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Around Tulare County: Five Guys To Visalia / Rite Aid For Woodlake / More

5 guys 2014-10-20 at 10.06.26 AMVisalia To Get Five Guys Burgers Store

Visalia will get a Five Guys Burgers location with tenant improvements filed with the city in the past week for a location in the Packwood Creek shopping center. The fast growing hamburger chain recently opened their doors in Fresno and will now open a 2116sf restaurant here at 4129 S Mooney – Suite A. The location is in one of two new  buildings at the Packwood center next to the new wing store.
Five Guys is named by founder Jerry Murrell for his five sons who work in the business. The Virginia-based firm has revenues of over $1 billion and over 1000 locations. The east coast eatery only opened in California a few years ago where fans claim its upscale burgers rival IN-N-Out in popularity. The new restaurant is expected to open by the holidays.

Screen Shot 2014-10-20 at 10.39.32 AMWoodlake To Get Rite-Aid Drug Store

Rite-Aid continues to expand in the Central Valley with a plan for new drug store in Woodlake. The city planning commission approved a construction proposal by Rite-Aid to build a 14,578 sf new store at the corner of Antelope and Magnolia. The new development is across street from the city’s main shopping center and within a block from the towns two health clinics. City administrator Ramon Lara says the new drug store will make it easier for locals to access pharmaceuticals and other health and household items in town.

“This kind of started with two new dollar stores in Woodlake that helps slow the leakage of sales tax dollars to larger towns” says city planner Greg Collins. Collins says Rite-Aid had considered building a 10,000 sf store but opted for the larger format model. Lara points out that Rite-Aid is aware the city is planning a major facelift of its Downtown streetscape.

The coming of more health care options to smaller towns is considered a result in part of the rollout of Obamacare that allows more low income people to have health insurance.

Kaweah Delta CEO Lindsay Mann says their is a synergy in the expansion of more community health clinics like Kaweah Delta in Woodlake – often located near new drug stores like in Dinuba,Woodlake and North Visalia where a new KD health clinic was recently announced to be located near a new existing Walgreens location.

Rite-Aid is the nations’ third largest drug store chain with 1433 stores. The company recently announced their latest results showing same store sales for the quarter increased 4.1 percent over the prior year, consisting of a 1.1 percent increase in front-end sales and a 5.6 percent increase in pharmacy sales.

Mr Lara says the new store should open by June of next year.

Valley Jobless Rate Falls Again

Tulare County’s jobless rate was down in September to 11.2 percent from 12.7 percent a year ago following the same trend in major Valley counties. Tulare County’s numbers show some 2600 more people going to work than a year ago with farm jobs at a surprising 800 more than a year ago despite the drought. Some 22,400 were unemployed in September 2104 compared to 25,500 in September 2013. The  trend parallels numbers from Fresno County that show even stronger non farm job growth with 7600 more jobs than September 2013 even though farm jobs fell by 300 from 58,500 to 58,200. That decline is considered small given the the fact that Fresno’s parched westside farm region has been hit hard by drought and a lack of surface water.
Fresno job growth shines with construction jobs up 1100, hospitality – also up 1100 and utilities up 800. Business service employment climbed 1500 – all year over year.
The unemployment rate in the Fresno County fell below double digits at 9.5 percent in September 2014, down from 10.0 percent in August 2014, and below the year-ago estimate of 11.1 percent.

Tulare Schools Go Solar

The California Energy Commission approved a low interest loan to the Tulare City School District this month.The district will receive a $3 million loan to install solar panels at its eight schools. The loan will be paid back in about 18 years and will save about $160,000 annually in utility costs.

Sniffer Dogs Unleashed To Fight Citrus Disease

Dogs with trained noses may soon help California authorities check for the presence of a citrus disease. The California Citrus Research Board says it has contracted for two dogs that can sniff out the plant disease known as HLB. The dogs are being trained in Florida, where HLB has killed citrus trees. Visalia based  MaryLou Polek, the board’s Vice President of Science and Technology says the early trials are promising enough to have dogs working in California airports, mailing houses and in the orange groves in the next few years.

Respite House Getting New Life

Visalia Rotary is sponsoring a Respite House at 669 S Watson for patrons of Kaweah Delta who need a facility as they care for loved ones in the hospital.Christ Lutheran previously sponsored such a house but can longer do it. KD staff report says the district will operate the house.

Local Housing Recovery Signs

Housing market continues to recover in Tulare County with the September median home price climbing 7% year over year with sales some 3.6% higher than a year ago.Across the state the market has cooled but that is considered a good sign that sellers are reigning in their expectations.

Like the rest of the state Tulare County property values are higher in 2014 up 4.8% compared to 6.1% statewide says the Board of Equalization. “ Higher property values are an encouraging sign that California’s economic recovery is finally gaining traction throughout our state” says BOE member George Runner.

Meanwhile foreclosures are way down as well says Core Logic this week with Tulare County’s foreclosure rate at 0.82 percent in August, a decrease of 0.44 percentage points compared to August 2013 when the rate was 1.26 percent. Foreclosure activity in Visalia-Porterville was lower than the national foreclosure rate, which was 1.61 percent for August 2014. Also in Visalia-Porterville, the mortgage delinquency rate decreased with 3.12 percent of mortgage loans that were 90 days or more delinquent compared to 4.32 percent for August 2013.

UP Chugging Along

How’s the economy doing? Check out bellwether Union Pacific RR who does plenty of business in the San Joaquin Valley.This week the company reported an all time quarterly record with net income of $1.4 billion compared to $1.15 billion in the third quarter 2013. Operating income  was up 19%.Helping to drive profit was a 5% lower diesel gas bill. Farm product shipments climbed 19%.

Tomato Crop Upside Surprise

Despite the nasty drought Valley ag producers appear to be managing.The state’s tomato processors had contracted for a record 14 million tons of tomatoes, but early in the season, some growers and others in the business said they had doubts about whether all of the planted acreage would come to fruition, with reduced surface-water supplies, pressure on groundwater and concerns about early fall rains wreaking havoc on harvest.

But it looks like they made the goal.

“I can’t believe we’re going to get close to 14 million tons,said Tim Borchard, who farms in Yolo County. “If you had asked me that a month ago, I would have said, ‘No way.'” Canneries paid a higher contract price this year—$83 per ton, about $10 per ton more than last year—Fresno County farmer Bob Wilson said that made tomatoes an attractive crop in a tight water year, because growers were able to stagger plantings and harvest at different times from July through September, allowing them to stretch out their irrigation schedule.
More Crops

California’s orange crop is now forecasted 4% higher than last year and tangerines are expected be up 10% despite predictions that many orchards would not survive the drought.
More good news: two big crops in Tulare County – walnuts and prunes did well last year. USDA reports average walnut prices reached nearly $2 per lb ($1.85) rising again from low 2008 levels when they fetched just 64 cents/lb.  Then there is a new wrinkle for prunes as prices jumped last year to $2000 a ton compared to $1330 in 2103.
Bank & Credit Unions Doing Well

Banks and credit unions seem to be doing well too. Educational Employees Credit Union is building a new branch in Tulare at 1398 E Prosperity – next to Chili’s. The credit union has no office in town now. Also Visalia-based Valley Commerce Bank reports higher net income for the latest quarter announced Oct 16,with a 9% increase in loans. Porterville-based Bank of the Sierra reports a 5% increase in net income as they expand operations into the Santa Clarita area.

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