The Central Valley’s recovery from the recession has lagged behind the Bay Area, but this is the year it could catch up. For the first time, forecasters are ready to predict a date when the San Joaquin Valley will return to single digit unemployment rates.

Positive signs throughout the San Joaquin Valley point toward continued economic recovery, according to a report released Thursday by Gökçe Soydemir, the Foster Farms endowed professor of business economics at CSU, Stanislaus.

The Board of Directors of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp declared a mid-year cash dividend of $6.20 per share, a 5.1 percent increase over the $5.90 per share paid in June 2012.

Calivirgin – Coldani Olive Ranch has received one of the top honors in the specialty food industry. The oil has been named a finalist on the 2013 sofi Awards.

The Modesto Art Museum has received a $101,600 grant for its Building a Better Modesto program, the museum announced May 21.

Sutter Health’s Memorial Medical Center (MMC) has received recognition for its commitment and success in implementing a high standard of care for heart attack patients. The hospital received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Bronze Receiving Quality Achievement Award, MMC announced Tuesday.

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) unveiled its first two zero emission electric buses Monday.

California’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.0 percent in April, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two separate surveys. That was down from 9.4 percent in March and 10.7 percent a year ago.

The Community Foundation of San Joaquin awarded 85 grants to not-for-profit organizations totaling $467,040 in 2012, the foundation announced.