By Faughn Economy • Quality of Life 0 Comments

Madera County approves $130 million Highway 41 expansion

MADERA, Calif. (FOX26) — Eastern Madera County’s rapid growth is set to bring major changes to one of the region’s busiest routes, after county leaders approved a sweeping expansion of Highway 41.

In a unanimous vote, the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved the widening of Highway 41 between Avenue 10 and Avenue 15 to four lanes in what was called the largest public works expansion project ever for the county.

The project carries a $130 million price tag. The expansion also includes a new southbound bridge over Avenue 11, a new signal at Avenue 12, and modifications to the existing signal at Avenue 15. Construction and inspection bids were awarded to California Construction Management and Engineering Inc. and Yarbs Grading and Paving Inc.

The project is expected to break ground in May and is scheduled for completion in May 2028.

No existing lanes will be blocked off during construction.

Funding for the project is covered by road impact fees, a federal grant, discretionary federal funds, and property tax revenue from housing and commercial developments along the corridor.

https://kmph.com/news/local/madera-county-approves-130-million-highway-41-expansion?mc_cid=3bbcf9f830&mc_eid=c4726fd3b7

By Faughn Economy • Workforce 0 Comments

Fresno staffing firm partners with EDC to place workers at no cost to employers

Denham Resources, a leading staffing and human resources consulting firm in Fresno, has partnered with the Fresno County Economic Development Corp. to give local employers access to pre-screened employees at no wage cost.

The SEEN (Social Enterprise Employment Network) is a public-private collaboration between the Fresno EDC and Social Finance, a national nonprofit and investment advisor. SEEN is launching across Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties.

The program pairs employers with job-ready workers for up to 90 days at no wage cost. Employers maintain full control over training, supervision and hiring decisions. Denham Resources was selected through a competitive request for proposal process to lead employer placements for the program. The SEEN program is launching with its first 10 candidates and is limited to a total of 90 participants.

Candidates entering the program are screened through partners with Employment Social Enterprise, a grant initiative aimed at designing, developing and implementing programs that promote job training opportunities and transitional employment. Candidates are personally interviewed, assessed and matched by Denham Resources.

Participants receive job readiness training, hands-on work experience and ongoing support before and during placement. Wages are funded through the program, and payroll, taxes and workers’ compensation are handled by Denham Resources. Employers provide supervision, training and day-to-day direction. The goal of the SEEN program is to create a pathway to long-term, unsubsidized employment—ideally with the host employer.

Joe Denham, vice president of Denham Resources, said the RFP process started last August, and they placed their first candidate in December. Denham Resources has about 20 candidates available. About half are placed with employers. The goal is to place 90 people with employers by December. Participating organizations include Fresno Area Community Enterprises, Hope Now For Youth, Goodwill Industries of San Joaquin Valley, Neighborhood Industries, Reading and Beyond, The Light House Women’s Recovery Center and others. The program provides significant cost savings to employers, he said.

“Other programs that have been like this—you have to pay the people and submit for reimbursement, which can take a long time and hassles and paperwork,” Denham said. “This is unique that they’re running it like a temporary service. It’s a lot more streamlined and easier for companies.”

The program serves people facing barriers to employment, including justice system-involved individuals, long-term unemployed, older workers, people with disabilities and veterans. Initial placements will prioritize roles in professional and financial services, transportation, distribution and logistics, manufacturing and construction.

Denham will provide behavioral-based interview and candidate matching, skills testing tailored to the employer, culture and fit evaluation, ongoing follow-up and support for up to four years. Denham said they are trying to avoid minimum wage positions and are looking for placements that are good for people in the long run. Denham said the firm chose to enroll in the program to continue their involvement with the community.

“Having a good job can change a person’s life generationally,” Denham said. “It’s very exciting to be a part of this because it’s what we do with our normal work, but with the added benefit of really changing people’s lives.”

https://thebusinessjournal.com/fresno-staffing-firm-partners-with-edc-to-place-workers-at-no-cost-to-employers/

By Faughn Economy 0 Comments

‘Future is bright’ according to 2026 State of Tulare County address

Tulare County leaders highlighted steady financial growth, modernization efforts and major investments in infrastructure, public safety and health services during the county’s 2026 State of the County address.

In her speech, Board of Supervisors Chair Amy Shuklian praised the commitment and dedication of her colleagues on the board and those who work closely with them, as well as county department heads and staff.

“I am confident that because of your leadership and commitment, the county’s future is bright,” she said. “While the state of California faces an uncertain future, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors remains committed to disciplined and responsible budgeting.”

The county’s net assessed roll (total taxable property value) grew by 6% over the year, adding $3 billion and bringing the total to nearly $53 billion, according to Shuklian.

She went on to tout the accomplishments of in 2025 and preview what residents can look forward to in 2026.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/future-is-bright-according-to-2026-state-of-tulare-county-address/ar-AA1XzRgV?ocid=BingNewsSerp

By Faughn Economy 0 Comments

Ownership Culture: How ESOPs are helping Valley businesses attract, keep top talent

The competition for skilled employees has pushed employers to rethink what they offer. Health benefits, paid time off and flexible schedules have become table stakes. Increasingly, what separates a company that retains its best people from one that watches them walk out the door is something more fundamental: a stake in the business itself.

That shift is driving renewed interest in employee stock ownership plans, or ESOPs — a retirement and ownership structure that allows employees to accumulate company stock over time. For business owners in the San Joaquin Valley, ESOPs are emerging not just as a succession planning vehicle, but as a strategic tool for workforce development and long-term competitiveness.

What is an ESOP?

An ESOP is a qualified contribution plan — structured as a stock bonus plan or a combined stock bonus and money purchase plan — in which a company sets aside shares for employee benefit. Employer stock is purchased and allocated to individual participant accounts. When employees retire or leave, they can receive their distribution in cash or shares, which are then sold back to the ESOP.

Plans generally take one of two forms. In a nonleveraged ESOP, the employer contributes cash directly to the plan, which uses it to purchase company stock. In a leveraged ESOP, the plan borrows funds from a bank or other lender, with the employer guaranteeing the loan or committing to pay dividends, make contributions or both.

The scale of ESOP adoption nationally reflects growing employer interest. According to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, 309 new ESOPs were reported in 2023 — the most recent year for which data is available — adding 55,663 active participants. In total, 6,609 plans were identified as ESOPs in the United States, holding total assets of over $2 trillion.

Local momentum

The Valley’s business community has not been slow to take notice. Local companies operating under ESOP structures include Geil Enterprises, Horn Photo, Span Construction, engineering firm 4Creeks, FFB Bank, Teter Architects, and Swinerton Inc.

The most recent addition to that list is Milano Restaurants International, the Fresno-based parent company of Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria, Me-n’-Ed’s Victory Grill, Blast & Brew, and Piazza del Pane. In late February, the company announced a newly established ESOP that enables employees to earn shares of company stock over time as tax-deferred retirement wealth.

“This structure will only make the Company even more efficient, innovative and responsive to meet our customers’ needs,” said CEO John Ferdinandi. “This is about more than ownership; it’s about creating a culture where every team member feels invested in our shared future.”

A changing workforce calculus

Deborah Nankivell, CEO of the Fresno Stewardship Foundation — a nonprofit with a mission to promote inclusive prosperity and wellbeing in the San Joaquin for present and future generations — sees the ESOP trend as part of a broader shift in how employers must think about talent.

“People are starting to realize if you do human development intentionally, more people will stay with you,” Nankivell said. “Even if they leave, it adds to the talent pool in your community, which also benefits you.”

Nankivell notes that each generation brings different strengths and expectations to the workplace, and younger workers in particular are looking for partnership, life-work balance and a sense that their contributions matter beyond a paycheck. She has also observed a broader diversification of the regional economy, with workers increasingly motivated to add value to the communities where they live — not just the companies that employ them.

Younger employees, she adds, are skeptical of the economic models that defined prior generations of business leadership. “For them and in business schools it’s all about the single bottom line and the shareholders,” Nankivell said. “How did that work out? People with a 401K or who want cheap consumer goods are happy, but people who want peace in the neighborhood — not so much.”

For entrepreneurs who want a profitable business that also adds value to the community, Nankivell argues the logic of ESOP structures is compelling: when a business performs, the people who built that performance share in the reward.

What business owners should know

Nankivell acknowledges that the specifics of an ESOP structure will look different depending on the size and ownership model of the business — whether it’s a small independent, a family-owned enterprise or a larger corporate entity. The values and vision of the leadership team matter as much as the mechanics.

In her experience, business owners become more motivated to explore the ESOP model once they see it working elsewhere and begin asking, “what’s in it for me?” Some may not be aware of the opportunity at all until they watch one of their best employees leave for a company that already has one.

Her advice to owners considering the transition is to start by listening — to employees, to advisors and especially to other business owners who have already made the move.

“The old model of ‘top-down, don’t mess with me because I said so’ — that’s done,” Nankivell said. “Leaders need to be humble, they need to listen, learn, hold people accountable and at the same time accept that human beings need grace.”

The best information, she says, doesn’t come from a white paper or a consultant’s pitch deck. It comes from the people who have been through it. “The best information is not an idea, but experience from the people who have done it,” Nankivell said.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/ownership-culture-how-esops-are-helping-valley-businesses-attract-keep-top-talent/

By Faughn Economy • New Developments 0 Comments

Executives offer upbeat outlook during review of projects at Castle

While the future of High Speed Rail in Merced has been a topic of debate among leaders, supporters and critics in recent weeks, county officials and company executives are pointing to progress happening right now at an existing transportation hub for the region and beyond: the Castle Commerce Center. 

Corporate leaders of three major firms making investments at the former Air Force base flew in to take part in a “year-in-review” presentation to the Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. 

They spoke in glowing terms of Castle as a “mobility center” that’s taking part in groundbreaking automotive and hybrid aircraft testing, growing strategic investments at the airport, and placing railroad tracks into the ground — with more on the way — to expand an inland port project that’s already moving locally grown produce to faraway destinations by way of intermodal freight transportation. 

“Castle’s original mission was as a training field, and it supported national priorities,” said Brett Roubinek, president and CEO of Transportation Research Center. “Today, the legacy continues. It remains a training and proving ground, and it’s focused on the future of mobility. As advanced air mobility (AAM) and advanced ground mobility (AGM) converge, Castle has a unique advantage.”

AMM is a new concept of air transportation using electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to move people and cargo between places. AGM refers to smart cars with autonomous driving technology. 

The TRC company is closing in on five years at Castle, and Roubinek said they have conducted nearly 78,000 hours of testing on a 225-acre, custom-built urban landscape site. He said the company has 124 employees and supported 198 jobs in Merced County, and created an economic impact of $43.9 million for the region. The effort was boosted by a $6.5 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), as well as another $6.1 million invested by TRC and its clients. 

Next up, Rob Thrall, the senior vice president of business development for Patriot Rail, pointed to another CalSTA grant — this one to the tune of $49.6 million awarded to Merced County in 2023 to build out an “inland port” at Castle to support green energy initiatives and reduced truck traffic across the state. 

Thrall called it a “game changer.” 

“This is going to change transportation in Merced County,” he said, adding that his rail and freight operation at Castle is already partnering with the Port of Los Angeles and a growing number of Central Valley growers. 

He said the funding will provide critical infrastructure as they develop 203 acres of railpark, including 700,000 square feet of wherehouse space, and 85 acres of transload and laydown space. 

In 2024, Patriot Rail acquired Hydra Logistics for a 16-acre site at Castle for transloading and warehousing purposes. They’ve also constructed a dock facility with a portable ramp. Thrall said customers include agricultural companies such as Morningstar out of Los Banos, as well as the global firm Goodpack. He added that Patriot Rail has worked with the nearby BNSF Railroad to expand interchange service from two days to five days. 

Regarding Castle Airport, and one of the longest runways in the West, the co-owner of KT Aero spoke about his company’s role as a Fixed-Base Operatior (FBO), which provides essential services, such as fueling and line maintenance, to general aviation, private and corporate aircraft. 

“2025 has been a fantastic first year for KT Aero,” said co-owner Diego Duran. “We’ve had quite a bit of operational improvements, upgrades to our facilities, and we really took a look at our pricing strategy. We feel now that Castle is positioned as a professional asset to the community, and to the larger aviation community.”

The company has a staff of four employess who support daily airfield operations, including three full-time line servce technicians and one operations manager. Duran said they have made more than $250,000 of renovations and improvements, and even purchased a six-person golf cart for clients to drive throughout Castle and to the Air Museum that’s quite a walk from the airport terminal. He added that KT Aero has lowered fuel prices, improved customer service, and increased coordination between management, tenants, and visiting operators — all to attract to more air traffic to Castle, as well as bring positive attention to Merced County. 

Merced County Fire Chief Chris Trinidade was also invited to speak on growing Cal Fire operations at Castle.  

He talked about the onsite Cal Fire facility that is bringing in more than 1,200 trainees per year and making a significant local economic impact. The Cal Fire Mariposa-Madera-Merced Unit has also moved its administration to Castle, bringing with it some 30 to 40 onsite staff. The overall Cal Fire presence represents $50 million worth of investment and economic growth at Castle, he said. 

Trinidade added that bringing a Cal Fire air program to Castle remains a goal. “If I was king for a day with Cal Fire, and I could move around aircraft in this state, I’d be moving our C-130 program to Castle.”

Mark Mimms, the county’s community and economic development director, rounded out the presentation by taking note of Castle as a growing cultural and entertainment center. He said individual events held at the Commerce Center brought in some 40,000 visitors in 2025, including 20,000 that attended the Luke Bryan concert on the airport tarmac last May.   

He said 2026 will bring in the construction of a new administration office and warehouse for M-Mig construction, new testing grounds for autonomous planes, new investment from FFA for the airport, and the launching of a new Worknet site aimed at bringing employers and potential workers together through networking services, interview opportunities, and job fairs. 

Board Supervisors Lloyd Pareira, Scott Silveira and Josh Pedrozo singled out their colleague Supervisor Daron McDaniel for his leadership in making Castle a priority for investment and development. McDaniel represents District 3, which includes the Castle Commerce Center. He is also running for re-election to a fourth term in office. His opponent, candidate Luis Lara, has been critical about the pace and direction of development at Castle, particulary for the airport, and has called for making job-creation a priority. 

Supervisor Pareira recalled that when he first came to the board nine years ago, McDaniel was already “driving the converation” about Castle. 

“I’m on the ad-hoc committee with him, and it’s just been fun to watch this all develop,” Pareira said. “10 short years. Quite a bit has happened.” 

Supervisor Silveira said that he feels fortunate that investments made by the county over the past decade are now starting to pay off during his time on the board. However, the District 5 representative also said the county needs to take the momentum and create a renewed focus on economic development “for the rest of the county.” 

“There are things out on the West Side. There’s things out in the Planada and Le Grand area. … Now that Castle’s kind of standing up on its own, growing up. It’s in its teenage years. It’s not a toddler anymore. We’re able to take that effort throughout our community, and the economic development department can focus on those areas.”

Supervisor McDaniel was the last to comment, and he gave a lengthy an upbeat description of the progress of Castle since he started on the board in 2015.  

“I said, ‘Let’s be the best in the world at what we’re currently doing.’ And that was our goal from that point forward. And we saw opportunities grow from there.”

Including at the airport, he added. 

“Let’s understand, the airfield had always been our focus. And we always wanted to grow the airfield. And it was a struggle because we had all these grand ideas to grow the airfield for everything else. But every study we did, and everybody we talked to, they kept putting up barriers. But we continue to work towards it. And I think we’re finding our niche.”

https://mercedcountytimes.com/executives-offer-upbeat-outlook-during-review-of-projects-at-castle/

By Faughn Economy • Tourism 0 Comments

Fresno airport gets $3.15M federal boost as passenger numbers hit record high

Rep. Jim Costa announced Thursday that $3.15 million in federal funding has been secured for Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), providing the City of Fresno funds to plan and design infrastructure improvements enhancing airport services.

The funding was granted through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Airport Improvement Program brings the total federal funding secured by Costa for FAT to more than $85 million in recent years, helping develop key infrastructure improvements including expanded terminal service, dining and retail services, public art and enhanced parking.

“I’m proud to continue that work with this latest $3.15 million in FY26 funding,” Costa said, adding that the investment will help design and plan the future of the airport. Building on past Community Project Funding and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants, these resources strengthen regional connectivity and fuel economic growth that benefits families across the Central Valley.”

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer expressed gratitude for Costa’s continued passion in driving funds to the airport, adding that with each development comes new jobs, improved passenger experience and long-term growth potential.

“Our airport has been growing steadily, and this investment allows us to build on that momentum,” Dyer wrote in a news release Thursday. “The result will be improved travel options, new jobs, and a stronger local economy.”

Fresno Yosemite International Airport enjoyed a record-breaking year for travel in 2025, surpassing 2.7 million passengers and has recently seen expanded growth featuring local businesses in its terminal with the opening of Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co., earlier this week and plans for future expansion featuring local business in the future.

“Securing this federal funding helps to support Fresno Yosemite International Airport in advancing infrastructure projects that expand regional connectivity and strengthen economic vitality,” said Interim Director of Aviation Francisco Partida. “These projects deliver a world-class airport that meets the needs of our community and supports continued progress.”

https://thebusinessjournal.com/fresno-airport-gets-3-15m-federal-boost-as-passenger-numbers-hit-record-high/

By Faughn Economy • New Developments 0 Comments

$22M Vallarta lease tops Central Valley deals

A $22.2 million retail lease at Visalia’s Eastgate Plaza topped the Central Valley’s commercial real estate deals in 2025 — part of a year dominated by industrial warehouses and big-box retail as office properties were a nonfactor. Industrial and retail properties dominated the Largest Commercial Real Estate Transactions list (see pages 8-9) in the Central Valley in 2025, according to the broker survey of transactions from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

Last year’s highest-dollar transaction was the $22.2 million retail lease signed by Vallarta Supermarkets at Eastgate Plaza in Visalia, which covers over 53,000 square feet. The retail center at 600 S. Lovers Lane will have seven buildings that include the supermarket, two retail stores, a carwash, two drive-thru restaurants and one drive-thru coffee house. The new Vallarta store would be 53,000 square feet with one co-anchored store with 26,000 square feet.

Close behind Eastgate Plaza was a $22 million industrial lease at Riggin Avenue in Visalia, spanning over 202,000 square feet. The two Visalia transactions highlight the Central Valley’s focus on large-format retail centers and industrial facilities.

Warehouse and industrial sales also were among 2025’s largest deals. A $21.5 million sale at 1467 E. Dinuba Ave. of the former Prima Wawona packinghouse in Reedley scaled more than 360,000 square feet, making it the largest industrial sale by area. Other large industrial transactions included a $9 million sale in Clovis and multiple leases in Visalia and Fresno over 100,000 square feet.

Retail leasing and sales continued to be active across Fresno and Tulare counties. Transactions included a $13.2 million lease on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno and a $9.9 million lease on Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Several retail sales ranging from $7 million to $5 million occurred in Fresno, Porterville, Bakersfield and Lemoore, showing continued turnover in established shopping corridors.

Office properties represented a smaller share of the year’s top transactions but remained present in higher-end submarkets. A $16.8 million office lease in north Fresno’s River Park ranked among the largest office deals, while a $6 million deal on Divisadero Street was another large sale.

Land sales appeared throughout the list, mainly in Fresno and Visalia.

Parcels ranging from around 10 to more than 40 acres traded at prices between $3 million and $7.2 million, indicating continued positioning for future development tied to industrial, retail and mixed-use projects. Across the full ranking, industrial and retail properties accounted for the majority of total transaction value, both in sales and long-term leases. The largest deals tended to cluster in Fresno and Visalia, with additional high-dollar transactions in Reedley, Clovis, Porterville, Bakersfield and Madera.

In 2024, retail made up six out of the top ten most expensive transactions.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/22m-vallarta-lease-tops-central-valley-deals/

By Faughn Economy 0 Comments

Tulare County Economic Forecast: Cities sprouting business seeds

From the grand opening of mom-and-pop shops in the revitalized downtown Tulare region to the groundbreaking and celebration for one of the region’s biggest entertainment venues, Tulare County looks to build on successes from 2025, carrying that momentum and motivation into 2026 and beyond.

Tulare growth

The City of Tulare saw its downtown region undergo revitalization in 2025, efforts that build upon the city’s focus in expanding opportunities for local businesses, building momentum for additional economic growth, with room to expand going into 2026.

The recent grand openings of Tulare Supreme Cabinet & Granite and The 26th Hour — a new “speakeasy” venue in downtown Tulare, speak to the broad-scope growth and variance in business the region has seen and hopes to see moving forward. Tulare Chamber of Commerce CEO Donette Silva said that two grant programs, as well as the Taste Program — a grant-program targeted at restaurant development — have helped grow the region significantly and hope to continue that growth moving forward.

“We have interest from others that are looking at the downtown area,” she said, adding that, aside from downtown expansion and growth opportunities, large-scale retailers have shown interest in the city as well.


Grassroots effort

She credited some of the growth — the development of a new Save Mart Supermarket, expected to open in 2027 — to former Tulare City Councilmember Greg Nunley and his family, who have worked to attract the retailer to the region.

“We’re excited to partner with The Save Mart Companies to deliver a high-quality shopping experience for Tulare families,” Nunley said in a news release earlier this year. “The Nunley Family extends their gratitude to everyone for their dedication and collaboration in making this project possible.”

Tulare has also attracted big brand names Chick-fil-A and McDonalds to the Mooney Boulevard corridor as well, furthering opportunities for investment into the community.

Tulare also saw the first successful concert season at the newly completed Adventist Health Amphitheater at Zumwalt Park, something that Silva said not only attracts concertgoers, but encourages them to stop and spend money, further stimulating the region’s economic footprint. The venue has teased its 2026 calendar on its website, with the hope that its second season proves as successful as its first which saw headliners Los Lobos, Dokken and A Flock of Seagulls perform, among other local up-and-coming artists.

Visalia on the rise

The City of Visalia also has an eye on 2026, in particular in industrial logistics, retail growth and infrastructure preparation.

As the Visalia Industrial Park — a $130 million project that seeks to connect Visalia to Highway 99 and improve travel in the region — nears completion, large parcels of land will become available for development.

Building off a strong 2025, the city will continue its focus on expansion in 2026, with zoning/infill incentive programs in place, and a new project tracker website, where infrastructure projects can be tracked individually.

In 2026, Visalia aims to transition from foundation-building to execution, aiming to stimulate economic growth through years of continued pre-development for future projects that look to come to fruition in the coming years.


World Ag Expo leadership

The International Agri Center’s World Ag Expo is under the leadership of a new show chairman, and the global event hopes to see an even larger turnout in 2026.

Now under the leadership of Tulare native Ron Clark, the 2026 show theme, “Grounds for Innovation” will seek to highlight the event space, featuring cutting-edge ag technology on display for both visitors and prospective buyers.

The 2025 expo saw more than 100,000 visitors from 49 states and 80 countries, with the 2026 show hoping to surpass those numbers. Tulare Chamber’s Silva said that between 80-90% of exhibitor space has already been reserved for this year’s show.

“Our team is hard at work preparing for next year’s show,” said International Agri-Center CEO Jerry Sinift. “We are happy to continue providing a place for the agriculture community to connect, learn, and grow.”

In addition to next year’s expo, the space around the International Agri Center hopes to undergo major expansion over the next several years; Silva said that conversations have been underway with businesses interested in the over 300 acres of space near the center, adding that the real estate is perfect for not only vendors and store owners, but also hoteliers looking to capitalize on the annual event’s popularity, as well as the attractions of local national parks and other tourism-driven enterprises.

For visitors who come from California, traveling is also expected to become easier over the next several years, with infrastructure improvements to Highway 99 expected to be completed in 2027, with some parts, including sections of freeway near the Agri Center, slated to open as soon as next year.


Wheels up, chips down

This year has brought with it a rise in community investment and business growth for the Porterville community, with that investment paying dividends in anticipated growth in the upcoming year.

City of Porterville Development Associate Magdalena Salazar said that the city’s combined addition of new retail, housing, tourism assets, workforce programs and infrastructure modernization will create a strong foundation for continued economic growth in 2026 and beyond. She highlighted the work the city has done in 2025 along Henderson Avenue, Main Street and Riverwalk Marketplace.

“Porterville’s continued progress reflects strong collaboration among the City, the Tule River Tribe, local organizations, and the business community,” she said. “The City’s commitment to business-friendly processes, community investment, beautification efforts, and quality-of-life improvements is positioning Porterville as one of the most promising growth areas in the Central Valley.”

Construction on Eagle Mountain Casino’s hotel broke ground in 2025 and will continue throughout 2026, driving the future of the casino and the Tule River Tribe’s vision to revitalize the casino’s footprint in the Valley. Upon completion in 2027, the 250-room hotel and expanded entertainment center will support up to 1,000 jobs, driving additional tourism to the region.

The casino relocated to within city limits in 2023, phase one of a three-phase project that looks to build on the legacy and success of the tribal gaming center.

Nearby, the Porterville Municipal Airport is undergoing a multi-year upgrade project, including a $4.44 million taxiway project that will allow larger airport operations and support additional aviation-based businesses to the city. This year will also see the addition of the Henderson Commercial Project, a 92,000 square-foot retail center including a grocery store, drive-thru restaurants and a 24-hour pharmacy. Approved late this year, the project will bring a slew of new jobs to the Highway 65 corridor.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/tulare-county-economic-forecast-cities-sprouting-business-seeds/

By Faughn Economy • Quality of Life 0 Comments

Ribbon cut on Hanford’s new transportation hub

With the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday afternoon, the new Kings Area Regional Transit  Center is finally a reality. The $31 million investment in the county’s public transportation is now within a couple of months from starting bus service from this location in the heart of Downtown Hanford.

Speakers at the ceremony included Kings County Area Public Transit Agency (KCAPTA) Chairman Joe Neves, California State Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, California State  Senator Melissa Hurtado, Congressman David Valadao’s representative Rachel Clement and KCAPTA Director Angie Dow.

The main transit building covers 19,000 square feet, while the outdoor Bus Bay and outdoor waiting area is a massive 61,000 square feet. The entire four-acre site covers a massive 174,000 square feet within the bounds of Seventh Street to the south, Eighth Street to the north, Harris Street to the west and Brown Street to the east.

https://hanfordsentinel.com/business/ribbon-cut-on-hanfords-new-transportation-hub/collection_d9c2853b-ad05-4745-923d-a8790cf8196f.html#2