COLUSA, CA (MPG) — A federal funding delay has halted progress on Colusa County’s pursuit of a Biomass Designation Opportunity (BDO) zone, Agricultural Commissioner Anastasia Allen told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Allen said her office had applied for a rural development business grant earlier this year to fund the BDO zone rating, intended to attract biomass-related industries to the county. However, the money allocated by Congress for the program never reached the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“I was informed the money is entirely held up in the Federal Office of Management and Budget,” Allen said. “If it wasn’t distributed by Sept. 30, there was a chance we would not get it regardless of the award.”
She said the issue was compounded by the federal government shutdown that began the same day, leaving her with “out-of-office responses” from federal agencies and limited contact with congressional offices.
Allen reached out to the offices of U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Rep. Doug LaMalfa, as well as to USDA Rural Business and Cooperative Services. She said only Schiff’s office confirmed the funding stall.
“I do believe we probably missed that because of the lack of funding being moved forward,” Allen said. “It looks like if we want to move forward with the BDO zone rating, we’ll have to find another bucket of money for that.”
Allen said the lapse was due to timing and politics, not the strength of the county’s application.
Turning to other matters, Allen reported that the county’s federal wildlife services trapper will remain on duty during the government shutdown. The position, considered essential, provides animal control and mitigation services to local growers and rural communities.
“Our growers and our communities can still have his services available, even during this shutdown,” Allen said.
Allen, who also serves as the county’s Director of Migrant Housing, said operations at the county’s migrant housing center are winding down earlier than usual this year. Morning Star Packing Company is expected to complete its tomato processing season by Oct. 10, several weeks ahead of schedule.
“The center is already emptying,” she said. “We have about 10 families already gone for the season, and it will probably be emptying a lot earlier than normal this year.”