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EDC to host Billion Dollar Tour
Over the last few years, Downtown Fresno has seen more than $1 billion in new construction. This includes:
- New State and Federal Courthouses
- Completion of the new Fresno Fire Department Headquarters and Museum in the refurbished Hobbs Parson Warehouse
- Santa Fe Depot and Promenade
- Community Medical Center Campus
- The Holiday Inn, Downtown
- New major corporate office buildings
- Civic Center Square Development
- Chukchansi Park & Stadium
- New rental housing–Pearl Lofts, Vagabond Lofts, Broadway Studios, H Street Lofts
In the next year, many more projects will be breaking ground, completing their renovations and celebrating the progress of moving forward in creating a vibrant, redeveloped Downtown Fresno. Some of these future projects are Forest City South Stadium Project, The Legacy Project, Fulton Plaza Row Houses, Fresno Metropolitan Museum and the Uptown Project, Armenian Town, China Town Beatification, Eaton Plaza and the Water Tower, Fulton Mall, and the Fresno County Library.
The Billion Dollar Tour celebrates the successes of recently completed projects and highlights those still in progress. It is an exciting time to be downtown and witness all of the changes. The Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County, along with many collaborative partners, will host The Billion Dollar Tour on Sept. 27, 2008. The Tour is a free event thanks to sponsorships from many organizations.
To learn more about attending the event or how to become a sponsor, visit www.BillionDollarTour.com.
Fresno Energy & Clean Air Business Expo is next month
The Fresno Business Council, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Valley CAN (Clean Air Now), along with the Regional Jobs Initiative, are hosting the Fresno Energy and Clean Air Business Exposition on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1.
The event will feature keynote speaker Steve Westly, former California State Controller and managing partner of the Westly Group. Mr. Westly and other luncheon speakers will address how the power of individual actions and personal responsibility will move us forward to better air, better business and a better life.
For more information or to register, visit
http://www.valley-can.org/clean_air_business_expo/fresno.php.
CVBI partnering with Fresno Grizzlies for Entrepreneurship Night
The Fresno Grizzlies are teaming up with Central Valley Business Incubator on Thursday, Aug. 21, to host the first-ever Entrepreneurship Night. As part of the game’s activities, Grizzlies fans will have the opportunity to learn about new startup businesses and see demonstrations for developing technologies, which in turn allows businesses to market directly to the public.
“It was not that long ago that the Grizzlies were new in Fresno; so we’re excited to be able to partner with the Central Valley Business Incubator to shine a light on these new businesses,” said Grizzlies Executive Vice President Andrew Stuebner. “With proper support, these fresh local businesses can have a big impact on the economic future of the Central Valley.”
According to CVBI CEO Craig Scharton, startup businesses have much in common with AAA baseball: “They are all working hard to break through to the big leagues!”
Any Central Valley business less than two years old is invited to participate in the event. For more information and to sign up, contact Lori at 559.292.9033 or lori@cvbi.org.
Destination Fresno County Symposium to encourage collaboration, synergy
Fresno City & County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will host the Destination Fresno County Symposium on Sept. 23, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone who has an interest in marketing their tourism-related business or the marketing of Fresno County as a tourist destination is invited to attend this first-time event.
Designed to facilitate and provide a forum for those who market Fresno, the Symposium will encourage participants to learn from one another, collaborate on marketing strategies, align funding sources, and share ideas and services. CVB hopes to help businesses participate in collaborative marketing activities.
For more information, call 559.445.8310.
BEAR Action Network Business Testimonial of the Month: Pactiv
Pactiv Corporation is the most recent company to participate in the EDC’s Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention (BEAR) Action Network program. The combination of all services delivered to Pactiv through this program resulted in 30 new jobs created and $800,000 in capital investment.
Specific services include:
- Building contractor, architect and engineering teams are expanding the existing Pactiv facility, increasing volume by 28% and efficiency by 17%. Total cost of project is $400,000.
- City of Fresno assisted with the building permitting process to move forward with expansion projects.
- Workforce teams assisted with filling three logistics technician and two forklift driver positions.
- Training providers developed a lean manufacturing training program for Pactiv’s leadership staff consisting of eight, two-hour training sessions. Classroom instruction and employee wages were paid by the State of California Employment Training Panel. Total cost of training was $6,900.
- Pactiv received Enterprise Zone vouchering assistance, saving the company $112,320 in state tax credits.
For more information about the BEAR Action Network, visit http://www.fresnoedc.com/bear.html.
Junior Achievement launches Fresno County programs
Junior Achievement (JA), the worldwide leader in providing financial literacy and business education curriculum to students, recently opened an office in Fresno and has begun to teach area youth about the value of money and strong work ethics.
“The need to prepare students to succeed in a global economy is an enormous issue in Fresno County,” said Laura McGrew, executive director for Junior Achievement of the Central Valley. “To successfully grow our economy, we need a pipeline of students who have workforce skills and an understanding of how the economy works. JA fills that need by providing financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programs that prepare students to navigate that vital connection between the classroom and life after graduation.”
Junior Achievement’s historic company program was originally launched in 1919 and continues to teach high school students how to start and manage a small business. JA now provides more than 28 in-school and after-school programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12 in addition to a JA Hispanic Outreach Initiative. Through experiential learning and relevant lessons, JA programs start in kindergarten where young children learn about money and savings and progress to eventually teach older students more sophisticated topics like global economics and the effects entrepreneurship has on our nation.
According to McGrew, JA programs are special because they bring adult volunteers from the community and business world into classrooms with pre-designed lesson plans and fun, hands-on materials. Students learn about vital economic issues they will need to understand as adults while benefiting from the volunteer’s personal and professional insights and experience. This connection serves to inspire students and give them the tools for a successful life.
To learn more about Junior Achievement and volunteer opportunities, contact Laura McGrew at 559.224.1046, email lmcgrew@jaba.org, or visit www.jaba.org.
'Save Fresno Unified' Web site launched
Last week, Fresno Citizens for Good Government (FCGG) in partnership with the Fresno Unified Citizens Advisory Task Force that produced the “Choosing our Future” report, launched www.SaveFresnoUnified.org. The Web site is dedicated to monitoring FUSD’s progress from one of the worst school districts in the country to becoming one of the best.
“We want to provide the community with convenient access to updates and reports on Fresno Unified’s transformation,” said Pete Weber, FCGG board member. “We also want to encourage community support and participation in this extraordinary effort.”
The Web site includes a subscription opportunity for community members who want to receive regular content updates and other important announcements about the district’s turnaround effort.
For more information, visit www.SaveFresnoUnified.org. Fresno Citizens for Good Government is a non-partisan organization dedicated to providing a voice for citizens in pursuit of solutions that are in the best interests of the community. Visit www.FCGG.org to learn more.
EarthRenew to establish plants in Fresno, San Joaquin Valley
Based in Alberta, Canada, EarthRenew is a manufacturer of fertilizer and soil products for the organic farming, turf and reclamation markets. Recently, the company has been working with the City of Fresno’s Economic Development Department to establish a Fresno office with plant facilities in various San Joaquin Valley locations.
EarthRenew manufactures products from green waste using innovative technologies that enhance soils, have a beneficial net impact on air and water quality, and create significant added value from waste products, the disposal of which is becoming increasingly problematic and expensive.
EarthRenew is currently recruiting for local management positions with more job openings to follow. For more information about the company or job opportunities, visit www.EarthRenew.com. For more information about business attraction, contact Peggy Chiok at 559.621.8360 or peggy.chiok@fresno.gov.
FYI unveils solar installation, expects $13m in savings
On July 16, Fresno Yosemite International (FYI) airport officially unveiled the largest solar installation of any airport in the U.S. Solar energy from the project is expected to save the airport approximately $13 million over the next 20 years by filling 40% of the airport’s energy needs.
“In today’s economic climate, particularly due to the increased costs of fuel, this is just one solution that will not only improve our air quality through reduced emissions but will also help reduce energy costs at FYI that can be shared with our airline customers,” said Russ Widmar, airport director.
The project was a public-private partnership between FYI, WorldWater Solar Technologies, PG&E, Sharp Solar, Xantrex Technology Inc., and Solar Power Partners of Mill Valley.
City of Fresno developing Green Business Certification program
The City of Fresno’s Economic Development Department is in the early stages of developing a Green Business Certification program similar to the Bay Area Green Business program. First developed by Bay Area governments in collaboration with U.S. EPA, CalEPA Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the business community, the green business program recognizes and promotes businesses and government agencies voluntarily operating in an environmentally responsible way. To be recognized as a “green business,” participating organizations must be in compliance with all environmental regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste.
By developing a similar program, the Economic Development Department hopes to help businesses integrate environmental responsibility into their operations in a manner that is sustainable as well as profitable, resulting in a healthy environment and a strong economy. For more information on the program, contact Martin Wendels at 559.621.8362 or martin.wendels@fresno.gov.
Final VIBE at Sports Town scheduled for Aug. 22
The last VIBE at Sports Town on Kern Street event of the summer will take place on Friday, Aug. 22. Free entertainment will be provided by Bellarios, Chamba, Revelacion Cribe, Mento Buru, PAL Martial Arts and Boxing Exhibition, multicultural dance groups, XBOX Rock Band Stage with Tyler T and Can You Rock Harder than a Fifth Grader.
Sponsored by the City of Fresno and Peak Broadcasting, the VIBE at Sports Town was created to bring attention back to the downtown area and aid in its revitalization. For more information, visit http://www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/
EconomicDevelopment/VIBE/default.htm.
CIMT internship program completes sixth year
The Careers in Manufacturing Technology (CIMT) internship program ended its sixth year this month with six interns successfully completing the program. During the course of the internship, the interns worked full-time in their field of study at a local manufacturing company. CIMT would like to thank the following companies for hosting interns this summer:
- CalWest Rain hosted Fatima Prado (CAD)
- Di-Pro hosted Cedric Jones (maintenance mechanic)
- Floway Pumps hosted James Ferguson (welding)
- Foster Farms hosted Alejandro Mata (CAD)
- Fresno Valves and Castings hosted David Macido (welding)
- LiDestri Foods hosted Joel Camacho and Evan Night (electronics)
- Modern Custom Fabrications hosted Jeff Kramer (CAD)
Students were also required to participate in the CIMT Training Academy, which seeks to merge academics with practical work experience. The Training Academy consisted of five, four-hour seminars on industry-identified topics such as manufacturing flow processes and precision measurement, and were followed by company tours. Seminars were held at Fresno Valves and Castings, the Surface Water Treatment Plant in Fresno, CENCAL CNC, and Floway Pumps. A final seminar was held at Pelco, during which students made presentations highlighting their experiences in the program. Training Academy courses were taught by David Tikkanen from Reedley College.
Thank you to all who participated in making this year’s internship program a success!
Clean Energy cluster update
The first Clean Energy cluster meeting was held on June 24 with more than 20 energy-related businesses and organizations participating. The next meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., at the Central Valley Business Incubator (1630 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 163, Fresno).
PG&E has announced another solar project to be located near Coalinga in western Fresno County. Read the press release at http://www.pge.com/about/news/mediarelations/
newsreleases/q2_2008/080612.shtml.
The City of Fresno is currently reviewing proposals turned in by July 17 for additional solar power projects.
The Clean Energy cluster continues to align its efforts with the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization. For more information on related activities, visit http://www.sjvpartnership.org/wg_overview.php?wg_id=4 and http://www.sjvcleanenergy.org, respectively.
To participate in the Clean Energy cluster, contact Mark Stout at m.stout@cleantechamerica.com.
Financial assistance for manufacturing customers
ICWT’s Export Development Program can now help your potential customers attend the following tradeshows on their inbound trade missions:
- ExpoMin 2008 – September 22-24, 2008, in Las Vegas, NV
- SmartWater Innovations – October 8-10, 2008, in Las Vegas, NV
- Irrigation Association Show – November 2-4, 2008, in Anaheim, CA
- World Ag Expo – February 10-12, 2009, in Tulare, CA
The program will pay 50% of tradeshow-related airfare and hotel costs. If you are interested in having customers, agents or representatives from Mexico or Chile attend these shows, contact Dan Clawson at dclawson@csufresno.edu.
Arts & Culture cluster update
Arts & Culture cluster cultural exchanges are held the second Tuesday of the month at Arte Americas. Each exchange includes a guest speaker and FCASH Member Profile presentation.
The 2008 Cultural Arts Conference has been scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, with keynote speaker John King. Co-author of Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization, King contends that the key to recession-proofing your company is identifying the basic building block of companies, the “tribe.” To learn more about John King, visit http://www.lexweekly.com/Articles-c-2008-01-24-72562.113117_Tribal_Leadership.html.
Recent appointments in the arts and culture sector include:
- Paula Castadio, president and CEO of Valley Public Television, appointed to serve on the national PBS Board of Directors.
- Dana Thorpe has been hired as the Executive Director of the Fresno Metropolitan Museum.
- Ann Vermel is the first-ever Executive Director for the Warnors Center for the Performing Arts.
To learn more about the Arts & Culture cluster or get involved, contact Cynthia Cooper at ccooper@fcash.org.
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