Hollandia Produce Group facility with Representative Carbajal to highlight how a $500,000 REAP grant helped them implement energy efficiency systems, including improved forms of lighting and heating for their crops. The energy improvements are estimated to save 4,279,874 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year which is enough electricity to power 402.55 homes.
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small (center, pink jacket) toured the Hollandia Produce Group facility.
Imperial Cambria Hotel
Recently, we celebrated the grand opening of the Imperial Cambria Hotel, a 108-room property financed through a $15,737,278 Business & Industry Loan Guarantee. The hotel transformed a long-vacant space into an economic asset, providing visitors and residents with a high-quality place to stay and boosting the local economy. The hotel has generated more than 50 jobs, all filled by local residents. Additionally, the restaurant, the 1905 Bar & Grill, works with local farmers to bring a “farm-to-table” experience to guests, further boosting the local economy. A mural inside the lobby of the hotel depicts farmworkers, giving a nod to the restaurant's local first ideal.
|
This year, we onboarded California’s first Deputy State Director, four Area Directors, and two Program Directors.
 |
|
Daniel “Dan” Johnson, Deputy State Director
Dan Johnson has served as the Deputy State Director since April 2024. He is a dedicated public servant with more than 40 years of experience in federal service. Dan began his career with the Farmers Home Administration in 1984, later transitioning to the Farm Service Agency in 1996. Over the years, he has held various roles within USDA Rural Development, including Rural Development Manager in Bakersfield for 11 years, overseeing programs in Kern, Ventura, and Inyo counties and Rural Business Cooperative Service Program Director from 2020 to 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture Business Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
|
|
Valerie St James, Rural Business Cooperative Service Program Director
Valerie St James has served as the Rural Business and Cooperative Service Program Director since September 2024. She brings extensive experience in commercial loan underwriting, having held leadership roles at California Bank & Trust and Bank of America. Since joining RBCS in 2019 as a Commercial Loan Specialist, she has remained committed to ensuring access to credit for businesses and communities. Valerie holds a degree from California State University, Sacramento.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Justin Garey, Community Facilities Programs Director
Justin Garey has served as the Community Facilities Programs Director since June 2024. He joined Rural Development in 2019 as a Loan Assistant in the State Office. There, he served on the Camp Fire disaster response team, Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant team, and has helped streamline project development and underwriting. Prior to federal service, Justin excelled for decades as a farmer and horse trainer as well as being a licensed General Contractor for over 30 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from University of California, Davis.
|
|
Stephen Nnodim, Single Family Housing Programs Director
Stephen Nnodim has served as the Single-Family Housing Direct Programs Director since December 2020. Prior to his current position, he served as Multi-Family Housing Program Director from 2005 to 2020. Stephen began his career with USDA in 1986. Over the years, he has held various positions including Rural Development Manager, County Supervisor and Assistance County Supervisor. He earned both a Bachelor of Science (1984) and Masters (1985) in Agricultural Business Management from Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Luis Andrade, Water and Environmental Programs Director
Luis Andrade has served as the Water and Environmental Programs Director since 2021. As Program Director, he has overseen the obligation of more than $72 million in water and wastewater infrastructure projects in rural California. Prior to this role, he worked as Community Programs Loan Specialist for more than 10 years. Luis began his public service career 20 years ago with the County of Imperial as an Economic Development Coordinator, later working for the City of Coachella as the City’s Grants Manager. Born and raised in an underserved community, he is committed to uplifting and improving quality of life in historically underserved rural, Tribal and Colonia communities across California. Luis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in Urban Development from University of California, Berkeley.
|
Area Directors serve as the agency’s liaison to rural and Tribal communities and organizations within respective geographic areas.
Jennifer Gooler, Northern Region, serving the counties of Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tehama and Trinity
Jennifer Gooler has served as the Area Director for Northern California since June 2024. She joined Rural Development in 2004. Over the years, she has worked in a multitude of roles and RD programs, including processing applications for Community Facilities and Water and Environmental Programs, servicing a Multi-Family Housing portfolio of 35 properties, and approving Single-Family Housing loans and grants. Prior to her current position, Jennifer held the role of State Environmental Coordinator, where she reviewed environmental reports and assessments, and provided support to staff and applicants to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and other applicable environmental laws and regulations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from Sonoma State University.
|
Dibakar Barua, Gold Country Region, serving the counties of Alameda, Alpine, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sierra, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.
Dibakar Barua has served as the Area Director for Gold Country region since April 2024. He joined Rural Development in 2014 as a Business and Cooperative Specialist, where his primary focus was to work with rural business guaranteed loans and various grant programs. Prior to joining Rural Development, he worked with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in Jacksonville, Florida, where he handled compliance and data management for the Risk Share Asset Management division during the financial crisis. Dibakar's career also includes roles in various banks and financial institutions in Southern California, where he engaged in commercial and residential loan activities. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from California State University, Long Beach.
|
Antonio Ybarra, Valley Region, serving the counties of Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Tulare.
Antonio Ybarra has served as the Area Director for the Valley region since April 2024. He commenced his tenure with Rural Development in 2014, as a Community Programs Specialist at the Merced Office. Over the years, he has demonstrated his expertise and commitment by taking on assignments in the Bakersfield, Visalia, and Fresno offices. In October 2022, Antonio transitioned to the role of Water and Environmental Programs State Office Specialist, where he continued to excel in his responsibilities by guiding and supporting staff through application processing and servicing assignments. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, San Diego and Master’s degree of Business Administration in Finance from California State University, Fresno.
|
Lyanne Mendoza, Southern Region, serving the counties of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura.
Lyanne Mendoza has served as the Area Director for Southern California since September 2024. She began her public service career in 2013 as a student volunteer with the Farm Service Agency, navigating government subsidized programs and would eventually join their team soon after graduating from college. In this role, Lyanne oversaw seven Southern California counties as the lead loan specialist providing essential loan services to farmers and ranchers. Upon joining Rural Development, Lyanne briefly worked in the Single-Family Housing program before joining the RBCS team, where she worked diligently to provide grant and loan funds to our rural communities. Lyanne holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California State University, Fresno.
|
|
|
- USDA is accepting applications to promote economic development and create jobs for people in rural America. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. local time on Feb. 28, 2025. Stakeholder Announcement
- USDA is accepting applications for programs to improve water and waste disposal infrastructure for communities across the nation. USDA will begin accepting applications through Grants.gov on Oct. 1, 2024. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2024. | Stakeholder Announcement
- USDA is accepting applications for loans, grants and debt deferrals to preserve or improve safe affordable rental housing for low-income residents and farmworkers in rural communities. Electronic applications are due noon ET on December 26, 2024. Stakeholder Announcement
- USDA is accepting applications for technical assistance grants to preserve multifamily rental housing and expand access to safe, affordable and equitable housing for people across the nation. Electronic applications are due noon ET, November 18, 2024. Stakeholder Announcement
VIRTUAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES FUNDING FAIRS
- The Fall 2024 California Financing Coordinating Committee Virtual Funding Fairs will be held on November 7 and November 13. Rural Development California staff will join several State and Federal Agencies to provide information on available funding and technical assistance to support infrastructure and community facilities projects. Click here to register.
|
|
|
|
|
