LAKEPORT >> On Tuesday, State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in California Kim Dolbow Vann visited the Board of Supervisors to discuss local housing and economic development projects and her intentions in working closely with the community.
Vann started by listing USDA projects already in the works, to which all are “in different development stages” at this time:
Community facilities projects
Lakeport: Thanks in part to a $45,000 grant, the Lakeport Police Department is awaiting a new police SUV.
Clearlake: A loan grant made available for the city’s animal control facility.
Water and wastewater projects
Clearlake Oaks County Water District
Lake County Anderson Springs
Big Valley Rancheria
Recent inquiries
Cobb Area Water District
Harbor View Mutual Water District
Glenhaven Water District
The resolution of a water issue found at a Lakeport multi-family complex
Vann explained that besides completing these projects, the “USDA is committed, under [her] leadership, to help expand [its] investment into Lake County.” A meeting last month underlined the areas where the federal department could do just that.
“We want to increase your housing and accelerate your economic development,” Vann told the board. “We started with a roundtable meeting in February in Lake County which highlighted the need for housing, particularly for the wine industry and agricultural workers who have for years been providing their services to local businesses to create a competitive advantage as a need for skilled labor increases throughout Northern California.”
More closely, she said an action plan was created to identify the steps for public and private partnership to help increase the availability of worker housing locally. Inventory of housing, lot development availability for single and multi-family housing, lender guidance and easy application access were among the steps she said were identified. Rehab projects and finding potential funding sources for housing were also mentioned.
But there’s something vitally needed to make this happen; she said: “We need the County’s partnership and commitment to these housing efforts. Through this, I mean streamline permitting, quick turnaround with plan checks, and your willingness to be proactive partners.”
In response, District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele said requesting for timely reviews on planning may be “ a little bit of a sore spot because we have so many people that are under duress from losing homes.” Deadlines, he added, are often missed because the county does not compete well with grants — which often receive a high number of qualified applicants.
Nonetheless, he said the USDA’s vision to help Lake is “ a breath of fresh air.” And many attendees thought the same.
During public comment, multiple developers, city officials and representatives of local agencies went up to share their thoughts and suggest projects that could use aid from the USDA.
Among them was Brad McDonald, Chief Executive Officer for the Rural Community Housing Development Corporation, who mentioned a nearly 4-acre property on Collier Avenue in Upper Lake that needs redevelopment. McDonald said he would like to see it turn into a 50-unit housing area for a blend of tenets including families, seniors, and locals with special needs. The public and some board members also suggested multi-unit structures in Cobb, a transition home for veterans and the homeless in Clearlake, and solar projects for senior centers.
Vann, who took note of what was shared, said: “This is a group effort, and communication’s going to be the key to make all this work.”
The state director also took the opportunity to mention programs already available including:
The Rural Business Development Grants
This grant helps develop and expand small and emerging private businesses in rural areas, with funds ranging from $10,000 to $500,000. The deadline to apply is April 30. For more, visit www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants.
Community Connect Grants
The program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where private sector providers do not yet deliver services. The application is due no later than May 14. To download the application, visit www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants or call 202-720-0800 for more information.
Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
Rural communities can have a chance at telecommunications to connect to each other and the world, despite the effects of remoteness and low population density through this program. The USDA said this could link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another. Schools, clinics, and hospitals are encouraged to apply, Vann said. The deadline is June 4. For more, visit www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants.
Vann, with over 20 years of rural life improvement experience and appointed by the Trump administration in November, said she commits to visit Lake County as much needed to “promote communities, grow communities, [and] improve communities.”
