New to Fresno?
Arrive and Thrive…
The Business Attraction team is focused on advocating for Fresno County as the premier location to expand and grow core industries. Our efforts are aimed to strengthen and expand our national and international presence through missions, business referrals and cultivating business relationships. Our passion for Fresno County is evident in the interest we generate through extensive marketing of the region and serving as a key resource for businesses seeking to make Fresno County their location of choice.
Fresno County Quick Facts:
Number of large e-commerce fulfillment center projects completed or announced in 2017-2018: Amazon.com, Inc., ULTA Beauty, Inc, and Gap, Inc.
Time it took Amazon.com, Inc. to complete it’s 855,000 sf e-commerce fulfillment center in Fresno, including permitting, inspections and construction.
Number of Fresno County census tracts approved as Opportunity Zones.
Non-farm jobs created in Fresno County between June 2014-June 2018.
Fresno County has officially surpassed a total population of 1 million in 2018 and is expected to grow at a faster rate (17.6%) than the state of California (12.8%) by 2035.
Fresno County’s GDP in 2016, ranking 69 nationally out of 382 metropolitan areas.
Transportation
Fresno County is centrally located between the major markets of Northern and Southern California, with access to two of the state’s major transportation corridors CA-99 and I-5.
Distance to Major Markets
| Market | Distance from Fresno (miles) |
| Silicon Valley | 162 |
| Sacramento | 169 |
| Los Angeles | 220 |
| Reno | 298 |
| San Diego | 339 |
| Las Vegas | 395 |
| Phoenix | 591 |
Distance to Deep Water Ports
| Port | Distance from Fresno (miles) |
| Stockton | 128 |
| Oakland | 175 |
| LA/Long Beach | 245 |
Commuting – Travel Work Time to Selected California MSAs and Cities
| Region | Average Time (minutes) |
| Fresno, CA MSA | 21.7 |
| Fresno, CA | 20.2 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA | 30.3 |
| Perris, CA | 36.0 |
| Riverside, CA | 30.4 |
| Ontario, CA | 29.5 |
| Stockton-Lodi MSA | 30.0 |
| Tracy, CA | 40.8 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA | 29.0 |
| United States | 25.0 |
Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. As the San Joaquin Valley’s gateway to the world, Fresno-Yosemite International Airport serves over 1.6 million passengers annually and supports service from seven commercial airlines that provide air travel opportunities through 13 non-stop destinations and beyond. The airport is also home to the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing, and provides aviation facilities to numerous business and government agencies. In June 2018, United Airlines launched their daily nonstop air service between Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Fresno.
Freight Rail. Class I freight railroads BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) serve Fresno County, along with short-line operator San Joaquin Valley Railroad (SJVRR).
Through Measure C, Fresno County is one of a select number of California counties that locally fund road and highway improvements. Measure C is a half-cent sales tax aimed at improving the overall quality of Fresno County’s transportation system. In its first 20 years, Measure C delivered more than $1 billion of improvements to state highways and county roadways, including the building of additional lanes on freeways throughout the County. As a result of the successful original measure, Fresno County voters chose to extend Measure C for an additional 20 years.
Fresno
Labor Force
2023 Industry Employment - Fresno County
| Industry | October 2022 Employed | October 2023 Employed | YOY Change | YOY Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total, All Industries | 426,200 | 435,300 | 9,100 | 2.1% |
| Total Nonfarm | 388,900 | 395,100 | 6,200 | 1.6% |
| Total Farm | 37,300 | 40,200 | 2,900 | 7.8% |
| Government | 75,800 | 78,400 | 2,600 | 3.4% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 37,200 | 39,200 | 2,000 | 5.4% |
| Private Education and Health Services | 82,300 | 82,900 | 600 | 0.7% |
| Professional and Business Services | 35,200 | 35,600 | 400 | 1.1% |
| Other Services | 13,200 | 13,600 | 400 | 3.0% |
| Construction | 22,500 | 22,800 | 300 | 1.3% |
| Financial Activities | 13,400 | 13,600 | 200 | 1.5% |
| Information | 3,300 | 3,400 | 100 | 3.0% |
| Mining and Logging | 200 | 200 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Manufacturing | 27,900 | 27,800 | -100 | -0.4% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 77,900 | 77,600 | -300 | -0.4% |
California Employment Development Department, Current Employment Statistics (CES), November 2023
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Total Labor Force: 459,583
Employed: 428,025
Unemployed: 31,550
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%
California Employment Development Department, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), November 2023 – Averages for Fiscal Year 22-23, Not Seasonally Adjusted
Top 5 Projected Growth Industries by Employment - Fresno County (2020-2030)
| Rank | Industry | Job Growth | % Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 14,400 | 21.1% |
| 2 | Leisure and Hospitality | 9,500 | 33.0% |
| 3 | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 9,400 | 13.5% |
| 4 | Professional and Business Services | 4,600 | 14.3% |
| 5 | Government | 2,600 | 3.6% |
California Employment Development Department, Long-Term Industry Employment Projections, May 2023
Occupational Wages
| Occupational (SOC) Code | Occupation Title | Median Hourly Wage | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29-0000 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | $50.82 | $55.43 | $115,298 |
| 29-1141 | Registered Nurses | $62.53 | $62.55 | $130,106 |
| 29-2061 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $31.30 | $33.00 | $68,634 |
| 29-2052 | Pharmacy Technicians | $23.51 | $24.46 | $50,868 |
| 29-1051 | Pharmacists | $75.88 | $74.71 | $155,392 |
| 31-0000 | Healthcare Support Occupations | $15.50 | $17.69 | $36,799 |
| 31-1120 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $15.50 | $15.91 | $33,102 |
| 31-9092 | Medical Assistants | $20.38 | $22.46 | $46,706 |
| 31-1131 | Nursing Assistants | $18.77 | $19.51 | $40,580 |
| 31-9091 | Dental Assistants | $24.01 | $23.61 | $49,115 |
| 51-0000 | Production Occupations | $18.18 | $21.41 | $44,531 |
| 51-9111 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $17.28 | $18.25 | $37,961 |
| 51-2090 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $17.61 | $18.98 | $39,482 |
| 51-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $31.39 | $33.71 | $70,112 |
| 51-9061 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $18.00 | $20.66 | $42,967 |
| 51-3023 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $15.63 | $16.56 | $34,454 |
| 51-4121 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $23.25 | $24.44 | $50,826 |
| 51-9199 | Production Workers, All Other | $17.45 | $18.31 | $38,088 |
| 51-9198 | Helpers--Production Workers | $17.45 | $18.52 | $38,531 |
| 51-3021 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | $19.12 | $20.90 | $43,474 |
| 53-0000 | Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $18.60 | $21.21 | $44,108 |
| 53-7065 | Stockers and Order Fillers | $17.79 | $18.87 | $39,249 |
| 53-7062 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $18.14 | $19.21 | $39,947 |
| 53-3032 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $24.63 | $25.59 | $53,234 |
| 53-7064 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | $15.85 | $16.82 | $34,982 |
| 53-3033 | Light Truck Drivers | $19.21 | $23.20 | $48,249 |
| 53-7051 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $19.25 | $20.67 | $42,988 |
| 53-7061 | Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $15.94 | $17.07 | $35,510 |
| 53-1047 | First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $28.24 | $29.64 | $61,641 |
| 53-3031 | Driver/Sales Workers | $18.84 | $20.94 | $43,559 |
Industries
Manufacturing Cluster
Manufacturing has become a focal area of investment for Fresno County and the San Joaquin Valley. Led by the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance (SJVMA), efforts are being made to develop the area into a globally competitive resource that will attract companies. The SJVMA’s primary focus is to building stronger regional manufacturing companies by strengthening connections and relationships, building growth assets, and strengthening the workforce pipeline by collaborating with education partners and ensuring students are supported in discovering a path that inspires them.
Logistics
Reach 40 million customers with guaranteed next-day ground service, without the additional cost of expedited shipping. Due to Fresno’s unique location in the middle of the state, FedEx, UPS, and OnTrac, can reach all of California’s major markets within one day with their standard ground shipping, guaranteed. OnTrac, with their early-pull option, has the ability to reach the entire West Coast with their standard ground shipping service.
Energy & Water Technology
The Water and Energy Technology (WET) Center is a collaborative venture between California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), industry, and public agencies. The facility features an underground water pit to be used for water and irrigation testing. This modern test facility provides independent testing and performance certification for pumps and other water technology equipment, an educational learning lab for students, and an incubator facility for businesses specializing in water, irrigation and clean-energy.
Renewable Energy
Fresno County covers an expansive area, over 6,000 square miles with the Sierra Nevadas in the east and the Coastal Range in the west. With over 290 days of sunshine per year, Fresno County’s availability of large swaths of retired farmland in the rural west side is ideal for solar project development.
Most recently, Westlands Water District, which covers a large portion of Fresno County’s west side, reached an agreement with the federal government to retire an additional 100,000 acres of farmland. The settlement allows for only a select number of uses for the retired land, one of which is for alternative-energy projects.
Biomass and Tree Mortality
Over 129 million trees have died in California between 2010-2017 in due to the bark beetles that thrived during the historic drought. Fresno County alone has over 21 million dead trees. However, opportunities do exist to improve the quality and quantity of benefits from California’s forest. Management options for stabilizing carbon storage, improving water quality, fostering more vibrant rural economies, and making landscapes more resistant to threats have the potential to produce more desirable future conditions. To take advantage of these opportunities, federal, state, and local stakeholders have made available over $21 million in grants for projects that will help stimulate the removal of hazardous fuels from national forests and other forest lands to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, promote forest health, and reduce the cost of forest management.
Agriculture
With $7.98 billion in output, Fresno County is the top agricultural producing county in the United States. Located in one of the most fertile and productive regions of the world, the agricultural output of the region has led to a robust food processing industry, with food processors and food processing equipment manufacturers making up a large percentage of Fresno County’s economy.
Exports: $3.0 billion (2020), with $2.5 billion from agriculture and processed foods.
Number of Commodities Grown: Nearly 400
2020 Crop Highlights by Commodity
- Field Crops: $299 million
- Seed Crops: $8.8 million
- Vegetable Crops: $1.42 billion, led by garlic and followed by tomatoes
- Fruit and Nut Crops: $4.57 billion, led by almonds and grapes
- Nursery: $39 million
- Livestock and Poultry: $1.02 billion, an increase of 16%
- Livestock and Poultry Products: $473 million, an increase of 10%
- Apiary Products and Pollination Services: $141 million
- Industrial Crops: $3.2 million
Source: International Trade Administration Metropolitan Export Tool and Fresno County 2020 Crop Report
Healthcare
The healthcare industry represents a robust segment of the Fresno County economy. The metro area alone is represented by 16 hospitals including 3,930 licensed beds. Three of the 16 hospitals rank as the top three private employers and employ more than 14,000 individuals. Also noteworthy is the amount of construction projects underway at the various healthcare locations.
- Clovis Cancer Center: Clovis Community Medical Center recently completed a $65 million cancer center. The 100,000 sf facility is one-of-a-kind in the San Joaquin Valley. The goal of the Cancer Center is to consolidate all of Community’s outpatient cancer services to the new facility and will conduct research along with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
- Community Regional Medical Center: A five-story, 180,000 sf pediatric office building in Downtown Fresno. The more than $1 billion expansion will feature pediatric sub-specialists and outpatient services.
- Fowler Pediatric Care Medical Plaza: Valley Children’s Hospital and Adventist Health formed a partnership to build a $35 million medical plaza in the City of Fowler with an aim of improving pediatric rural health care. The planned 16-acre state-of-the-art pediatric care facility, located adjacent to State Highway 99, is scheduled to open in early 2019.
- California Health Sciences University (CHSU): CHSU began construction on their 826,000 sf permanent medical school campus on 70 acres of land at the Clovis Research & Technology Park. The $250 million campus will eventually have 2,000-3,000 students and a staff of 300-400. The university is planning to open the new campus in 2019.
Information Technology
Fresno County’s burgeoning Information Technology sector consists of over 500 companies with approximately 20% located in Downtown Fresno.
- FocusVision: Headquarted in Fresno, FocusVision is the first company to provide integrated, global technology solutions for both quantitative and qualitative market research. The company specializes in research facility video streaming and has grown to offer best-in-class solutions in webcam focus groups, ethnography streaming, asynchronous online software and mobile device usability studies.
- OnFarm Systems: Founded in 2012, OnFarm Systems is a nationally recognized software company born as a unique farm management tool that displays and analyzes data from many different sources in a single, easy-to-use application. OnFarm transparently integrates data into a customizable dashboard with forecasts and recommendations that enables the entire farming organization to make better, more informed decisions resulting in immediate impact on farm inputs, productivity, and profitability.
- Bitwise Industries: Founded by a group of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds that believe technology is the future of the San Joaquin Valley. The company was created to provide the software industry in Fresno with the inevitable next step in its rapid growth: the mothership of technological education, collaboration, and innovation. Every day, Bitwise helps cultivate the technology ecosystem in Fresno by providing education (Geekwise Academy), execution (Shift3 Technologies), and place (Hashtag) to empower the next generation of tech leaders.
- Agrian: Founded in 2004 with the goal of providing a single source, easy-to-use solution for those in the agricultural food chain The Agrian platform enables ag professionals to capture information from the field and send the information electronically to various stakeholders. Coupled with its mobile capabilities, Agrian offers the flexibility, convenience and speed to make quick solutions on the go.
The Fresno-Clovis metropolitan region ranked 3rd in California among “Tech/Info Leaders” with a job growth of 20% in the tech sector since 2011.
Source: Progressive Policy Institute
“The California Tech/Info Boom: How it is Spreading Across the State” July 2015.