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Business and Industry

According to a 2006 issue of Inc. magazine, the City of Fresno ranks fourth in America for the best place to do business in a medium metro area. This mark of distinction was bestowed upon Fresno based on findings that the city’s economy “is driven by real estate affordability and population growth, particularly spurred on by Latino and Asian immigration.” City officials applaud this accomplishment and call it fuel for their determination to achieve greater success.

A major factor in the success of Fresno is its location. Fresno is conveniently located in central California and is, as previously stated, one of the greatest cities in the entire state for conducting business! Some additional factors in the success are an ideal climate; convenient access via land and air; prime locations within the city that are available for purchase or lease; a large pool from which to select well-qualified employees; and professional city staff members ready and willing to assist where needed.

Fresno County is a great place to work; it is a place full of wonderful opportunities for those looking for a job. Below are listed the top Private and Public Sector Employers, as seen on the City of Fresno website.

City of Fresno Department of downtown and Community Revitalization

Mayor Ashley Swearengin recognizes that no city can be great without a great downtown, great urban neighborhoods at its core, and a great environment to start and grow locally owned businesses. The mayor’s formation of the new Downtown and Community Revitalization team reflects these priorities for the City of Fresno.

Downtown

An overarching mission of the Department is to transform the fundamental economics of our Downtown so that business and development can be profitable. The Department has a mix of short and long-term goals to help achieve this outcome.The Department’s most immediate goal is to increase activity and foot traffic in the Downtown area. There are many ways the City can help make Downtown more user-friendly. We’ll be sponsoring festivals, working to improve signage, and targeting our high-profile vacant historic buildings for new uses. Businesses, take note: When you locate Downtown, more customers will be there to support your bottom line.

The Department will also be working to put good planning and sustainable funding in place of Downtown. We will be working toward adoption of a Specific Plan for the Cultural Arts District, Fulton Mall/Central Business District, and South Stadium area. This plan, which will be the ultimate, legally enforceable plan for this area, will reflect stakeholders’ preferences for building design, historic preservation, mixed uses, traffic circulation, parking, open space, housing, infrastructure, and more. As a business, the presence of Specific Plan will create very clear expectations — both what the City expects from you, and what you can expect from the City and your Downtown neighbors.

Finally, the Department will help facilitate efforts by business and property owners to form assessment districts that help these stakeholders guide an increased level of maintenance, better infrastructure, improved public safety, or other goals that they determine. More and more, Downtown businesses and property owners across California and the nation are recognizing the value in forming a cohesive group to help meet their needs.

If you are interested in locating your business in Downtown Fresno, please contact the Department at (559) 621-8350 or e-mail economic.development@fresno.gov.

Neighborhood Revitalization

A second mission of the Department is to ensure that every Fresno resident can live in a healthy neighborhood. The Department will be focusing its efforts in the neighborhoods around Downtown: Lowell-Jefferson, West Fresno, and Southeast Fresno.

As in Downtown, an important component of the work in these neighborhoods will be the formation of Specific Plans. Through the planning process, residents, property owners, and business owners in these areas will be able to decide what buildings should look like, what kinds of uses are most appropriate in different areas, and what City services can be coordinated to best serve them. The process itself will lead to lasting partnerships between City Hall and residents of these communities.An important goal is to create predictability for residents, property owners, and business owners. The plans will ensure that building design meets the basic standards set by the stakeholders. Businesses will be able to expect a warm reception from neighbors by operating within the provisions of the plan. All stakeholders will know what level of services to expect from the City. Businesses will also have more opportunities to benefit as residents learn to build and manage wealth through the Department’s community development efforts.

If you are interested in locating your business in one of the great neighborhoods near Downtown Fresno, please contact the Department at (559) 621-8350 or e-mail economic.development@fresno.gov.

Local Business Initiatives

A third mission of the Department is to ensure that Fresno is a great place to start and grow your business.

The Department will work to make the City an active partner with other agencies — such as the Workforce Investment Board, the Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce — in efforts to support local businesses and business start-ups.

The Department will particularly focus on City policies that support or hinder local businesses. City purchasing, marketing, and general culture and attitude all affect the ability of businesses to grow and operate in Fresno.

In addition, the Department aims to help build the market for local products within our community. For example, local wines should be available at local restaurants, and local restaurants should be listed for residents looking for a unique place to eat. The Department will constantly be looking for ways to support those who are investing their resources, energy, and talent in entrepreneurship in Fresno.

If your local business brings something unique to Fresno, please contact the Department at (559) 621-8350 or e-mail economic.development@fresno.gov.

In addition to the efforts above, the Department manages the award-winning local Municipal Restoration Zone, State Enterprise Zone, Federal Empowerment Zone, Foreign Trade Zone, and HUBZone, which all provide tax savings for businesses throughout the City. Through the State Enterprise Zone program alone, in Fiscal Year 2008 Fresno’s businesses received over $110 million in state tax credits for use over the next five years. To see if your business is located in an incentive zone within specific boundaries in the City of Fresno, to register for a workshop or to learn more about the incentives, visit www.fresnoez.com and select Incentive Zones and Tax Incentives.

Economic Development Corporation Serving Fresno County

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is working to establish Fresno County as the premiere location to grow and expand core industries. As the essential connection between local businesses and much needed resources, the EDC focuses on providing an active outreach program to improve local business’ bottom line.

The EDC accomplishes the above by assisting in the expansion, retention and attraction of business through an alliance of collaborative partners. Providing up-to-date demographics and information, access to available sites, partnering with the cities of Fresno County, while promoting Fresno County’s assets, such as:

• Competitive wages
• Available workforce
• Affordable land
• Low costs of doing business
• Location, location, location
• Seamless transportation system
• Connection to all west coast major markets in one day assures every company located in Fresno County will have a competitive advantage.

The EDC’s value is its ability to market the County of Fresno as the premiere location for companies through concerted strategies with 15 cities and 15 choices.

EDC staff provides businesses and site selectors with accurate, up-to-date and credible information to those interested in investing, locating or expanding in Fresno County. For more information about the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County go to our award-winning website at www.FresnoEDC.com.

Industrial Space

Companies that service the California market and the West Coast can deliver products in a timely and efficient manner. With excellent proximity to major State Freeways 99, 41, 168 and 180, locating in Fresno puts the world's sixth largest economy at your back door and makes logistics and operations less challenging. Further, many of Fresno’s Business/Industrial parks are located within a Foreign Trade Zone, Federal Empowerment Zone and/or a State Enterprise Zone offering prospective businesses locating in the area substantial savings and many financial benefits. Typically, the cost of doing business in Fresno is appreciably lower than most other California cities and the labor market has a ready supply of workers.

In addition, due to an abundance of potential site locations, companies choosing to set up business in Fresno will find the area to be ideal for their headquarters, administrative offices, manufacturing plants and distribution and warehouse facilities. Office and Industrial Parks such as Palm Bluffs Corporate Center, Shaw Gates Business Park, River Park Corporate Center, North Pointe Business Park, Fancher Creek Business Park and the Roeding Industrial Park offer prospective companies locating in the area an array of Class A and B office space, as well as premium locations for manufacturing, distribution, and warehouse operations.

Starting a Business

The idea of starting your own business can be an exciting one. It offers a chance to be innovative and reap the rewards of freedom and independence. Owning and operating your own business allows you the opportunity to:

• Be your own boss
• Earn more money
• Think creatively

However, small business ownership can also be quite challenging and is definitely not right for everyone. It can mean long hours and can take a lot of time and money to get started. Depending on the nature of your business you may be subject to government regulations, competitors, demanding customers, financial obligations and the challenges that go along with managing employees.

These are just some of the many factors to take into consideration when deciding whether owning your own business is right for you.

If you do decide to start your own business, it is important to be aware of various permits and/or licenses which may be necessary; certain types of businesses may require additional permits. Also, a city business tax certificate or permit may be required within the city limits. For these certificates and permits in the City of Fresno, see www.fresno.gov/Government/departmentDirectory/ finance/businesslicenseandtax/printableforms.htm as well as www.fresnostartup.com/default.asp, where these are available in English and Spanish.

Fresnostartup.com, the award-winning program, is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and new business owners. The FresnoStartUp Guide provides start up resources, a checklist that helps businesses through the permit process, key agency contact phone numbers and Internet links to appropriate forms and requirements for doing business in Fresno. This process was taken a step further by developing a website, www.fresnostartup.com, which includes the Guide in a downloadable, PDF format.