From a low of $125,000 in February 2012, the regional median home value has improved in 2014 to $200,000. While sales are down significantly compared to the building boom of the last decade, homes are staying on the market for only two or three months pointing to a recovering market, according to Lloyd Leighton Realtors. In 2014 less than 10 percent of available homes were considered "short sales" which also spells relief from a sluggish economy.

New homes in the Linda, Olivehurst and Plumas Lake area include Heartland Homes, Restoration Homes, Larjar, Woodside Homes and JMC Homes with about 140 permits issued since the Summer of 2013, according to the Yuba County Building Department. In addition, a 49-unit apartment complex was recently completed in Linda and a series of townhouse units is in the preliminary development stages. The environmental documents for the 1,000-acre Magnolia Ranch and mixed-use development project for 1,800 homes adjacent to South Beale Road will be completed this Summer.

The Heritage Oaks East subdivision project of 600 homes in Wheatland could break ground as early as this year depending on housing demand. Another project, a $15 million 88-unit low-income housing complex rebuilding project, will be reconstructed in phases over the next 12 months. Also, plans for an eight-plex have been submitted and construction will start soon, said City Manager Stephen Wright.

At Beale Air Force Base 245 enlisted member housing units have been completed through developer Balfour Beatty and within the last couple of years another 178 homes were remodeled, according to Deputy Director for Installation Support Harl Sanderson. Fifty three homes for officers are currently under construction and an additional 33 units have been built. A total of 509 housing units will have been built or renovated by the end of this residential construction and improvement project. 

Media Experts Present Business Promotion Concepts

Yuba County Alliance for Development Hosts Roundtable

A panel of media professionals is featured in a free presentation hosted by the Yuba County Alliance for Development (YuCAD) Wednesday, June 25 at 8:30 a.m. in the Yuba County Government Center's Wheatland conference room. Light refreshments will be served.

The 60-minute media panel discussion includes Steve Allard, Chris Gilbert, Kary Hauck, Steve Miller, and Rikki Shaffer speaking to how local businesses can leverage opportunities presented through newspaper, radio, social media, chamber of commerce and political promotional activities to advertise, promote and market their products and services. The panel will be moderated by Yuba County's policy and legislative analyst, Russ Brown.

For further information, please contact John Fleming, Yuba County Economic Development Coordinator here or call 530.749.7560.

New Business Focus

FEMCO Precision Machine & Welding Expansion

FEMCO Precision Machine & Welding Company has moved to a new, larger location at 4629 Sky Way Drive in the Yuba County Airport industrial park. The company's expansion into a 15,000 square foot manufacturing facility will significantly increase FEMCO's machining capabilities, allow for larger projects, and expand its service fleet for the company's existing customer base. The new facility further confirms FEMCO's investment in serving west coast customers in addition to boosting its national presence.

An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony was coordinated with the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce May 2, 2014. Machinery demonstrations and facility tours were provided and a light lunch was served.

Founded in 1964, FEMCO is a diversified custom manufacturer of quality Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket parts and a provider of emergency repair services to a diverse group of industries including Oil & Gas, Construction & Mining, Scrap Recycling, Crane Parts & Service, Aggregate Crushing Equipment, and Heavy/Industrial Manufacturing.

For more information about FEMCO's operation and services visit here.   

FEMCO Precision Machine & Welding celebrates a ribbon cutting ceremony May 2, 2014

A free breakfast workshop catered to provide local businesses with the resources and information needed for success is coordinated by the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation and Yuba-Sutter Business Consortium Thursday, June 26, 8 a.m. in the Yuba County Government Center board chambers.

 Businesses in the region are invited to attend and will learn of the many business assistance resources that can help them grow their businesses. Topics to be discussed include: business attraction, expansion and retention; planning and counseling; workforce development; training and education; business finance; networking; tax credits and local incentives. This is an excellent way for business owners and managers to meet the service providers face-to-face and discuss opportunities and programs that are available to them, most at no charge to the business.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 530.751.8555, or by email here. 

Beale Air Force Base breaks ground on a number of new buildings bringing additional jobs and construction to Yuba County in 2014. Next month a $5.2 million facility will break ground to support a California Air National Guard Wing relocating from the Southern California community of North Highlands.

A Distributed Ground Station (DGS) expansion and transient personnel motel building should break ground in August. The DGS operation will support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions with a $62 million, 82,000 square foot building and the temporary housing construction project will inject $14.5 million into a 37,000 square foot building. 

A $17.5 million, 41,000 square foot civil engineer administrative and operations facility will begin construction before the end of the year to replace a building which was destroyed in a fire in January 2013.

In 1948 army Camp Beale transitioned into Beale Air Force to train bomardier navigators and establish bombing ranges. Today the base employs approximately 6,800 civilian and air force positions to support a variety of missions including the U-2 Dragon Lady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and MC-12 Liberty reconnaissance aircraft.

For more information about Beale Air Force Base, visit here. 

Over the first weekend of June 2,500 watched the Yuba County air show featuring a replica of the Montgomery Flyer, an aerobatic show, and children's activities in the KidQwest hangar.

Nearly two million visitors have attended concerts at Yuba County's outdoor amphitheater venue ranging from up-and-coming pop star Britney Spears in the opening season in 2000 to Aerosmith.  This year an eclectic range of guests include Journey and the Steve Miller Band June 25, Brad Paisley August 2, Rascal Flatts August 22, Keith Urban September 7, and Luke Bryan October 16. There are 18 events scheduled for the 2014 concert season.

Yuba County Air Show, June 7, 2014