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City of Fresno Economic Development Department The city of Fresno Economic Development Department’s vision is to provide the means for all Fresno citizens to continually increase their standard of living. In close partnership with businesses, government agencies and nonprofits, we provide leadership in creating the conditions for a thriving economy throughout the city of Fresno. The award-winning department is a full service department dedicated to retaining and attracting viable businesses and offers access to numerous programs designed to assist business.

Business Expansion Attraction and Retention (BEAR): The BEAR Action Network, is underway in partnership with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), our city’s Development Business Center, other city departments, and our community resource providers. The city’s BEAR agreement with the EDC is a performance partnership and allows a non-governmental organization to help provide solutions to businesses concerns from financial questions to space needs, from workforce issues to code enforcement. A community resource team is paired with an internal city team to aggressively assist viable businesses to stay and expand in Fresno. Emerson Estrada, Manager, EDC BEAR Action Network, is contacting local businesses to schedule brief one-hour meetings. The goal of these meetings will be to learn about trends in specific industries and/or geographical locations; to recognize companies that are ready for expansion; and to assess the company’s needs, which can then be referred to local service providers for a satisfactory resolution. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please e-mail EEstrada@FresnoEDC.com or call (559) 476-2505.

Incentive Zones and Tax Incentives: The award winning Local Municipal Restoration Zone, State Enterprise Zone, Federal Empowerment Zone, Foreign Trade Zone and HUB Zone provide tax savings for businesses throughout the city. 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.

Business finance programs: There are numerous programs designed to assist with financing (whether it is to build, relocate or expand). The city of Fresno Revolving Loan Fund and the Hometown Entrepreneur Loan Program are among the programs offered.

Fresnostartup.com: The award winning program is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and new business owners. The FresnoStartUp Guide, available in English and Spanish, 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 web site, www.fresnostartup.com, which includes the Guide in a downloadable, PDF format.

Business Matchmaking and Networking Event: Millions of dollars are spent each year by large companies and government agencies on goods and services that could be purchased from local small businesses. On August 1, 2008, the second Business Matchmaking and Networking event will be hosted by the city of Fresno Economic Development Department, along with their organizing partners and sponsors. The goal is to keep these important dollars local. One-on-one meetings will be scheduled between supplier and procurement representatives and will allow small business “suppliers” to provide information about their products or services to local, state, federal, and private buying organizations. Exhibit booths will provide networking opportunities as well as tips and resources for small business representatives. Close to 100 small businesses and 37 different buying organizations attended last year’s event. For more information, please contact Peggy Chiok, Attraction and Community Development Manager, at Peggy.Chiok@fresno.gov or (559) 621-8360.

For more information about the Economic Development Department and its programs, please visit www.fresnoez.com, e-mail the department at economic.development@fresno.gov, or call (559) 621-8352.

Economic Development Corporation Serving Fresno County The Economic Development Corporation works with investors, site consultants, developers, businesses, and city and county stakeholders to present Fresno as among the best places in the country to live and work. We accomplish this by providing up-to-date information, access to available sites based on company specifications, collaborating with the city and county of Fresno, and other partners, promoting the low costs of doing business in Fresno and its many amenities, and a experienced staff that responds to questions quickly and effectively. Investors and clients are assured strict confidentiality; extraordinary service and the promise that, together, every company will flourish. The EDC’s value is its ability to market the city and county of Fresno as the first choice for companies through concerted strategies:

• The Fresno EDC clearly articulates its vision, mission and goals to its stakeholders.

• The EDC’s Board of Directors is committed to supporting the EDC’s agenda and growth strategies for the city and county of Fresno.

• Fresno is California’s Strategic Choice because of its location, affordability, and amenities.

• The EDC’s revenue growth through our investors supports continued delivery of innovative products and solutions to the marketplace.

• A state-of-the-art website provides users with a wide range of downloadable information, such as maps, transportation lines, demographic profiles and salary information.

• The EDC team will ensures the success of businesses by providing a variety of valuable expertise available in-house and consulting through a multitude of partnerships.

• Through our Business Expansion Attraction and Retention (BEAR) program, we are able to conduct business interviews, identifying opportunities for growth and resolutions to issues affecting businesses.

• EDC staff provides businesses and site selectors with accurate, up-to-date and credible information to those interested in investing, locating or expanding in the city or county. Every effort is made to find a site that can accommodate a new company, an expansion, or simply provide intervention for problems that at first may appear unsolvable.

Staff gather custom data, which can include subjects as simple as real estate information, to detailed reports on location, geography, labor force, transportation, utilities, taxes, services, regulations, education, housing, recreation, education, health care, cultural opportunities, economic base information, business climate and weather.