
County of Tulare’s Grow Tulare County initiative is growing
July 2, 2024
Visalia, California – At the Board of Supervisors meeting on June 25, Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA)’s Associate Director, Michael G. Washam, ACE, introduced the arrival of new leadership and staff to the Economic Development Office (EDO). Washam also presented the EDO’s Economic Development Office Fiscal Year 2024/25 Work Program, resulting in the Board’s approval.
EDO growth in the last twelve years.
The EDO was established in 2012 with the help of Mr. Washam and supports California’s 7th largest county with a land area of 4,863 square miles and a population of nearly 500,000 residents. The EDO is comprised of three key programs represented in a yearly request for approval by the Board, each with a custom marketing campaign: The Business Opportunities Work Program (Grow Tulare County), the Film Commission Work Program, and the Tourism Work Program (Discover Tulare County). These programs operate collaboratively and cross-functionally to maximize the EDO’s efficiency and effectiveness.
In March, Alida Verduzco Silva joined as the new Economic Development Manager. January saw the arrival of Economic Development Analyst Javier Cisneros. In May, the EDO welcomed Media Specialist Lacey Patrick to the team.
“We are confident that the recruitment of talented and passionate individuals will be a valuable asset to the RMA team,” says Associate Director of the RMA Michael Washam, ACE. “We are welcoming new leadership and staff who bring diverse expertise to the team, positioning them very well to contribute to the continued success of our region.”
Business Opportunities Work Program (The Grow Tulare County Initiative)
The Business Opportunities Work Program focuses on economic development efforts and provides services to site selectors, business decision-makers, companies, and stakeholders worldwide and coordinates with federal, state, and local public entities (including non-profit organizations) to promote economic growth within Tulare County. The EDO works closely with other County departments to provide rapid and substantive assistance to developers, existing businesses, and prospective new development opportunities.
The EDO encourages business-related progress including infrastructure (i.e. sewer, water, internet access) through grants, public-private partnerships, and promotes the development of renewable energy and technology. With an emphasis on the agricultural sector, the EDO is also focused on the healthcare, retail, commercial, and industrial sectors and assists businesses through an expedited business permitting process and a robust Project Review Committee process. Growth goals for the Grow Tulare County initiative include developing a business assistance process to establish referrals to other business resources and eventually launch a business microloan program.
In the last year, the EDO rebranded its marketing collateral to amplify the EDO’s efforts to attract more business and support existing businesses under the marketing campaign, Grow Tulare County. The result was a modern look for the EDO’s economic development efforts including social media, website maintenance, and media outreach.
The branding overhaul already is being leveraged by new team members for work surrounding business retention and expansion and regional outreach. “The Grow Tulare County branding collateral is an asset our team is utilizing as we highlight Tulare County as the hosting jurisdiction for the Team California 10th Annual Meet The Consultants Site Selection and Economic Development Forum,” says Ms. Verduzco Silva. At the Board meeting, Mr. Washam shared that the Meet The Consultants event will be held at the Visalia Convention Center from August 6 – 8 to connect site selectors with economic developers. During the event, Tulare County will showcase communities utilizing the Grow Tulare County channel and other jurisdictions from throughout the state will have an opportunity to do the same for their regions.
Film Commission Work Program
The scenic and breathtaking qualities of the Sierra Nevada's, the Giant Sequoias and other natural assets of Tulare County are a coveted filming location. The promotion and permitting of film production in Tulare County is managed through the Film Commission with the support and cooperation of many County agencies and departments, including funding from Tulare County Association of Governments. Film Commission activities include filming of movies, television shows, commercials, music videos, and still photography for advertisement purposes and for use in print and in digital projects. Among other notable productions, the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County was a filming location for HBO’s True Detective and a music video for the violinist Lindsey Stirling.
Tourism Work Program
The travel industry fuels every industry and continues to be an essential part of Tulare County’s economic development and workforce. The demand for overnight accommodations and increased commodity prices continues to strengthen local visitor spending and Tulare County is invested in promoting the Giant Sequoias, eight Tulare County cities, and numerous unincorporated communities as part of tourism efforts aligned with state-level Visit California efforts and local tourism initiatives including the Sequoia Tourism Council, the Mighty 190 and Visit Visalia.
In 2023, direct travel-related spending in California grew to $150.4 billion in 2023, a 5.6 percent increase from the previous year at $142.5 billion. Since the peak of 2019, travel spending has grown by 3.8%. Tulare County has fully recovered and surpassed pre-pandemic levels of tourism activity, which supports over 6,000 local jobs. Travel spending supports vibrant and safe communities in Tulare County and totaled $594.2 million in 2023, an increase from $591.4 million in 2022. Travel-related state and local tax revenue totaled $53.4 million in 2023 and supports essential services, such as education, emergency response, public safety, and more. This was an increase of about 3.6% from $51.5 million in FY23. The Tourism Work Program includes ARPA Travel & Hospitality expenditures to combat the negative economic effects of the pandemic, coordinated regional marketing efforts as part of the Sequoia Tourism Council and the Mighty 190, event sponsorship and marketing.
Meet the RMA’s Associate Director – Michael G. Washam, ACE
Michael Washam is the RMA’s Associate Director and oversees the EDO. Washam’s economic development expertise spans over decades. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, Real Estate and Law from California Polytechnic University – Pomona and is an Accredited California Economic Developer (ACE). Mr. Washam brings expertise in business, planning and all aspects of operations to the RMA. He helped launch the EDO roughly 12 years ago and has worked diligently alongside RMA Director Reed Schenke to strengthen economic development momentum by unifying all RMA departments.
Meet the Economic Development Manager – Alida Verduzco Silva, APR
Alida Verduzco Silva, APR is the County’s new Economic Development Manager. Her background includes experience in business assistance programming, municipal economic development planning, marketing, and public relations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno. Ms. Verduzco Silva’s professional public service experience includes an economic development role at the City of Porterville and service in healthcare marketing roles at Sierra View Medical Center and Adventist Health in the Central Valley. Ms. Verduzco Silva will be leading the EDO team in alignment with vision and direction from RMA Director Reed Schenke and RMA Associate Director Michael G. Washam, ACE.
Meet the Economic Development Analyst – Javier Cisneros
Javier Cisneros joined the EDO in January and brings a real estate background to his role as the County’s Economic Development Analyst. Mr. Cisneros grew up in Tulare County and has had experience working in various sub-sectors of the agriculture industry. Mr. Cisneros holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from California State University, Bakersfield. Cisneros will coordinate various aspects of the EDO’s business retention and expansion initiatives and help build inroads with local developers and retail recruitment partners.
Meet the Media Specialist – Lacey Patrick
Lacey Patrick is the latest addition to RMA and will fill the Media Specialist role focusing on the media needs of the EDO, the RMA, and regional tourism efforts. She also will support the County’s Film Commission and coordinate various storytelling and public relations efforts to distribute public information about the County’s programming. Ms. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Biola University and has a background in journalism with the Sun-Gazette Newspaper, and the Chimes Newspaper, in addition to community non-profit work.
Collaborating On Regional Priorities
The RMA’s EDO team will be working closely with stakeholders and community partners across Tulare County within the unincorporated areas and across the County’s eight cities (Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, and Woodlake) to strengthen current programming and create new program offerings.
The County is strategically positioned between the ports of Oakland and Long Beach and thrives as a beacon of opportunity in California’s economic landscape, recognized for its agricultural prowess and diverse industries. The EDO collaborates actively on economic development initiatives with the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC), local chambers of commerce and other local and regional entities.
The Tulare County RMA is located at the Government Plaza, also home to the County’s Permit Center. To learn more about the services the Economic Development Office provides, please visit www.growtularecounty.org. To contact the Economic Development Office team, please email economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov or call 559-624-7000.
About Tulare County’s Resource Management Agency
The County of Tulare’s Resource Management Agency (RMA) provides essential public services to unincorporated communities and supports eight municipalities efficiently and professionally at the heart of California’s Central Valley. The County of Tulare boasts a population of nearly 500,000 and a geography close to 5,000 sq. miles in a central location between the Bay Area and the Los Angeles Metro Area. The County of Tulare is a top-performing agricultural county with plentiful manufacturing, industrial, and commercial possibilities, along with a young workforce, strong school and college districts and regional collaboration across the Central Valley.
The RMA consists of three branches: Public Works, Fiscal Services, and Economic Development & Planning, all supporting several divisions. The Planning and Building Division handles construction inspection, building permits, environmental planning, community plans and zoning codes. The Public Works Division manages roads, bridges, airports, sewers and water facilities. The Fiscal Services Division oversees budgeting, accounting, and human resources, ensuring effective program management. The Grants Division oversees funding opportunities and Forest Health initiatives. The Economic Development Office (EDO) promotes business retention and expansion, jobs creation and tourism through the following channels: Grow Tulare County, Discover Tulare County and The Film Commission.
The RMA is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and project support for residents, developers, and business owners and is committed to safeguarding the community's health, safety, and environmental resources. To learn more about the County of Tulare’s Resource Management Agency, please visit https://tularecounty.ca.gov/rma/.
For media inquiries, please contact RMA Media Specialist Lacey Patrick (LPatrick@tularecounty.ca.gov).