Many potential development sites cannot move forward without adequate water, wastewater, transportation and flood protection. Designed by Freepik

 

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Growth does not stall for lack of ideas in Yuba and Sutter counties. It stalls for lack of pipes, pavement and power.

That was the message delivered Feb. 24 to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors as Cynthia Roderick, program analyst for the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation, presented the region’s 2025 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy annual performance report and the 2026 update to the 2025–2030 CEDS document. Roderick has been making the rounds to local cities and counties with the annual update, framing the CEDS as more than a planning document but a roadmap grounded in measurable outcomes.

“We’re working toward a thriving community built through innovation, infrastructure, economic growth and quality of life,” Roderick said.

Roderick described innovation as the adoption and scaling of products and services that boost productivity, and infrastructure as the backbone that attracts private capital and creates jobs.

The region is growing, she said, but infrastructure and workforce remain key constraints. Many potential development sites cannot move forward without adequate water, wastewater, transportation and flood protection. Projects such as the South Yuba County Regional Water and Wastewater system and levee improvements are designed to remove those barriers.

“Without infrastructure, growth stalls,” Roderick said. “With it, private investment follows.”

The report highlighted assistance to small businesses, which Roderick called the backbone of the local economy. In the past year, 3,800 businesses were assisted, $230,000 in lending was facilitated and more than 70 jobs were created in 2025.

The presentation also detailed completed regional projects, including the Marysville Ring Levee, major Caltrans safety and mobility projects totaling $102 million and nearly $95 million in modernization at Beale Air Force Base.

Looking ahead in Sutter County, Roderick identified seven upcoming public works projects, including one transportation road project and five bridge replacements. She also cited housing growth, including development at Lakeside at Sutter Pointe, which anticipates 3,400 single-family units and 399 multifamily units.

Interest from businesses remains steady. Roderick said the region received 18 site inquiries last year, but most could not be accommodated because of infrastructure capacity and housing limitations. She added that many prospects require high demand in power, natural gas, water and wastewater, which the county cannot currently meet.

Sutter County Supervisors engaged Roderick on the concept of retail leakage, the amount residents spend outside the county. She reported Sutter County experiences an estimated $1.2 billion in annual leakage, with categories such as shoe stores, general merchandise and full-service restaurants ranking high. The data, generated through third-party software, is used to align potential retailers with available sites, she said.

Chair Mike Ziegenmeyer said infrastructure investment is central to changing that trajectory, noting the board has rezoned parcels for commercial and industrial use and is exploring options for sewer treatment expansion. He said the county’s ability to attract employers depends on its ability to meet basic service demands.

Roderick closed by emphasizing regional coordination. Progress, she said, is measured not by plans but by jobs, investment, site readiness and quality-of-life improvements.

Supervisors voted to adopt the related resolution accepting the annual report and update, signaling continued alignment between the county and the regional economic development strategy.