Government Plaza 5961 South Mooney Boulevard Visalia, California 93277 Phone (559) 624-7000 FAX (559) 730-2591 Office Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Thursday Closed Fridays Closed on Holidays Mission Statement The mission of the Community Development & Redevelopment (CD&R) Division is to intensify Community Development, Redevelopment and Economic Development activity in the unincorporated areas of Tulare County by securing funding resources, and implementing approved projects and programs to benefit the County and empower its residents. Laurie Mercer Community Development Manager General Overview CD&R seeks to eliminate blight and improve health and safety conditions in unincorporated areas of Tulare County. Currently, there are eight Redevelopment Project Areas: Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Goshen, Ivanhoe, Pixley, Poplar-Cotten Center, Richgrove and Traver. CD&R activities include community improvement, economic development, grants, housing assistance and project development. Redevelopment implementation is through coordination with special purpose districts, outside agencies and other County departments. CD&R is committed to collaborative efforts in order to fulfill goals in the most effective, efficient, and economical way. CD&R Housing Programs provide for the County and the Redevelopment Agency’s affordable housing requirements as outlined in the Housing Element of the General Plan. The goal is to create new housing; and increase, improve and preserve the existing housing stock for low income persons. Programs include Housing Rehabilitation, First Time Homebuyers Mortgage Assistance, Emergency Repair; and Affordable Subdivision Projects or Multifamily Housing Projects. CD&R Economic Development assistance is provided throughout the unincorporated area to companies wishing to expand in or relocate to Tulare County. Five communities, Earlimart, Pixley, Goshen, Traver, and Cutler-Orosi are within the Tulare County Business Incentive Zone (BIZ), which offers incentives to industries to locate or expand their business in Tulare County. A streamlined permitting process is also offered to qualified commercial and industrial enterprises within the BIZ boundaries. CD&R provides Small Business Assistance by administering the Micro-enterprise Technical Assistance and Loan Program for low income entrepreneurs in cooperation with Community Services & Employment Training Inc., Central California Small Business Development Center and Valley Small Business Development Corporation.