Governor certifies Paradise and adjacent communities to increase federal assistance eligibility.
On July 11, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom certified the Town of Paradise and adjacent unincorporated Butte County as “rural areas,” making those communities eligible for loans, grants and technical assistance under rural development programs funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Camp Fire
Based on the United States 2010 Census data, the population of the Town of Paradise prior to the Camp Fire in November 2018 was an estimated 26,800. The fire destroyed around 90 percent of the town, including more than 14,000 residences.
A door-to-door survey in April this year revealed only 2,034 residents in Paradise. The destruction of 2,158 homes within Magalia also led to a significant decrease in population from its pre-fire population of 11,310. Concow’s pre-fire population was 710.
What is a rural area
The USDA defines a “rural area” as any town, village, city or place that is not part of, or associated with, an urban area and has a population less than 2,500. Communities with a population greater than 2,500 but less than 10,000, and that are rural in character, may also be certified as a “rural area.”
We can help
Evaluating income eligibility and area eligibility for USDA loans can be complicated and confusing. And the data used to calculate eligibility requirements changes frequently, so it’s important to work with an approved lender who can access current information. If you’d like to speak with some smart folks who can clear away the jargon and explain these loans in simple terms, you’ve come to the right place.
