A Message from CEO Steve Geil: 

The Future of Real Estate

We learn much about the future from the past. In the past, there have always been adjustments in real estate markets. From depressions to recessions, booms to busts, real estate has been the most stable investment for our cities. But timing is everything.

Right now, all investors are looking at what a city has to offer from incentives before making a move to expand or locate anywhere. And with prices at rock bottom, there are many incredible investment opportunities in rural and metropolitan areas. Now is the time to make sure your community has made the adjustments to attract retail, commercial or industrial investment in order to compete on a level playing field. 

Sanger recently raised the stakes by removing certain fees to encourage business to consider Sanger as a place to invest and grow. Clovis is offering new businesses the opportunity to take advantage of a new city incentive that will pay back half their sales tax revenues over the next three years. What has your city done? Let the EDC know so we can represent your community to the businesses we are bringing to Fresno County. They are interested in the opportunities our cities have to offer.

Also, don't miss the EDC's Annual Real Estate Forecast Event on Thursday April 7, 2011.The Event will be held from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Downtown Fresno, Reception to Follow. It is the largest event of its kind, and it will be worth your while to attend. Come see where your community measures up to the predictions of the local experts. 

Fresno County cities are the premier locations to expand and grow your business. 

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• FYI...
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EDC Update

Featured News

LOCAL VOICES PASSIONATE ON TRANSPORTATION FIXES

Hundreds gathered at the UC Merced Center in Fresno, both in favor and against California's proposed high-speed rail. (Read More)

CENTRAL VALLEY NMTC FUND, LLC, AWARDED $35 MILLION IN NMTC ALLOCATION

PROJECT TO REVIVE EXHAUSTED COALINGA FIELD

A once-productive oil and gas field near Coalinga will get new life as two companies finalized an agreement on a field extension drilling project. (Read More)

FYI...

SOCIAL MEDIA: BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Before you log on, click through these articles to learn how to make social media work for your business. (Read More)

FRESNO HOSTS SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM

Fresno is one of eight new cities to adopt an executive-level training program designed to give small businesses an edge during tough economic times. (Read More)

RAIL AUTHORITY SEEKS CONTRACTORS TO BEGIN WORK

VALLEY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT GETS $2.7 MILLION

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco has awarded more than $2.7 million in grants for affordable housing projects in Tulare, Madera and Fresno Counties. (Read More)

FIREBAUGH LOW-INCOME PROJECT TO GET SOLAR

Firebaugh's San Joaquin Villas development received an installation of a 13.77-kilowatt solar-power system that should reduce the bill for six resident families by 75%. (Read More)

HOME DEPOT TO HIRE 150 FOR LOCAL TEMP JOBS

Home Depot to hire more than 150 people in the Fresno Area for the spring and summer - the Atlanta-based retailer's busiest time of year. (Read More)

FORD TO HIRE 7,000 WORKERS

Ford Motor announced that it will add 7,000 new hourly and salaried jobs in the United States by the end of 2012. (Read More)

PARAMOUNT CITRUS CREATING 500 JOBS IN DELANO, CALIFORNIA

Paramount Citrus is opening a 600,000-square-foot mandarin orange packing house in Delano, California, next year that will create 500 local jobs. (Read More)

BANK OF THE SIERRA GIVES OUT REVITALIZATION GRANT

Bank of the Sierra awarded a grant of $1,750 to Fresno Urban Neighborhood Development, Inc., a community benefit organization that partners with people, volunteer groups and businesses to revitalize and restore depressed areas of inner-city Fresno. (Read More)

Upcoming Events and Trade Shows

Windpower 2011 Conference & Exhibition - Anaheim, CA

Windpower 2011 is the focal point for wind professionals to learn about wind issues, technology and policy while networking with industry decision makers, and generating high-quality business leads. 

May 22-25, 2011 (Read More)

Intersolar North America - San Francisco, CA

Intersolar Promotes the development of business opportunities throughout the North American Solar Industry.

July 12-14, 2011 (Read More)

Fresno Business Matchmaking and Networking Event - Fresno, CA

The EDC serving Fresno County, the City of Fresno, and other community partners will be hosting the fourth annual Business Matchmaking and Networking Event on Thursday August 25, 2011. Click Here to access the event website, where you will be able to find registration information and further details about this unique opportunity for businesses.