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Plumas County economic recovery staff urge outreach, seek LMI exemption for Greenville grant
Summary
County economic development staff reported modest uptake for the Greenville Economic Development Grant (10 awards to date) and recommended proactive outreach and a possible request to state HCD for a Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) eligibility exemption to stimulate business recovery in Indian Valley.
Clint Kolbe, a county economic-development staff member, updated the Board of Supervisors on March 11 about business recovery work following the Dixie Fire and asked the board to consider asking the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to review the grant’s LMI eligibility mapping.
Kolbe reported nine new business filings countywide in February and steady interest from startup businesses and Dixie Fire–impacted enterprises from Indian Valley. He said the Greenville Economic Development Grant has made 10 awards so far but is unlikely to reach the program’s target of 25 grants at $20,000 each unless the county increases outreach and considers changes to eligibility rules.
Kolbe said RCAC (Rural Community Assistance Corporation) offered a nationally experienced staff person to help set up a down-payment assistance program and that staff estimate approximately $15,000 would be needed to start the program. He also summarized 2024 and 2025 building-permit activity countywide.
Kolbe proposed requesting an exemption from the HCD national-objective LMI mapping for Indian Valley, arguing that some businesses just outside census-block boundaries serve LMI residents and should be eligible. Planning Director Tracy Ferguson said she had requested a state review of the national objective and mapping on February 25 and that the county must work with HCD and federal Community Development Block Grant rules when considering any change.
Supervisor Mimi Hall and others suggested additional outreach, application assistance and “hand‑holding” for small community groups and businesses unfamiliar with grant applications. Ferguson said the county has flyers, an application and Michael Baker International as a consultant to lead outreach and would return with details of additional outreach and any responses from HCD. Kolbe and board members also discussed temporarily relaxing some LMI requirements if state approval is granted.
The board did not take a separate vote on exemptions at the meeting but directed staff to continue outreach and pursue state review of the grant eligibility mapping. The update was provided under agenda item 1a; the board later approved several funding and program items elsewhere on the agenda, including a PLHA housing grant application and other recovery-related items.
