Sequoia National Forest, Tulare County, Calif. | A view of the Sierra Nevada foothills and distant snowcapped peaks along State Route 190 near Springville and Camp Nelson. The Resource Management Agency maintains thousands of miles of roadways serving unincorporated communities, including those in mountain and foothill areas.

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Goshen, Calif. | Concrete drainage pipes staged for installation as part of infrastructure improvements supporting new construction in Goshen, west of Visalia. When planning, funding, and construction align, growth works, helping to protect traffic flow and quality of life through projects like the Road 64 Improvement Project, which supports hundreds of new households in Tulare County.

As we close out the year, I want to thank the residents, businesses, partners, and communities of Tulare County for their continued engagement with the work of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA). This edition reflects what our agency does every day: coordinate across disciplines to keep essential public service systems functioning while planning responsibly for growth.

Throughout the year, RMA teams maintain critical infrastructure across more than 40 unincorporated communities spanning the nearly 5,000-square-mile area of Tulare County. They also guide land use and development, support economic opportunity, and help projects move forward in compliance with complex regulatory requirements. This work happens in close coordination with the Tulare County Board of Supervisors and other County agencies, our eight cities, and local, state, and federal partners. Whether improving roads and signage that connect farms, neighborhoods, and small towns, advancing housing and commercial development, or securing funding for long-term investments, our focus remains on safety, resilience, and quality of life.

In this edition, you’ll see that work in action. Readers will learn about a recent visit to a local surface mining operation, highlighting the role larger commercial and industrial operations play in supporting construction and infrastructure across Tulare County. You’ll also learn about new small business growth, from a neighborhood pharmacy to food service, arts and tourism, showcasing the range of entrepreneurial activity contributing to our vibrant local economy, including the opening of Pierpoint Gallery.

Behind these efforts is a coordinated agency of hundreds of professionals committed to delivering reliable public services and remaining responsive to community needs. From addressing day-to-day service requests to planning for future demand, this work shows how thoughtful planning and infrastructure investment support everyday life across the county.

On behalf of the RMA leadership team and staff, I would like to wish you a safe and restful holiday season. We look forward to continuing this work in the year ahead and sharing updates as we move forward together.

Best regards,

Michael G. Washam, ACE, MEDP

RMA Associate Director

PUBLIC WORKS

ROAD CREWS, ENGINEERING, & LAND SURVEYING TEAMS

Goshen Continues to Grow as Infrastructure Keeps Pace

Road 64 Improvements Already in Use in New Neighborhoods

Aerial view of the completed Road 64 improvements at Avenue 304 near Goshen, enhancing safety and access in a growing area of Tulare County.

Goshen continues to experience sustained residential, commercial, and industrial growth, with hundreds of homes already built west of Highway 99 and additional development underway near the Highway 99 corridor. New neighborhoods, expanding services, and planned commercial and industrial uses are increasing daily activity in the area, underscoring the need for infrastructure that can safely and reliably support this growth.

The recently completed Road 64 Improvement Project supports this development by enhancing a key access route connecting housing, commercial activity, and regional transportation. The project reconstructed Road 64 between State Route 198 and Avenue 304, replaced the Mill Creek culvert crossing, and installed all-way stop controls at the intersection of Road 64 and Avenue 304 to improve safety, drainage, and traffic operations along this high-use corridor.

Keeping Our Roads Safe, Day and Night

Inside the County of Tulare's Sign Shop

Jared Spuhler, a member of the RMA Sign Shop team, prepares to install critical roadway signage while heading to the California Hot Springs area south of Porterville. RMA’s Sign Shop supports traffic safety across Tulare County by responding to signage needs in rural, mountain, and unincorporated communities.

When our RMA Sign Shop team members aren’t on the road installing signs, they’re fabricating and maintaining them in-house. This behind-the-scenes work requires specialized tools and hands-on expertise to ensure signage remains durable, visible, and effective in all weather conditions.

Each year, the RMA Sign Shop conducts nighttime inspections, also known as "night driving," traveling hundreds of miles of county roads after dark to ensure roadway signs remain properly placed, visible, and reflective under real driving conditions.

Damaged Signage

RMA's Public Works teams are on the road day and night, with on-call staff available evenings, weekends, and holidays to respond to downed stop signs, damaged warning signs, or other roadway concerns, especially during winter months when Tule fog, snow, and reduced visibility increase safety risks.

Road Closures

In December, the RMA typically closes areas of southeastern Tulare County roads, such as the Western Divide, to safeguard traffic in mountain communities. These measures ensure that residents and visitors can still enjoy aspects of Tulare County's natural beauty within the world-famous Sequoia National Forest. 

See a Roadway Issue? Let Us Know

If you notice a downed sign, a missing warning sign, or another roadway concern, please submit a Service Request to the RMA through our website so Public Works teams can respond as quickly as possible.

Traffic Advisory - Seasonal Road Closures

RMA Announces Seasonal Road Closures Near SR-190 Safeguarding Porterville, Springville, Ducor, California Hot Springs & Other Mountain Communities

Due to winter weather and hazardous driving conditions, the Tulare County Resource Management Agency has implemented seasonal road closures effective December 22, 2025, to help protect motorists and mountain communities. The following road segments are closed for the winter season:

1. Bear Creek Road (M220): From Mile Post 8 to Balch Park Road (M296)
2. Balch Park Road (M296): From Mile Post 36 to Bear Creek Road (M220)
3. M50: From Mile Post 10.5 to Mountain Road 99
4. Ponderosa / Fox Drive (M180B): From Western Divide Highway (M107) to Silver Tip Drive (M179B)
5. Western Divide (M107): From Mile Post 2 to Mountain Road 50 (Parker Pass)

Businesses are starting up and growing throughout Tulare County, and the Tulare County Economic Development Office, also known as the GROW Tulare County team, is often boots on the ground in helping with grand opening and ribbon-cutting Ceremonies, joining forces with our Board of Supervisors and local chambers, to highlight the vibrancy of our business community.

This RMA team focuses on business attraction, business retention, and tourism efforts, working closely with all other RMA branches, including Public Works and the Planning and Grants teams, to ensure that businesses in Tulare County can thrive.

From business planning to permit processing and everything in between, if you need resources or support, please get in touch with us. Our team can be reached by emailing economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov or calling (559) 624-7177.

Pierpoint Gallery - Springville-area

The Pierpoint Bar & Grill in the mountain community of Pierpoint Springs now features a remodeled gift shop and art gallery. Take a look the next time you enter the Sequoia National Forest along the Mighty 190.

Main Fork Pharmacy - Three Rivers

The community of Three Rivers, located near the entrance to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, now offers restored pharmacy services directly off Highway 198. This development will enhance the daily lives of residents and also serve visitors to the area.

Jack in the Box - Orosi

Tasty options are increasing for Orosi's nearly 9,000 residents now that a Jack in the Box has made the community the newest home to one of more than a dozen locally owned Jack in the Box locations. A grand opening will be scheduled in early 2026. Stay tuned!

Tortilleria Mi Pueblito - Visalia

The Official Tulare County Taco Trail confirmed Tulare County's love of all things Mexican food. Recently, a Visalia-based mobile tortilla-making operation launched, serving up delicious, handcrafted tortillas.

Business Spotlight: Orosi Rock and Local Mines

Supplying the Materials That Keep Tulare County Growing

RMA Planning staff conduct a routine mining inspection at Orosi Rock. Pictured left to right: Jason Garcia-LoBue, RMA Planning and Permit Manager, and Jose Saenz, RMA Planner IV, review site conditions as part of regulatory oversight. Orosi Rock is a surface mining operation in northern Tulare County managed by Granite Construction.

A large crusher processes extracted aggregate materials, including granite, into graded products used for asphalt, roadway construction, and other infrastructure applications across Tulare County.

Owner Gary Reiff (right) stands with his children, Caroline Reiff (left) and Wade Isbell (middle), as he teaches them about the mining industry.

Local surface mining operations, such as Orosi Rock, play an important role in supporting construction and infrastructure projects throughout Tulare County. Owned by the Reiff family and managed by Granite Construction, the operation supplies aggregate, including crushed granite, as well as asphalt and other materials commonly used in residential, commercial, and public infrastructure projects.

At the beginning of December, staff from the County of Tulare’s Resource Management Agency conducted a routine mine inspection at Orosi Rock. These inspections are carried out by three RMA Planners certified for mine inspections within RMA’s Special Projects Division.

During the site visit, the team toured the operation to review safety procedures, site conditions, and compliance measures. The inspection allowed staff to observe operations firsthand and engage directly with operators on regulatory expectations, environmental stewardship, and long-term planning. This work helps ensure mining activities meet state safety and environmental requirements while continuing to support local jobs and responsible growth. Orosi Rock currently employs nearly a dozen workers from nearby communities, with the next generation of the Reiff family already involved in carrying the business forward.

Lindcove Citrus Tasting Highlights Local Agriculture

A UC Master Gardener volunteer offers citrus samples to attendees during the annual Lindcove Citrus Display and Tasting, helping showcase the diversity, flavor, and research behind more than 200 citrus varieties grown in Tulare County.

The UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center hosted its annual Citrus Display and Tasting in December, featuring one of Tulare County's leading ag crops, with a combined annual value of more than $1.5 billion. The recent 2024 Tulare County Crop and Livestock Report reported gross agricultural production value of upwards of $8.3 billion.

Staff from our Economic Development Office attended alongside partners from the Agricultural Commissioner's Office in support of an industry that creates thousands of local jobs.

Together, these teams help agricultural businesses grow by connecting owners to resources, facilitating permitting, and ensuring regulatory compliance that supports large-scale citrus production, catering to both domestic and global markets.

BUILDING & PERMIT CENTER

Permit Center Holiday Hours

The RMA's Permit Center is equipped with a desk and computer where residents and business owners can access parcel information, our online permitting system, and other information related to land use and projects. Staff is always nearby to help with guidance as needed.

As 2025 comes to a close, please note our remaining 2025 holiday closures and our New Year's schedule. Even when offices are closed, you can apply for permits, upload documents, and track project status through the Tulare County Citizen Self Service Portal, available 24/7 online.

Permit Center Holiday Closures (December 2025; January 2026)

• Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve
• Thursday, December 25: Christmas Day
• New Year's Day: Thursday, January 1, 2026

Questions? Please call (559) 624-7000.

Grant-Funded Infrastructure Projects Support Tulare County Communities

Visalia-area and East Orosi

East Orosi is a community of approximately 400 residents in the northern area of Tulare County, often referred to as part of the "North County." It is roughly a 25-30 minute drive north of Visalia.

Two grant-funded infrastructure projects are moving forward to improve drinking water and wastewater systems in Tulare County.

In East Orosi, a $10 million construction contract has been awarded for major water system upgrades supported by a State Water Resources Control Board grant. Additionally, the Harrison Road / Avenue 266 project will connect approximately 25 homes to safe, reliable drinking water.

These projects reflect coordinated work across the Resource Management Agency, including the Grants and Resources team and Public Works engineers within Management Group 2, in partnership with Tulare County, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Orosi Public Utilities District, and community partners. For residents, the improvements deliver more reliable water pressure, safer drinking water, and systems designed for long-term performance.

Want to work towards something great? Consider working for the County of Tulare. Government is a place where every role makes a difference in strengthening our communities and helping to shape a brighter future. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to grow your skills, we offer opportunities that matter, supporting vital services, building infrastructure, protecting natural resources, and serving the people and businesses who call Tulare County home, as well as those who visit to make lasting memories.

Explore current openings and find your next career path by visiting our website today.

Engineer IV

Closing Date: Continuous

Latest RMA Data Packet Now Available

RMA Data is now available in a single data packet including information regarding:

• Project Status Updates
• Public Works Field Operations
• Monthly Planning Report
• Building and Housing Report

Follow Us On Social Media

Several RMA initiatives also have an online presence. Search for the following accounts to keep up to date with the latest at our agency.

• Tulare County RMA: Facebook • Instagram
• Economic Development Office (Grow Tulare County): Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn
• Tourism News: (Discover Tulare County): Facebook • Instagram

Have a Story in Mind?

Send over your story idea, and it may just make it into a future edition of this publication! To learn more, please contact the County of Tulare's Economic Development Office (EDO) by emailing (economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov). The EDO is a division of the RMA, maintaining the agency's media and communications efforts, including public information outreach.

RMA Contact Information and Quick Links

Government Plaza (RMA Headquarters)

5961 S. Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277

Phone: (559) 624-7000 • FAX: (559) 615-3002

Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fridays 8:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Email: rma@tularecounty.ca.gov

Building Permit Center Hours:

Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Porterville Permit Center

 346 N. Porter Road, Porterville, CA

Phone: 559-782-6800 • 559-782-6801

Building Zone Information

Phone: (559) 624-7105

E-mail: Zone-Information@tularecounty.ca.gov

Public Information Requests

Email: rma@tularecounty.ca.gov

Business Support Requests, including Tourism and the Tulare County Film Commission

Phone: (559) 624-7177

Email:economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov