A Message from CEO Steve Geil: 

High Speed Rail Jobs Are Coming!

2010 was the year of high speed rail. There was so much else accomplished, but high speed rail overshadowed it all. Fresno County must now prepare for the opportunities that are coming due to the start of high speed rail construction; mainly, the 80,000 jobs that will be created.

Each one of our 15 cities needs to create a marketing package illustrating what it has to offer the employees coming to work on the rail line. These people will need a place to live and they will want to know what our communities have to offer. 

The good news is: we have about 18 months to create this marketing tool. Your EDC team is ready to assist in putting these packages together. Contact your BEAR representative to get scheduled, or we can schedule a meeting with the City Managers all at once to share our thoughts on how we will move forward to advance these projects. Please let me know your preference as soon as possible.

High speed rail jobs are coming. Is your community ready?

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• EDC Update
• Current Active Projects
• Featured News
• FYI...
• Upcoming Events and Trade Shows
• Finance Corner
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EDC Update

Corporate Locations

October, November and December were very busy months for the Corporate Locations Team. We gave a total of 18 site visits and have 14 new clients interested in relocating to the area. In addition, we experienced three wins which will eventually create over 400 jobs in Fresno County. We continue to aggressively market Fresno County as the premier location to expand and grow your business through trade shows, missions, newsletters and event booths.

Business Expansion and Retention

The Fresno EDC BEAR Team provides ongoing workshops about incentives on doing business in Fresno County, designed for business attraction, expansion and retention. They are very excited about the workshop campaign they have begun, which targets businesses located in the rural cities of Fresno County. If you would like more information, or if you are interested in attending a workshop, please call (559) 476-2510 or email bear@fresnoedc.com.

Click Here to access the EDC BEAR Team Website! 

Click Here to view the BEAR Workshop Schedule!

PG&E Grant

The EDC was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from PG&E to support the Clean Energy Cluster. On December 13, we hosted a mixer at the Downtown Club in Fresno to recognize PG&E's generous contribution. Pictured above from left: Gary Hanson of PG&E; Sean Cooper, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Chairman, President and CEO of PG&E Corporation; Steve Geil, President & CEO of the EDC; Shannon Koontz of PG&E; Stephane McShane, of Turnupseed Electric Service, Inc. & Clean Energy Cluster Chair; and Kristen Fragoza, Investor Relations Manager at the EDC and Clean Energy Cluster Manager. We are very grateful to PG&E and look forward to being able to further support the Clean Energy Cluster!

Site Selectors' Newsletter

The EDC has launched a newsletter targeting Site Selectors, Out-of-Area brokers, business-owners, and potential clients. It is intended to highlight the activity in the area and to market Fresno County as a great place to do business. Click Here to access this newsletter!

FresnoCountyCities.com

The EDC has revamped our Industrial Property and City Profile website showcasing Fresno County. Click Here to access our new website!

Featured News 

THE EDC HOSTS ANNUAL HIGH SPEED RAIL EVENT

On October 28, 2010, the EDC hosted our Annual Event. This year's theme was: "Thinking Outside the Tracks," highlighting High-Speed Rail and the impact it will have on Fresno County.(Read More)

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL DEDICATED TO CENTRAL VALLEY

Following an announcement of an additional $715 million award for the development of California's High-Speed Rail System, federal officials have clarified that the entirety of federal funding California has received so far must be spent in one of the two Central Valley regions of the project. (Read More)

COMPANY HOSTS PIÑATA-MAKING CONTESTS FOR FIREBAUGH RESIDENTS

On November 30, a company that is planning to a launch a business venture in the City of Firebaugh hosted a piñata-making contest for Firebaugh residents interested in participating in this innovative new project. (Read More)

SAVE THE DATE: EDC REAL ESTATE FORECAST

On Thursday March 24, 2011, the EDC will be hosting our annual Real Estate Forecast Luncheon. This event is intended as a means of preparing for the upcoming year from a financial and real estate perspective. Keep reading in the upcoming months for more details on this event!

FYI...

GRANTS SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PLANS

Several Valley cities and counties were approved for grants from Proposition 84 funds to assist with programs that promote sustainable planning and climate protection when dealing with urban growth. (Read More)

FRESNO APPROVES SOLAR FOR CONVENTION CENTER

The Fresno City Council approved several roof-mount solar structures that would save the city 15% on its electricity costs at Selland Arena and Valdez Hall. (Read More)

FRESNO, VISALIA RANKED LOW IN EDUCATION STUDY

GERMAN MOUNTING SYSTEMS LOCATES NORTH AMERICAN HQ, FACILITY IN WEST SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Mounting Systems, a German company that produces goods for mounting solar panels, will create 100 jobs in West Sacramento, California. (Read More)

MENDOTA FIRM GETS $1.5M FOR BIOENERGY TESTING

A Mendota biofuel company will be using a $1.5 million grant from the California Energy Commission to test the feasibility of converting sugar beets and agricultural waste into ethanol and other forms of clean energy. (Read More)

CLOVIS TO WAIVE FEES FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

The City of Clovis will offer a fee-reduction incentive to developers who want to build or expand an office or industry in the next 18 months. (Read More)

500,000,000 REASONS ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS SHOULD USE FACEBOOK

Learn how to effectively implement 5 simple economic development strategies to reach Facebook's audience of over a half-billion people. (Read More)

RYLA, INC. HIRING 400 IN CLOVIS, CA

Recruitment open house events will be held at 170 West Shaw Ave (Corner of Shaw and Minnewawa), Clovis, CA 93612. (Read More)

CENTRAL VALLEY NAMED STATE 'INNOVATION HUB'

The movement to bring more high-tech businesses and jobs to the Central Valley gained momentum recently with the region's designation as one of only a dozen state "iHubs." (Read More)

Upcoming Events and Trade Shows

Clean Energy Cluster Meeting, January 11, 2011

Fresno, CA (Read More)

World Ag Expo, February 8-10, 2011

Tulare, CA (Read More)

WestPack, February 8-10, 2011

The EDC has received numerous free admission Promotion Codes to WestPack, reserved for our members and community partners!

This conference is the Packaging Industry's Project Acceleration Resource, and will be held February 8-10, 2011, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Please join us and receive free admission to this event! Click Here to visit the event website, where you will find detailed information and easy online registration for complimentary admission using Promo Code: XG.

American Frozen Food Institute - Frozen Food Convention, February 19-23, 2011

San Francisco, CA (Read More)

Fresno Food Expo, March 11, 2011

Fresno, CA (Read More)

Finance Corner

Cen Cal Business Finance Group specializes in providing small businesses with funding for their every day operations. Click Here to read about the financing programs they offer!

PG&E is offering an attractive incentive program for agricultural business owners and operators who increase the efficiency of their pumping irrigation systems. It is known as the Agricultural Pumping Efficiency program. Click Here to learn more about this incentive program!