By Faughn Economy • Uncategorized 0 Comments

Where Is Homeownership Most Accessible for Young People? 2026

National trends in young homeownership

Despite ongoing affordability challenges, young adults continue to play a meaningful role in the housing market. Americans under 35 account for 36% of all home purchase loans nationwide, while their share of homeownership among all age groups stands at 14%.

The data reveals a nuanced picture of young Americans’ path to homeownership. From 2020 to 2024, the share of homeowners under 35 increased by 4.8%, suggesting that younger buyers found ways to enter the market despite a sharp rise in housing costs. More recently, however, that progress appears to be slowing. Between 2023 and 2024, the under-35 homeownership rate declined by 0.4%, raising questions about whether affordability pressures are beginning to outweigh gains made in recent years.

“Two young households with similar incomes can end up on very different financial trajectories simply because of where they live,” said Nadia Evangelou, principal economist and director of real estate research at the National Association of Realtors. “One starts building equity in their early 30s, while the other may spend much longer renting and waiting for ownership opportunities. The affordability gap we are seeing across metro areas is increasingly becoming a wealth building gap.”

Geography remains one of the strongest predictors of homeownership accessibility. In some metro areas, home prices remain relatively aligned with local incomes, financing programs help reduce barriers to entry, and younger buyers account for a substantial share of home purchases. In others, housing costs have far outpaced earnings, creating a widening gap between aspiring homeowners and the realities of the market.

Read on to learn more about the metros offering the strongest pathways to homeownership for young buyers — and the places where affordability remains a significant obstacle.

Metros where young homeownership is most accessible

While affordability headwinds have begun to stall progress on a national scale, our analysis identifies geographical havens where the path to the American Dream remains wide open. These areas stand out for having a high share of homeowners under 35, a high percentage of mortgage loans taken out by younger buyers, or both. Based on our research and data, here are the 10 metropolitan areas where entry into the housing market is most accessible.

1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge claims the No. 1 spot this year, climbing 18 spots in the rankings from 2025. The metro area is defined by a nation-leading under-35 homeownership rate of 22.1%. This is up significantly from last year’s study, when the rate was 17.6%. Baton Rouge also has the sixth-highest percentage of home purchase loans taken out by under-35 applicants (43.3%).

Supplementary statistics show one possible reason young buyers can enter the market: The median home sale price at the time of analysis was $253,634, the eighth lowest of any metro area we researched.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 22.1% (highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 43.3% (sixth highest)

2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas

The McAllen metro area is currently the nation’s powerhouse for youth buying activity. An incredible 46.3% of all home purchase loans in this market go to buyers under 35 — the highest share of any metro in the study. Plus, about one in five homeowners with a mortgage is in this age bracket.

It doesn’t directly affect the ranking, but it’s worth pointing out that the median home sale price of $209,859 is the lowest of the 100 biggest metros in the U.S. Federal Housing Administration loans seem to be especially popular among younger buyers: 48.9% of these loans, which can have down payments as low as 3.5%, were given to applicants under 35.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 20.1% (second highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 46.3% (highest)

3. Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Michigan

Grand Rapids is the top-ranking metro for young homebuyers in the Midwest. The under-35 ownership rate of 19.1% is supported by one of the higher median household incomes of metros in the top 10, at $73,765. The relatively high income keeps the home-price-to-income ratio below average.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 19.1% (third highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 45.9% (second highest)

4. El Paso, Texas

El Paso gets a massive 35-spot jump in the rankings this year, with top 10 finishes in both the metrics we examined. Buyers under 35 utilize a large number of VA home loans; El Paso trails only three metros in the percentage of these loans, backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, that go to applicants under 35. Also, the metro area’s $246,675 median home sale price is one of the lowest in the U.S.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 17.8% (sixth highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 44.8% (fifth highest)

5. Salt Lake City-Murray, Utah

Only five of the 100 most populous metros finish with top 10 rankings in both metrics of our study — Salt Lake City is one. A high share of homeowners with mortgages are under 35, and a sizable percentage of home loans go to younger applicants. This is in spite of the area having a median home sale price of over $533,000 — by far the highest of any metro that finishes in the top 10 for homeownership accessibility.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 17.5% (eighth highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 42.7% (seventh highest)

6. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, New York

Buffalo is the top location for young buyers in the Northeast, moving up 15 spots from last year. Close to 46% of all home purchase loans are taken out by people under 35 — the third-highest percentage in the U.S. These buyers benefit from home prices that are, on balance, lower than in other large U.S. metros. The median sale price, $244,206, combined with the median younger household income of just over $57,000, gives a home-price-to-income ratio that is 14th lowest out of the 100 metros.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 15.4%
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 45.7% (third highest)

7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, like the metro just ahead of it in the rankings, has a high percentage of home loans going to younger purchasers. One likely reason: The ratio of median home sale price to median young household income (3.5) is the lowest in the country, making it easier to qualify for a loan. Additional data shows that applicants under 35 take out a high percentage of all conventional loans issued in the Pittsburgh area.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 15.5%
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 44.9% (fourth highest)

8. Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati is the only metro in the top 10 that maintains its exact position from last year. Young people secure 42.6% of all home purchase loans, the eighth-highest rate in the nation. Mortgage applicants are helped by lower home prices — the median sale price, at just under $286,000, is 23% lower than the national median. Incomes among younger households are right around the national median.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 16.4%
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 42.6% (eighth highest)

9. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Nearly 18% of homeowners with a mortgage in the Colorado Springs area are under 35, the seventh-highest rate, despite home prices being on the expensive side. Of the top 10 metros, it sees the highest number (2,089 in 2024) and highest percentage (41.9%) of VA loans going to borrowers under 35. (El Paso County, Colorado, has one of the highest populations of veterans in the U.S.)

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 17.6% (seventh highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 39.7%

10. Bakersfield-Delano, California

There are 12 California metros among the 100 biggest in the U.S. 10 finish at No. 75 or below on our list, one at No. 33, and one — Bakersfield — in the top 10. About one of every six homes with a mortgage is owned by someone under 35, and 41.3% of home purchase loans are taken out by younger applicants. Young borrowers take out over 45% of FHA loans, the third-highest percentage of all metros.

  • Homeownership rate among people under 35: 16.6% (10th highest)
  • Share of home purchase loans taken out by applicants under 35: 41.3%

Metros where young homeownership is least accessible

The metro areas where homeownership is most accessible to younger people are spread across each region of the country. On the other hand, the least welcoming metros are overwhelmingly concentrated in California and Florida, where housing costs and other barriers have made homeownership less achievable.

The metros where homeownership is least accessible for younger buyers are:

  1. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida
  2. Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, California
  3. Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Sunrise, Florida
  4. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, Florida
  5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California
  6. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida
  7. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, Connecticut
  8. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California
  9. Oakland-Fremont-Berkeley, California
  10. Stockton-Lodi, California

Why aren’t young people buying homes in these areas?

Supporting data from metros at the bottom of our rankings underscores how high housing costs have pushed homeownership out of reach for many young adults. In California, metros like Los Angeles and Oakland have home price-to-income ratios that approach 13-to-1. In three metro areas — San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco — the median sale price exceeds $1.2 million.

Florida presents a different affordability challenge. In markets like North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota — the least accessible metro in our study — young buyers face expensive insurance costs. “A lot of first-time homebuyers are still on the fence, waiting for relief on insurance rates, taxes and the overall cost of ownership,” said Cole Murray, a real estate agent based in North Port. As climate-related risks continue to drive insurance premiums higher, many prospective buyers are finding that the true cost of homeownership extends far beyond the mortgage payment. In these regions, the path to homeownership isn’t just difficult — for many, it is becoming impossible.

Data: Homeownership access by metro area

Our 2026 analysis reveals that while certain metros offer the best paths to homeownership for young people, many of the largest population centers put more obstacles in the way. Of the 20 largest metro areas in the U.S., only one ranks in the top 15 for young buyers (Minneapolis, No. 13). Of the 10 largest metros, the next highest-ranking on our list after Minneapolis is Chicago, at No. 49.

The data also highlights how quickly the homeownership picture can change in a given area. Birmingham, Alabama, had the biggest year-over-year jump, from No. 55 to No. 17, and the top 10 metros include eight that were outside it last year. Meanwhile, Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina, fell the most, from No. 36 to No. 65, and a top 10 city from last year, Tulsa, Oklahoma, dropped from No. 4 all the way to No. 22.

Tips for young homebuyers

While higher home prices and other constraints, like a shortage of starter homes, have created roadblocks for young Americans, the dream of owning a home isn’t dead — it just requires a more tactical approach. Navigating today’s market means looking beyond the listing price and understanding the specific financial levers that can turn a renter into a homeowner. By aligning your expectations with local economic realities, you can make homeownership a more realistic goal.

  • Know how much you can afford. Finance experts recommend spending no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing. Use a mortgage calculator that factors in your down payment, rate, loan amount and other variables to estimate your monthly payment. Knowing the income needed to afford a home can also help you set a realistic budget. Look beyond the monthly mortgage payment by factoring in local property taxes and homeowners insurance to avoid financial strain.
  • Get preapproved and shop for products. Evangelou, from NAR, recommends shopping around for mortgage products that fit your specific needs and getting preapproved. Don’t assume one size fits all; different lenders offer different loan types, including loans specifically for first-time homebuyers.
  • Explore federal and local programs. Forget what you’ve been told about needing a 20% down payment; many young buyers enter the market with less than 15% down with FHA, VA or USDA loans, or using local assistance programs.
  • Look for supply at your price point. Evangelou notes that general inventory is less important than “affordable listings” — homes priced specifically for what middle-income earners can afford.

Methodology

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team analyzed data from 100 of the most populous U.S. metro areas to identify where homeownership is most attainable for people under 35. Our study focused on two metrics, each weighed at 50%.

  • Homeownership rate: This is the percentage of all owner-occupied units with a mortgage that have a householder under 35. This excludes homes without a mortgage. Mortgage-free ownership is excluded from our percentage in order to emphasize market entry accessibility. Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau (2024).
  • Buying activity: This is the percentage of all home purchase loans that are taken out by applicants under 35. This data provides a real-time look at who is successfully financing home purchases in the current market. It comes from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, made available by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (2024).

For each metric, the metro with the highest percentage scored the maximum 50 points, and the metro with the lowest percentage was given a score of zero. Other metros received proportionally scaled scores based on where they fell within the overall range.

Our analysis also incorporated the following supplementary data points for context:

  • Median home sale prices from Zillow (April 2026)
  • Median household income for householders under 44 (including under 25 and 25 to 44 age groups) from the U.S. Census Bureau (2024)
  • Home-price-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the local median home price by the median income of younger households
  • Trends in homeownership rates from 2020 to 2024 to track long-term momentum and recent shifts
  • Loan type distribution, including the number of conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans taken out by borrowers under 35 and the share of these loans taken out by borrowers under 35

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/where-is-homeownership-most-accessible-for-young-people.html

By Faughn Distribution • E-Commerce • New Developments 0 Comments

Amazon confirmed for Fresno’s $100M Westgate Industrial Center

Amazon has been confirmed as the first tenant at Fresno’s Westgate Industrial Center near Highway 99 and Marks Avenue.

Natalie Banke, an Amazon spokesperson, confirmed the company’s involvement to The Business Journal on Friday. In September, it was announced that Scannell, the Indiana-based developers of the project, had landed a tenant for a 248,786-square-foot industrial office and warehouse building.

It would be the fifth Amazon distribution facility in Fresno.

Scannell broke ground on the $100 million Westgate Industrial Center in July, which marked their first project in Fresno. At the time, Scannell moved forward without securing a tenant, a speculative investment that local leaders described as a strong vote of confidence in Fresno’s industrial market.

Scannell Managing Director Todd Berryhill previously said that the leased building is expected to be completed around June 2026. It remains unclear whether the building will be completed on its previously projected timeline

“This is more than a building,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said during the groundbreaking ceremony in July. “It creates jobs, stimulates our local economy, generates revenue for city services — and it says Fresno is open for business.”

City and county officials have praised the project as a major economic development effort expected to create hundreds of construction and warehouse jobs.

“Scannell’s Westgate Industrial Center, and the ensuing activity and interest, is a great validation of the Fresno market and the importance of having fully entitled, shovel-ready land,” Will Oliver wrote to The Business Journal in September after the tenant announcement. “Once projects like Scannell’s are entitled and built, interest quickly follows and companies commit. This is further proof of the region’s momentum in attracting investment and jobs.”

https://thebusinessjournal.com/amazon-confirmed-for-fresnos-100m-westgate-industrial-center/

By Faughn Economy • Tourism 0 Comments

Contour Airlines to launch nonstop flights from Merced to LAX, Las Vegas

Tennessee-based Contour Airlines will launch nonstop service from Merced Yosemite Regional Airport beginning July 1, giving Central Valley travelers direct access to Los Angeles and Las Vegas for the first time through the regional carrier. The airline will offer daily flights between Merced Yosemite Regional Airport (MCE) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), along with five weekly departures to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

“We are thrilled to introduce service in Merced and provide the community with direct access to two of the West Coast’s most sought-after destinations,” said Ben Munson, Contour Airlines president. “These routes not only make travel more convenient for local residents and businesses but also support economic growth by strengthening Merced’s connectivity to key markets. We look forward to delivering a dependable and comfortable travel experience for all our passengers.”

Contour will operate the routes using 30-seat regional jets. Each flight includes extra legroom and complimentary snacks and beverages.

The City of Merced received official notification from the U.S. Department of Transportation in March that Contour Airlines had been selected to provide essential air service (EAS) at Merced Regional Airport for a four-year term beginning July 1. The EAS program helps ensure that small and rural communities maintain access to commercial air travel through federal support. Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto said the city welcomes the expanded service.

“These new routes to Las Vegas and Los Angeles provide valuable travel options for both visitors and our residents, whether traveling for business or leisure,” Serratto said. “Strengthening our regional connectivity is a key step in supporting economic growth, enhancing tourism, and improving quality of life for the people we serve.”

Rhett Williams, Merced Yosemite Regional Airport manager, said the partnership improves access for passengers using the facility.

“This partnership and these new flights enhance the convenience and accessibility of air travel for our passengers, and we look forward to providing a high-quality experience for everyone who travels through our airport,” Williams said.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/contour-airlines-merced-airport-lax-las-vegas-nonstop-flights/

By Faughn Economy • New Developments 0 Comments

Looking Ahead: Our Vision for the Future

Our organization is focused on thoughtful growth that builds on our strong foundation while planning for the future. Through our master plan, we are identifying opportunities to enhance our facilities and better serve our community, partners, and guests. This vision reflects our commitment to innovation, education, and business development, ensuring we continue to evolve while staying true to our mission.

https://www.internationalagricenter.com/lookingahead/

By Faughn New Developments 0 Comments

Hanford moves forward with $60 million waste water treatment plant upgrades

Hanford is proceeding with an almost $60 million contract to upgrade the City’s wastewater treatment facility.

“This is more than a repair. It’s a total modernization,” said Mark Kairis, Hanford mayor.

On May 19, the City Council approved a Limited Notice to Proceed for for project engineering with Opterra, an infrastructure modernization company. By passing the Limited Notice to Proceed, the City locked in the project price tag of $60 million, which would have continued to increase. The City negotiated that estimate down from Opterra’s original proposition of $67 million.

“They negotiated in good faith,” said City Utilities and Engineering Director Frank Senteno about Opterra. “This came through a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”

The City says the upgrades are necessary because while the facility may look okay from the outside, the equipment inside has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced. Some parts of the facility are from 1949. Along with a number of proposed upgrades, the outdated 5.5 MGD Primary Trickling Filter Plant must be replaced with a Ox-Ditch wastewater process, which is more energy efficient and capable of meeting future regulatory requirements. This replacement is necessary to eliminate the use of the hazardous pressurized gaseous chlorine, which is a potentially explosive chemical that requires staff to wear protective gear.

“In my professional opinion, that is the greatest liability of the City. It’s kind of a silent liability that nobody knows about,” said Jason Rodriguez, Wastewater Treatment Plant manager.

The facility upgrades would also reduce energy usage and costs by operating more efficiently, with a estimated net savings of $42 million over 36 years.

“This is long overdue. I don’t understand how the can has been kicked down the road so many times,” said Councilmember Travis Paden. He added that delaying the upgrades would only increase costs.

While the project is moving forward to the next stage, the wastewater treatment facility upgrades still depends on acquiring project financing and passing a wastewater rate increase. For project next steps, City staff will return to City Council to approve of a Proposition 218 Rate Fee Study, which is an independent analysis required by state law to ensure that water and wastewater rates are fair and justified.

“Once we do that study and it hits the members of the community in these tough times, it’s going to be difficult,” Paden said.

Construction is estimated to take two years, ending in 2029.

https://hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hanford-moves-forward-with-60-million-waste-water-treatment-plant-upgrades/article_38cdb6cd-8f5b-4161-ade1-80f469dc5c85.html

By Faughn Top Stories • Tourism 0 Comments

7-Eleven near future Madera casino breaks California sales record

A recently constructed 7-Eleven in Madera has sold for $12.18 million, setting a California record for the highest-priced single-tenant 7-Eleven sale in the state, according to Hanley Investment Group.

In addition to the typical 7-Eleven convenience store, the Madera location also comes with a commercial fueling facility. The property is 4,644 square feet on 4.04 acres and located at 3720 Avenue 17 near Highway 99.

Madera’s first 7-Eleven

It is the first and only 7-Eleven in Madera, according to a news release from Hanley Investment near Newport Beach, and also includes electric vehicle charging stations and commercial diesel fueling lanes.

Hanley Investment Group Senior Vice President Sean Cox and Executive Vice President Bill Asher represented the seller and developer, Stock Five Development of Clovis. The buyer is a private investor from the Bay Area and was represented by Dev Patel of Kidder Matthews.

The project took almost four years to complete and involved extensive infrastructure work, environmental review and fuel system design.

1031 deal, triple-net lease

Cox said in the release that the buyer was found through a 1031 exchange search focused specifically on single-tenant 7-Eleven properties. The deal closed shortly after the store opened and started paying rent.

Asher said the property’s 15-year triple-net lease, expanded fueling format and close proximity to the soon-to-open North Fork Mono Casino, played a part in investor interest.

“This sale set a new benchmark for the 7‑Eleven brand in California,” Asher said. “The combination of a new 15‑year triple-net lease, expanded fueling program, and a prime location adjacent to State Route 99 and future home of North Fork Mono Casino, were highly attractive selling points for the buyer.”

Clovis-based developer

Stock Five Development specializes in fuel-based commercial projects across Northern California and the Central Valley. The sale continues Hanley Investment Group’s recent activity involving new 7-Eleven fueling prototypes in California, including transactions in San Bernardino, Sacramento and Clovis.

 

https://thebusinessjournal.com/7-eleven-madera-casino-broke-ca-sales-record/

By Faughn Economy • Top Stories 0 Comments

The New Inland Empire

Bakersfield. There are moments, driving north on Highway 99 or west along the 58, when this place feels less like California and more like a frontier economy
disguised as a mid-sized city. The landscape gives it away first. Miles of almond orchards abruptly give way to concrete tilt-up warehouses. Oil pumps nod slowly beside brand new logistics parks. Semi-trucks stack up at truck stops filled with drivers hauling everything from imported appliances to refrigerated produce headed east. To outsiders, Bakersfield is often dismissed as an oil town or an ag center. It is both of those things.

But increasingly, it is something else: one of the last largescale industrial growth markets left in California. That reality has quietly reshaped this region over the past decade. For years, Southern California’s industrial explosion concentrated in the Inland Empire, where massive distribution centers transformed dairy land into logistics infrastructure serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. But eventually success created its own problem. Land prices soared. Entitlements became harder. Traffic worsened. Power became constrained. Labor costs climbed. And residential neighbors complained loudly. Then came Covid. Global supply chains broke. Calls for companies to “re-shore” from China increased. Demand for warehouse space soared. Rents doubled overnight. Occupiers needing large buildings began pushing outward. Some moved to Phoenix, Reno, or Las Vegas. Others looked north. That search eventually led to Bakersfield. At first glance, the appeal seems obvious. Bakersfield sits near the population center of California, at the southern gateway to the Central Valley, connected by to the state via Highway 99 and Interstate 5, and to points east via the 58 corridor. It offers overnight proximity to both Northern and Southern California without the pricing of either. Large tracts of land still exist. Truck access is efficient. Development politics remain comparatively pragmatic
by California standards. But newcomers quickly learn the market operates differently than larger coastal cities.

Relationships matter here. Many of the most significant industrial sites are still controlled by local families who have owned land for generations. Deals often move through longstanding personal relationships before they ever reach a formal marketing process. A newcomer expecting a fully institutionalized marketplace sometimes discovers that the most valuable information is still exchanged over breakfast meetings, truck tours, and introductions that begin with, “You should probably talk to so-and-so.” The market itself also reflects Bakersfield’s unusual economic DNA.

Unlike pure logistics markets, Bakersfield industrial real estate sits at the intersection of multiple industries. Agriculture drives demand for cold storage, food processing, packaging, equipment yards, and transportation facilities. Oil and energy companies require fabrication shops, pipe yards, maintenance facilities, and heavy industrial acreage. Distribution users increasingly need modern high-cube warehouses capable of serving statewide logistics networks. As a result, industrial product types here can vary dramatically within just a few miles.

One building may house refrigerated produce exports. Another may support oilfield services. A third may be a million-square-foot regional distribution center with
thirty-six-foot clear heights and ESFR sprinkler systems designed for modern e-commerce logistics. Power availability has also become one of the defining issues of the current cycle. In many industrial markets, developers primarily worry about land and construction costs. In Bakersfield today, serious industrial conversations increasingly begin with a different question: “How much power is available?” Cold storage, food processing, EV-related manufacturing, automation, and modern distribution operations all require substantial electrical infrastructure. Securing adequate utility capacity can determine whether a project succeeds, stalls, or never breaks ground at all.

That reality has elevated infrastructure from a background consideration into a central driver of land value. And yet, despite its growth, Bakersfield still retains a
degree of unpredictability uncommon in more mature industrial markets. Oil prices still matter here. Water still matters here. Air quality regulation matters. Rail access matters. So does California politics. A change in environmental policy, trucking regulations, or agricultural economics can ripple through the industrial market surprisingly fast. That combination creates a market that feels simultaneously modern and old-fashioned. Institutional investors now pursue Bakersfield aggressively, yet local knowledge still carries enormous value. Massive national developers compete alongside local operators who know every parcel, every drainage issue, every farmer, every utility constraint, and every political undercurrent.

 

For newcomers, that is often the most surprising part. Bakersfield industrial real estate is not simply a smaller version of Los Angeles or the Inland Empire. It is its
own ecosystem entirely — one shaped equally by logistics, agriculture, oil, land economics, infrastructure, and relationships. And in a state where industrial development has become increasingly difficult, Bakersfield increasingly occupies a rare position: A place where California still has room to grow.

https://comms.cushwakedigital.com/brochure/VRXuT4mr328uflLrExYqgZTW59fdUl4udYnkP7blw8rwjMBxl1slMpspYj7LfNcO

By Faughn Economy • New Location • Quality of Life • Workforce 0 Comments

Meet the couple behind Tulare’s first Chick-fil-A

Brett McKinnon spent 19 years working for Chick-fil-A before becoming the first operator to open a location in the South Valley — a milestone he called “humbling and incredibly rewarding.”

McKinnon and his wife, Amber, previously worked as directors, a high-level management role, at a Chick-fil-A in South Carolina before setting their sights on the Central Valley.

Chick-fil-A doesn’t operate as a traditional franchise. The company owns its restaurant locations and equipment, and operators are selected through a competitive application and development process, with only a $10,000 upfront fee.

The McKinnons’ Tulare restaurant, located just off Highway 99 on East Cartmill Avenue, held its grand opening May 7, bringing the chain to a market it had not previously served.

To celebrate, the McKinnons and their team hosted a “Moove-In” party starting at 6:30 a.m. Customers dressed in a full cow costume or wearing cow-spotted accessories received a free entrée or kids meal.

Chick-fil-A is known for its fried chicken sandwiches, wraps, nuggets and tenders, made from a 60-year-old recipe. Its signature smoky Chick-fil-A sauce and waffle-cut fries are also popular menu items.

A Chick-fil-A location in Visalia is set to begin construction soon, to become Tulare County’s second location.

In honor of the new location, Chick-fil-A pledged to donate $25,000 to the Central California Food Bank, Central California’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties.

The new restaurant created around 120 jobs.

There are more than 3,000 Chick-fil-A locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, with plans to expand into Europe and Asia. California has about 200 locations. The Tulare restaurant is the fourth in the Central Valley, joining two in Fresno and one in Clovis.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/chick-fil-a-tulare-first-south-valley-location/

By Faughn Economy • Quality of Life 0 Comments

How many homes are getting built in Merced in 2026?

Homebuilding plays a critical role in maintaining a steady housing supply and keeping prices at sustainable levels. As the U.S. population grows, more housing is needed to meet demand. Since the Great Recession, construction has lagged well behind what is needed, which is one of the main reasons home prices are so high today.

Supply has slowly increased over the past few years but is still below what is needed for the market to balance out. Until that gap closes, prices are likely to remain elevated, and many buyers will likely struggle to afford a home.

So, how many homes are getting built in Merced, CA, in 2026? Is construction increasing or decreasing? Redfin Real Estate analyzed the seasonally-adjusted annual rate of housing permits issued in the city each month over the past year to find out. National permit data is a seasonally adjusted annual rate; metro-level permit data is the non-seasonally adjusted total number of permits issued per month.

https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/article312683467.html

By Faughn Data Center • Energy 0 Comments

Groundbreaking for big NAS Lemoore data center and energy project near | John Lindt

NAS Lemoore is expected to announce groundbreaking for construction of a new $1 billion data center, solar farm and battery storage project that has been proposed by the company Ameresco. The Massachusetts energy giant has a lease for 930 acres with the US Navy on land surrounding the Kings County base.

Ameresco has been working on the project since they bought the company Bright Canyon in 2023 who was talking to the Navy. Even before that, in 2016 the Navy and Recurrent Energy signed a lease agreement to build a 167-megawatt solar facility on the same 930 acres of land at Naval Air Station Lemoore in Kings County, before anyone dreamt of data centers.

So, will it finally happen?

“NAS Lemoore should be announcing soon (within the next couple of months) a ground breaking ceremony for this project,” reports Sarah Thrasher, public affairs officer at Naval Air Station Lemoore as of April 10.

Ameresco and their partner KKR-owned CyrusOne emphasized the data center part of the plan not mentioning solar but describing the project as an “AI-optimized data center to be — with a dedicated on-site energy generation facility built by Ameresco, forming a microgrid system that includes engine generators, control systems, and infrastructure upgrades.”

Last summer in a news release, the base executive officer said, “This initiative directly supports our national priorities in AI and energy dominance,” said NAS Lemoore Captain Jeffry Findlay. “By enabling secure, reliable power and compute infrastructure at NAS Lemoore, we’re strengthening our ability to support critical missions and ensure operational continuity for those who serve.”

An Ameresco news release said CyrusOne has been tapped to deliver the data center infrastructure, which will be part-based on the capabilities of its Intelliscale platform. The platform is designed for AI and high-density computing.

The project is expected to have a construction value of over $1 billion by one speculative estimate. The data center would employ 20 although the construction would need 400 workers. According to the 2023 EIR, the data center would be 600,000 square feet. When the formal announcement comes, we may know if these details are the same.

The lease of land has been around since 2015, passing through a number of private hands and now owned by Ameresco. A 2024 Supplemental EIR was done and is still on the base website saying the project includes 450MW of solar and” additional resilient energy systems (including electric vehicle charging stations, battery energy storage systems [BESS], and backup generation/microgrid.”

The big solar farm would join a dozen or so other big solar farms nearby including one being proposed by KKR-owned Avantus in the Buttonwillow area that is said to be the largest single solar project in California sprawling over both sides of I-5

Last September an Ameresco news release described the Navy project as follows.

The facility at NAS Lemoore will provide our federal customers with the secure, on-premise computing solution they need—paired with the resilience of onsite energy supply,” said John Hatem, EVP and CEO of CyrusOne. “Data centers are foundational to our information economy and critical to maintaining U.S. leadership in technological innovation, especially in AI. We’re proud to deliver this solution through our alliance with Ameresco.”

The first segment of the project is expected to come online in 2027 on land leased by Ameresco from the Department of Defense. The capacity of the data center and associated generation assets has not been disclosed. Ameresco has stated that, although the development agreements are still being finalized, it anticipates that it will be one of its largest energy assets.

“Ameresco is proud to develop energy infrastructure at NAS Lemoore that directly supports the growing demand for AI-ready data centers and related energy infrastructure,” said Nicole Bulgarino, president, Federal Solutions & Utility Infrastructure at Ameresco. “We look forward to working with the Navy and CyrusOne to develop this critical infrastructure that supports energy resiliency for the installation and meets the unique energy and reliability requirements of advanced AI data center workloads.”

A data center publication last summer pointed to the fact that the solar farm was not mentioned in the latest description.

News on the project first emerged back in October of last year, when it was reported that the Navy was working on a deal to lease 920 acres of land around Naval Air Station Lemoore to Ameresco.

According to reports, Ameresco was planning to construct a 425MW solar farm, which would have supplied power to an on-site data center. No news of a solar array was mentioned in the release announcing the partnership with the US Navy and CyrusOne.

One theory might be that the change in administrations and their priorities prompted Ameresco to emphasize the data center aspect of the project while downplaying the renewable power that will allow it to operate. President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to utility-scale solar and wind projects even as data center developers scramble to find power sources needed for these energy-hungry AI related centers.

Data centers are known to be water thirsty as well, an issue that will need to be addressed. One estimate is that large data centers can consume 1 to 5 million gallons of water daily for cooling, equivalent to a town of 10,000–50,000 people.