By Faughn New Developments • Workforce 0 Comments

Madera County 2025 Forecast: A hospital reborn

Madera on the Map

The Highway 41 corridor has been ripe with activity, said Bobby Kahn, interim executive director of the Madera County Economic Development Commission (MCEDC).

This past August, Valley Children’s Healthcare announced plans for “The Hill,” a 220-acre, mixed-used development on its main campus. It will have a mix of health care space, housing, commercial, recreation, office and hospitality.

Kahn said in following with the 1,135-acre Gunner Ranch West Specific Plan, infrastructure work across the street from Valley Children’s Hospital is anticipated to start in the next 12 to 24 months.

The plan envisions a medical campus that will provide significant medical services and opportunities, with an array of commercial uses, including a regional commercial center and a system of parks, trails and open space.

The plan proposes development of up to 2,840 residential units, more than 2 million square feet of regional commercial uses, 751,000 square feet of medical office and related services, 1.1 million square feet of hospital and related services, community facilities, elementary schools, and a community/government center.

The plan also calls for 72 acres of open space and parks, and a 62-acre wastewater treatment plant.

Hospital reborn

Perhaps the most symbolic victory for Madera County is the return of Madera Community Hospital, which closed its doors in January 2023 and filed for bankruptcy protection.

The hospital received the first $15 million installment of a total $57 million emergency loan from the Distressed Hospital Loan Program. The funds are to be used for improvements such as updating patient equipment and operational expenses including hiring and training.

Kahn said the hospital is scheduled to open on Jan. 13, 2025, under new operator American Advanced Management from Modesto.

American Advanced Management has been hosting job fairs to fill more than 200 staff positions (not including doctors). Of those, 135 positions have been filled.

“As it opens, they will continue to staff-up and grow, adding more and more services,” Kahn said. “That will be huge for the City of Madera and the surrounding area. The health industry is known for higher wages, and those are industries you’d like to see in your community.

Burgeoning communities

The Riverstone development already has more than 1,000 homes built, and its commercial development mix includes Dutch Bros, a couple of restaurants and retailers.

A 2025 opening of Riley’s Pub is expected at Riverwalk, an office plaza on the corner of Highway 41 and Avenue 12.

The Tesoro Viejo community has plans for about 5,200 homes, with more than 1,000 already built. Across from Tesoro Viejo on Avenue 15 and Highway 41, there are plans for a Starbucks.

There is also the “Village D” Infrastructure Plan, located on Avenue 16 and Road 23, with the project covering 1,860 acres and including 10,783 housing units, as well as commercial and public facilities, recreation and open space.

The project is estimated to be built-out over a 20-year time span, Kahn said.

HVAC and gaming

Recently, a closed Church and Dwight Co. food supplement manufacturing on Avenue 12 near Road 32 was purchased by Vezina Industries, a Madera manufacturer specializing in windows, doors and HVAC solutions.

Along with the homegrown expansion, the area is getting attention from outside the area, though nothing has been finalized.

“We are getting a lot of looks now from national tenants,” Kahn said. “Madera is on the map. I think we will see continual retail growth in the City of Madera.”

A major project in the area is the North Fork Mono Casino & Resort, off of Avenue 18 and Road 23, which broke ground in September.

Kahn said there is hopes that the casino portion will open by late 2025 or early 2026. The first phase will be construction of the casino, followed by the resort, with a total construction timeline spanning five to ten years.

In August, the new AutoZone distribution center, located between Highway 99 and the Chowchilla Airport, debuted with 500,000 square feet, creating 200-300 new jobs.

Ag front

This season provided big, rainy storms and high temperatures, which presented a challenge for some crops. Kahn noted the price of almonds remains soft, and grape growers still face challenges as wine consumption drops.

He predicts almond orchards will continue to be pushed out, especially the older ones. Wineries are not seeking out grape contracts like they used to, and the raisin market is “mediocre” from a pricing perspective, Kahn said.

He also noted that the dairy industry continues to struggle with pricing

“I think ag in 2025 is still going to be a challenge for most commodities, but if you’re a farmer that’s positioned right, and not taking on a lot of debt, you should be OK,” Kahn said.

This month, Kristina Gallagher was named as the new executive director of the MCEDC, coming from a background in in local government advocacy, public policy, and community engagement with the California State Association of Counties.

Gallagher said she will look to Kahn’s experience for guidance, as well as the community.

“I’m looking to be very active with businesses and real estate and find out how to help build infrastructure into the two cities [Madera and Chowchilla] and the county,” Gallagher said. “In a year or two, I hope to have a 5-year plan going — something we could put down with the executive committee, and businesses and other local partners.”

Downturn in tourism

While millions flock from all over the world to see Madera County’s natural landscapes, most notably Yosemite National Park, the park’s reservation system did cause a dip in visitors when it was implemented last year, said Rhonda Salisbury, CEO of the Southern Yosemite Visitors Bureau.

The first and second quarters of 2024 saw high levels of tourism that waned off after the Yosemite reservations set in.

“It hurt the economy quite a bit,” Salisbury said. “We are expecting anywhere from a 10-20% drop in hotel occupancy from last year.”

The reservation system did provide a small boost for local tour operators, businesses and restaurants as more people waited in nearby towns before they could enter the park.

Salisbury said Yosemite National Park has not released its reservation system for 2025, but she assumes there will be one.

She hopes 2025 will be another test year — and not a permanent fixture — for the reservation system, and that it’s less aggressive than 2024.

She said the park was pushing away 700 visitors that didn’t have a reservation each day.

The bureau has sent letters to Washington, D.C., with hopes to find the best system.

Building up

Darren Rose, CEO of the Building Industry Association of Fresno/Madera Counties, said much remains to be seen in 2025, considering falling interest and mortgage rates.

“I think we will continue to see building activity, and a lot of it depends on how things unfold with the new administration,” Rose said.

If implemented, Trump’s proposed tariffs will increase prices on construction inputs, such as in lumber, concrete, and other items used to build homes. Those increases in costs will be put into the purchase price and passed on to home buyers.

Even though prices for nearly everything has gone up, builders continue to build homes.

“All of my builders are anticipating growth, and we are excited about that, but we have to see how things unfold with the economy,” Rose said.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/madera-county-a-hospital-reborn/?mc_cid=5e2b4d21b6&mc_eid=a3349d7e4d

By Faughn Renewable Energy 0 Comments

Global Clean Energy Holdings Delivers First Renewable Diesel from Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Facility

Global Clean Energy Holdings Delivers First Renewable Diesel from Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Facility

Production marks success of vertically integrated farm-to-fuel platform

Initial production of ~250,000 gallons of renewable diesel per day as Facility continues to ramp production

Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:GCEH), a renewable fuels innovator and leading camelina producer, today announced that its Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Facility is commercially operational, producing approximately 250,000 gallons of renewable diesel daily. This critical milestone marks a significant step forward as the Company begins delivering sustainable, low-carbon, and cost-efficient fuel to the market.

The Facility leverages patented, highly scalable nonfood camelina varieties to produce renewable fuel that delivers up to 90% lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum-based diesel. With a design capacity of up to approximately 210 million gallons annually, the Facility not only produces renewable diesel but also generates other sustainable co-products, such as renewable propane and renewable butane, contributing to cleaner air quality and a more sustainable energy future.

“I am incredibly proud of our talented team, whose dedication over the past several years has made this achievement possible,” said Noah Verleun, President & Chief Executive Officer. “This milestone validates the tremendous potential of our unique vertically integrated model – from camelina production to refining – and positions us to capitalize on the strong, long-term increasing demand for renewable fuel.”

Global Clean Energy is selling renewable fuels at its truck loading facility in Bakersfield pursuant to its supply and offtake agreement with Vitol, Inc. Global Clean Energy’s vertically integrated, capital-light, farm-to-fuel business model, combined with the Facility’s advantaged logistics and ability to run on multiple feedstocks, ensures operational efficiencies and production flexibility across the value chain.

About Global Clean Energy

Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:GCEH) is a vertically integrated renewable fuels company specializing in the development and cultivation of camelina, a nonfood, regenerative, intermediate oilseed crop, which is used for the production of advanced biofuels and biomaterials. With a vision that begins in the laboratory, moves through the farm gate and finishes with renewable fuels, GCEH’s farm-to-fuels value chain integration provides unrivaled access to reliable, ultra-low carbon feedstocks and is unparalleled in the sustainable fuels industry.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements”, including any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, the likelihood of improving camelina yields or achieving any profitability therefrom, strategic value creation, risk profile and investment strategies, and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, the ability to operate our Bakersfield renewable fuels facility in the manner that it was designed, and the expected financial and operational results of Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative thereof, or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties, risks, and factors relating to our operations and business environments, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Please refer to the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which can be found at the SEC’s website. The discussion of these risks is specifically incorporated by reference into this press release. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements.

https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20241220217938/global-clean-energy-holdings-delivers-first-renewable-diesel-from-bakersfield-renewable-fuels-facility

By Faughn Economy • Tourism 0 Comments

Stockton Metro adding flights to Denver in 2025

Things are looking up for passenger flights at Stockton Metro Airport. Allegiant Airlines will launch twice weekly service to Denver International Airport on May 14, 2025. Denver is the largest airport in the United States. It allows passengers to connect to other flights or use the airport rail line to go directly to downtown Denver. Allegiant is also expanding the number of flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix from Stockton in mid-2025. Weekly flights to Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas will increase to nine times per week. Stockton flights to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix will be bumped up to three times a week.

“We are pleased to introduce this new service and provide the community with a new, convenient, and affordable non-stop travel destination,” said Richard Sokol, Director of the Stockton Metropolitan Airport.

“This is an exciting step forward in the airport’s continuing effort to bring more travel options to our region.”

And it could be just the start of increased passenger service out of Stockton. Stockton Metro’s position as the fourth major airport in the Bay Area — and regional growth that is pushing up household incomes — is drawing interest from airlines interested in possibly operating connector passenger service. San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti indicated several months ago Spirit, United, and American are exploring potentially having flights in and out of Stockton. If it happens, it would be a significant development for the Northern San Joaquin Valley with 1.6 million residents and counting. Not only is the region consistently among the top four fastest growing areas in the state, but demographics are showing significant jumps in the household income of those moving into the area from west of the Altamont Pass.

Given Manteca’s northern most city limits at Roth Road and Airport Way is within four miles of the Stockton Metro terminal, whatever happens at the county owned airport will have a significant impact on Manteca. The Bay Area is served by San Francisco, and Oakland airports that are significantly more congested when it comes not just to passengers accessing them but also with the number of flights. Stockton has steadily grown its Bay Area profile in the past 20 years.

Initially, it was upwards of a dozen corporate jets being located at Stockton that were owned by big tech companies in the Silicon Valley during a time period when flight times were limited out of San Jose.

Eventually, they were able to shift back to San Jose.

Then in 2016, Amazon started its daily large cargo jet movements to Stockton. In 2020, the online retailer expanded their footprint at Stockton to handle up to eight large cargo jets a day. Amazon operates fulfilment centers near the airport including three in Tracy, two in Stockton, and one in Manteca on Airport Way. There are also Amazon fulfillment centers in Patterson and Turlock.

Before the pandemic, United operated connector flights from Stockton to Los Angeles.

“This is very exciting news for our County and region,” said Miguel Villapudua, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

“Between the Board’s $26 million investment earlier this year and Airport Director Sokol’s tireless work to realize the potential of SCK, this is only the beginning of great things to come.”

https://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/local-news/stockton-metro-adding-flights-to-denver-in-2025/