Perspectives 2013, a luncheon celebrating Yuba County-based businesses, will take place Friday, April 26 at the Peach Tree Golf and Country Club beginning at 10:30 a.m. The free event hosted by Yuba County will feature a keynote talk from Wayne Bishop of Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. Bishop's Pumpkin Farm is celebrating 40 years as an agritourism business in 2013.

Steven Dambeck will talk about the agritourism industry and its potential within the Yuba-Sutter Region. He will update guests on the recent collaboration of Yuba County foothills ranches and farms branded as "North Yuba Grown."

Yuba County business representatives interested in attending Perspectives 2013 can RSVP by calling 530.749.7560 or by email here.

"Perspectives 2013 is our opportunity to personally thank all the businesses that have chosen Yuba County as their home," said Yuba County Administrator Robert Bendorf. "It is the business community that will influence and help direct our economic recovery and we want to encourage their successand let them know that they are greatly appreciated."

"Our Perspectives luncheon is the business highlight of the year," said Andy Vasquez, Chairman of the Yuba County Board of Supervisors. "As we've done in previous years, we'll recognize a business that has the history and perseverance to hang in there through difficult economic times and succeed despite challenges." In past years Frank M. Booth, Naumes, and Cotton Rosser have been celebrated with proclamations and special video presentations during the Perspectives luncheons.

Thanks to our business sponsors, two participants per Yuba County business are invited to attend Perspectives 2013 at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. After April 15, non-business attendees will be accepted for a $25 admission fee based on seating availability.

Sponsors this year feature Recology, Frank M. Booth, PG & E, Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation and Yuba-Sutter Magazine. 

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Gross regional product growth in the Yuba-Sutter Region was scored best out of nine areas including Sacramento, Reno, Boise, Portland, Fresno and Redding. 

"Agricultural production has led the charge in driving Yuba County and regional gross product growth," noted Economic Development Coordinator John Fleming. "We have had record crop reports three out of the last five years, and where construction has lagged during the Great Recession, agriculture has picked up the slack."

The 2013 Economic Scorecard was developed by the Center for Economic Development, California State University, Chico. The scorecard was created by calculating the value of all goods and services produced within a region and took into account consumer spending, capital spending, capital investment, government spending and net exports.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) developed the Microloan (ML) program to better serve the needs of beginning, niche, and the smallest of family farm operations by modifying its Operating Loan (OL) application, eligibility and security requirements. The program will offer more flexible access to credit and will serve as an attractive loan alternative for smaller farming operations like specialty crop producers and operators of community supported agriculture (CSA).

Eligible applicants may obtain a microloan for up to $35,000. The repayment term may vary and will not exceed seven years. Annual operating loans are repaid within 12 months or when the agricultural commodities produced are sold.

Microloans can be used for all approved operating expenses as authorized by the FSA Operating Loan Program, including but not limited to:

* Initial start-up expenses;

* Annual expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents;

* Marketing and distribution expenses;

* Family living expenses;

* Purchase of livestock, equipment, and other materials essential to farm operations;

* Minor farm improvements such as wells and coolers;

* Hoop houses to extend the growing season;

* Essential tools;

* Irrigation;

* Delivery vehicles.

Additional lending information can be found online here.

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