By Faughn Distribution • E-Commerce • Logistics • Uncategorized 0 Comments

MAJOR GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY ACQUIRES 1.1 MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY AT WONDERFUL LOGISTICS CENTER

Transaction expands buyer’s footprint at Wonderful Logistics Center to more than three million square feet

SHAFTER, CA, September 14, 2026 – The Wonderful Company has announced that its Wonderful Real Estate business has completed the sale of 5104 Express Avenue to a major global technology and e-commerce company. The newly constructed 1,088,047-square-foot, Class A industrial facility is located at the Wonderful Logistics Center in Shafter, Calif. and marks the buyer’s third location at the 2,000-acre, fully entitled, master-planned logistics and distribution campus, bringing its owned and leased footprint to more than 3 million square feet.

“Global operators continue to choose Wonderful Logistics Center because we are a model within the state and the country that offers something fundamentally different. Nowhere else is there a master-planned logistics hub that brings together large-scale distribution, workforce and community development, and the future of clean freight infrastructure,” said Joe Vargas, president of Wonderful Real Estate. “This buyer’s continued investment validates the strength of Wonderful Logistics Center as one of California’s leading models for responsible logistics and durable economic growth that benefits businesses, workers and communities alike.”

More than 17 million square feet of warehouses are in operation at Wonderful Logistics Center today, supporting 23 tenants, including multiple Fortune 100 companies, and approximately 13,000 jobs—more than half of Kern County’s logistics workforce. 5104 Express Avenue was developed on a speculative basis to accommodate large-scale distribution and manufacturing users. It features a 40-foot clear height, 216 dock-high doors, two grade-level doors, 455 automobile parking spaces and 939 trailer stalls. Cushman & Wakefield Executive Vice Chairman Phil Lombardo, Vice Chair Andrew Starnes and Senior Director Cruise Adams represented the seller, while KBC Advisors Partner Colin MacMillan represented the buyer during negotiations for 5104 Express Avenue.

Last year, the buyer also partnered with Bakersfield College and The Wonderful Company to launch a 12-week Mechatronics & Robotics Apprenticeship program for U.S. employees at the on-site Wonderful Career Center, providing hands-on, SACA-certified training to prepare employees for skilled technical roles and career advancement. To date, more than 100 student employees have graduated from the program and entered year-long apprenticeships before they transition into mid-level technical roles at the company.

Wonderful Logistics Center continues to advance a long-term vision for a fully integrated logistics and goods movement ecosystem. Reflecting more than 30 years of master-planning and coordinated development, Wonderful Logistics Center leverages its strategic location to reduce transportation costs, improve supply chain efficiency and lower emissions. The campus includes an operational inland container depot supporting major ocean carriers, with capacity for up to 34,000 containers at full buildout. Wonderful Logistics Center is also working with public- and private-sector partners to develop a zero-emission truck corridor connecting the ports to Shafter, and the center will introduce California’s first inland rail terminal in 2027, offering both domestic and international service. Together, these investments will help reduce roadway congestion and diesel emissions, delivering meaningful community benefits while strengthening Shafter’s role as a global trade gateway.

“California’s economic growth depends on a more efficient goods movement system,” Vargas added. “We continue to develop best-in-class facilities that leverage our scale, speed to market and transportation connectivity, while investing opportunities that help neighboring communities thrive in the long-term.”

About Wonderful Logistics Center

Wonderful Logistics Center is a 2,000-acre, fully entitled, master-planned logistics and distribution campus located in Shafter, California, approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles. With more than 17 million square feet completed and operating across 23 tenant companies, Wonderful Logistics Center accommodates facilities ranging from 100,000 square feet to more than 2 million square feet for leading companies across retail, e-commerce, food, manufacturing and logistics. Located near Highway 99, Interstate 5 and Highway 58, Wonderful Logistics Center’s advanced transportation network includes BNSF mainline connectivity, onsite rail infrastructure, an operational inland container depot, a developing zero-emission truck corridor and an inland rail terminal expected to begin domestic and international service in early 2027. Onsite resources include the Wonderful Career Center, La Cocina restaurant and shared event space, with a new health clinic expected to open in fall 2027. These amenities support employees, local residents and the broader Shafter community.

For more information, visit www.wonderfullogisticscenter.com.

About Wonderful Real Estate

Wonderful Real Estate is a professional real estate development and property management company owned by The Wonderful Company that develops, manages and invests in a diversified portfolio of real estate, with a particular focus on office and industrial properties. Leveraging over 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, Wonderful and its affiliates currently have over 10 million square feet of real estate holdings, consisting of owner-occupied industrial and commercial real estate for its operating businesses and approximately 7 million square feet of actively managed office and industrial properties occupied by third parties located mainly in Southern and Central California.

Wonderful Real Estate and its affiliates have invested almost $2 billion since 2008 in commercial real estate development, facility improvements, processing equipment and real estate acquisitions. Wonderful and its affiliates are also currently developing three business parks totaling over 1,865 acres for office and industrial use in California’s Central Valley, several parcels of which have already been sold or leased to Fortune 500 companies and other high-quality anchor tenants.

About The Wonderful Company 

The Wonderful Company is a privately held $6 billion company committed to offering high-quality, healthy brands and helping consumers make better choices, every day.

The company grows, harvests, bottles, packages, and markets a diverse range of products, including fruits, nuts, flowers, water, wines and juices. It is the world’s leading grower of tree nuts and America’s largest citrus grower. In addition to Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, Wonderful Citrus, and POM Wonderful, its brands include FIJI Water, the world’s largest flower delivery service Teleflora, and JUSTIN, Landmark and Lewis Cellars wines.

 

Media Contacts:

Erin Poulson Morris

Senior Director of Business Development, Wonderful Real Estate

erin.poulson.morris@wonderful.com

Alison Day

Manager of External Communications, The Wonderful Company

alison.day@wonderful.com

By Faughn Distribution • Logistics • Uncategorized 0 Comments

2 Major deals in one week

Sept 17, 2026

Bakersfield is having a major industrial moment.

Two announcements this week make the opportunity especially clear:

Amazon has acquired a newly constructed 1,088,047-square-foot Class A distribution facility at Wonderful Logistics Center in Shafter. The building includes 40-foot clear height, 216 dock-high doors, hundreds of trailer stalls and expandable 4,000-amp electrical service.

This is Amazon’s third location at the logistics center, bringing its total footprint there to more than 3 million square feet. The campus now exceeds 17 million square feet of operating warehouse space, with 23 tenants and approximately 13,000 jobs.

At the same time, Ross Stores selected Bakersfield for a new 1.75-million-square-foot processing and distribution center near East Belle Terrace and Mount Vernon Avenue. The project represents approximately $500 million in investment and is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs.

From a broker’s perspective, these announcements send a powerful message:

Bakersfield and Shafter are no longer simply competing for industrial users. We are competing successfully for major institutional capital, national logistics operators and long-term corporate commitments.

The fundamentals are compelling:

• Strategic access to Highways 99 and 58, I-5 and major California markets • Available land for large-scale industrial development • Lower occupancy and operating costs compared with many coastal markets • A growing labor force and substantial employment base • Proven infrastructure and an expanding logistics ecosystem • Local leadership willing to streamline development and collaborate with users

These projects will create demand far beyond the buildings themselves—including truck terminals, IOS yards, suppliers, packaging companies, maintenance operations, automation providers, cold storage, food-related users and smaller logistics facilities.

For developers, landowners and investors, the takeaway is simple:

The time to study Bakersfield is before the next wave of demand fully arrives—not after every major parcel has been absorbed.

Bakersfield is building momentum, and the market is increasingly proving that it can support large-scale industrial investment.

Exciting news for Bakersfield and the entire Central Valley.

Source: Eric Powers (7) 2 MAJOR DEALS IN 1 WEEK… BAKERSFIELD, CA. | LinkedIn

By Faughn Distribution • Logistics • New Location 0 Comments

AGCO Opens Advanced Parts Distribution Center in Visalia, Calif., Expanding Parts Availability for Western U.S. Farmers

The 115,000-square-foot facility more than doubles AGCO’s West Coast parts capacity, putting more critical parts within fast reach of dealers and farmers.

AGCO  will open a new, expanded Parts Distribution Center in Visalia, Calif., on September 1, 2026, significantly increasing the range of parts stocked for farmers and dealers across the western United States. Located in the heart of West Coast agriculture, the modern facility replaces AGCO’s existing Visalia location and is designed to improve parts availability, accelerate delivery times and strengthen service for farmers and dealers across the western United States. A grand opening of the facility is planned for the first quarter of 2027.

“We reimagined every step of how parts move, from receiving to shipping, and built the systems to match, including advanced automation, smarter forecasting and a deeper local inventory,” said Stefan Caspari, Senior Vice President, Customer Success and North American Ag, AGCO. “For our dealers and farmers, this means more of the parts they need are on the shelf and closer to home, giving them greater confidence that the right part will be there when it matters most.”

The new 115,000-square-foot distribution center, visible from the Golden State Highway, more than doubles the size of AGCO’s operation in the region. Expanded stocking capacity, advanced warehouse automation and improved forecasting will enable AGCO to stock a broader range of high-demand parts closer to customers. Strategically located in California’s Central Valley, the center will support dealers and farmers across the western United States and AGCO’s full brand portfolio, including Fendt™ and Massey Ferguson™.

AGCO dealers like Pat O’Neill, VP, Ag & Lift of Quinn Company are excited about the benefits the new center will bring their customers. “A parts center of this caliber in our backyard is a game changer,” said O’Neill. “AGCO stocking more parts closer to home means we can get farmers the parts they need the same day, a real win for growers across California and the entire West Coast.”

The facility reflects a long-term investment in AGCO’s Farmer-First strategy and its growth across North America. AGCO designed the operation from the ground up, leveraging advanced storage systems, specialized material handling equipment and digital infrastructure to support the region’s needs and AGCO’s e-commerce growth for more than 20 years. The facility features vertical lift modules; high-density, narrow-aisle racking; dedicated storage for oversized components; rooftop solar power; and electric vehicle charging stations.

The Visalia project took shape over four years of network analysis, design and collaboration across AGCO’s global organization, making it one of the most advanced parts facilities in the company. Its opening on September 1 lays the foundation for AGCO’s continued growth across the western United States.

https://investors.agcocorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/agco-opens-advanced-parts-distribution-center-visalia-calif?utm_source=chatgpt.com

By Faughn Economy • Logistics • New Developments 0 Comments

CA HSR maintenance site, and jobs, meeting in Hanford.

California High Speed Rail Authority says to to keep the 500-mile California high-speed rail system running smoothly, operations and maintenance facilities will be located along the route between  San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim.
Each type of facility will perform a distinct role in  maintaining rail infrastructure, servicing trains and supporting safe and reliable passenger operations.
Maintenance activities will operate 24 hours a day across three overlapping shifts, with most  major work occurring overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to minimize effects on train operations.
One Heavy Maintenance Facility (HMF) will serve as the primary location for inspections, servicing,  maintenance, overhaul and major component replacement for the high-speed train fleet. The HMF will be located along the Early Operating Segment in the Central Valley.
The Authority is evaluating two potential sites near Fresno and Hanford as part of the environmental review process. At full buildout in 2040, the HMF is anticipated to employ approximately 450 skilled day- and night-shift workers. Total long-term employment at the selected site, including associated facilities, is anticipated to range from approximately 1,500 to 2,000 positions.
The Kings County site being evaluated is south of 198 near Hwy. 43 and Houston.

“It would be an amazing boost to our local economy. It would be huge. That’s up to 2,000 new jobs that we could have right here in Kings County, and we need those jobs,” Hanford Councilmember Nancy Howze said. “We’re where you want to go. We’re the county you want to work with. We’re the city you want to work with.” Verboon said having the facility in Kings County is a “big deal,” but at the same time, the HSR Authority needs to address the concerns of the people, especially those who would be directly impacted by losing their land. The heavy maintenance facility would serve as the primary location for inspections, servicing, maintenance, overhaul and replacement of major components for the high-speed train fleet. The authority anticipates at least 1,700 jobs, and up to 2,100, positions at the site. “From an economic development perspective, the city is always looking for opportunities, and this might provide that,” said Jason Water, Hanford deputy city manager. “Hanford has a lot to offer.”

By Faughn Logistics • Manufacturing • New Location • Uncategorized 0 Comments

Regional Agricultural Manufacturer Leases Entire Former Quad/Graphics Plant In Merced

A regional agricultural manufacturer has leased the entire former Quad/Graphics plant in Merced, returning the approximately 500,000-square-foot facility to industrial use. Industrial Realty Group announced the full-building lease for the property at 2201 Cooper Ave., which sits on approximately 42.6 acres near Highway 99.

The facility includes manufacturing and warehouse space, an on-site electrical substation, employee and trailer parking and land available for potential expansion. The property is also served by Union Pacific and BNSF rail lines, with interior and exterior rail access that can be used to transport raw materials and finished products. Industrial Realty Group Chief Investment Officer Justin Lichter said the property’s infrastructure, rail access and location in the Central Valley made it well suited for agricultural manufacturing.

The lease fills a large industrial property that became available after Quad/Graphics ended operations at the Merced plant in 2023. The commercial printing company had operated at the Cooper Avenue location for decades. Industrial Realty Group later acquired the facility and marketed it for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution use. The property’s location provides access to Highway 99 and agricultural operations throughout Merced County and the San Joaquin Valley. Industrial Realty Group owns and manages industrial and commercial properties across the United States.

https://losbanosenterprise.com/business/industry/2026/regional-agricultural-manufacturer-leases-entire-former-quad-graphics-plant-in-merced/

By Faughn Logistics • New Developments 0 Comments

Tulare County greenlights rezoning of 718 acres near Goshen for industry, future development

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to rezone 718 acres of farmland northwest of Goshen to accommodate both industry and additional uses in the future. The board approved the initiation of a general plan amendment on July 22, which would allow development of the area once all environmental studies are complete. The new zoning designation would be considered “mixed use.” The developer proposed building an industrial park on 190 acres west of Highway 99. The project was submitted to the county by developer Panattoni Development of Sacramento in collaboration with real estate firm Colliers International.

The project was submitted to the county at their Project Review Committee meeting in June. The site plan shows five large buildings of various sizes that add up to 3.85 million square feet along Highway 99. Development of the 718-acre plan would require cooperation with the City of Visalia, which supplies sewer service to Goshen, and approval from CalWater, which supplies water to the community.

Another notable part of the plan includes rezoning 137 acres at the northwest corner of Highways 99 and 198, also currently in agriculture. County Economic Development Manager Michael Washam said there’s no specific plan to develop this acreage, but he has seen interest in the past. The site enjoys the highest pass-by traffic count in the region.

In addition to these industrial and commercial potential projects, Goshen is slated for more housing projects due to available land there, including this initiative to open more, but depending on sewer capacity from the City of Visalia. San Joaquin Valley Homes and Self Help Enterprises are currently busy with projects in Goshen. It remains to be seen how Visalia will respond to these large-scale projects near the city limits. Recently, the City of Visalia initiated its 900-acre expansion plan for industrial and other commercial development near the airport.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/tulare-county-greenlights-rezoning-of-718-acres-near-goshen-for-industry-future-development/

By Faughn Economy • Logistics • Workforce 0 Comments

The 10 best U.S. cities for new college grads based on job prospects, average income and more

The class of 2023 has made it pretty clear that they are ready and willing to move for job opportunities — and the destination doesn’t have to be a metropolis like New York City or Los Angeles. Zillow revealed exclusively to CNBC Make it, the marketplace’s 2023 ranking of the best places in the U.S. for recent college graduates.

The study analyzed the cities based on the following factors:
  • Rent-to-income ratio
  • Average salary for recent college graduates
  • Job openings
  • Share of the population in their 20s

“Navigating rent affordability can pose challenges for recent graduates entering the housing market, especially if they are doing it for the first time,” Nicole Bachaud, Zillow senior economist, tells CNBC Make It.

“It is important for these graduates to remain mindful of impending student loan repayments that will soon come into play, which will factor into the budgets of many and may impact housing decisions.”

Zillow’s report found that the second-largest markets across the U.S. can offer college graduates a higher quality of life and an accessible cost of living.

Top 10 best U.S. cities for recent college graduates
  1. Colorado Springs, Colo.
  2. Spokane, Wash.
  3. Des Moines, Iowa
  4. Phoenix, Ariz.
  5. Buffalo, Ariz.
  6. Albuquerque, N.M.
  7. Bakersfield, Calif.
  8. Albany, N.Y.
  9. Portland, Ore.
  10. Little Rock, Ark.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, ranked no. 1 on Zillow’s list of the best U.S. cities for recent college graduates. The Zillow Observed Rent Index found that the average rent in the Colorado city is $1,824, compared to $2,031 in Denver, about 90 minutes away. The study found that the average salary for a recent college grad in Colorado Springs is $63,190—which means the rent ratio is 35%. Colorado Springs is home to the University of Colorado: Colorado Springs, and Colorado College, both places that offer employment opportunities to their own recent grads and graduates of nearby colleges like Pikes Peak Community College.

Spokane, Washington, ranks second on the list. The average rent in Spokane is $1,563, compared to Seattle, where it’s $2,223, according to Zillow. And the average salary in the city is $61,162 making the rent-to-income ratio 31%. Like Colorado Springs, Spokane, Washington, is the second-largest city in its state. During the pandemic Spokane saw a rise in remote job postings and has been able to maintain that rate, specifically in areas of technical services, health care, social assistance, finance and insurance.

Rounding out the top three is Des Moines, Iowa. The city is a hub for recent college grads looking to get into the insurance and financial services sector. Some major companies with a significant presence in Des Moines include Wells Fargo and UPS. According to Zillow, the typical rent is $1,202, while the average salary for recent college grads is $59,697. The rent-to-income ratio in Des Moines is 24%, which is less than a quarter of the average salary for 2023 college graduates, $59,600, according to The National Center for Education Statistics. “With strong job growth and affordable rents, Des Moines becomes an attractive city for recent grads to build their careers and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle,” Emily McDonald, Zillow rental trends expert, tells CNBC Make It.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/24/top-10-best-cities-for-new-graduates-zillow-report.html

By Faughn Logistics 0 Comments

Council clears the way for modern logistics center on Grant Line Road

Plans for a large industrial building on 86 acres along the south side of Grant Line Road were cleared by the Tracy City Council on Tuesday. The project applicant was Prologis, developer of much of the land in the 870-acre Northeast Industrial Area as well as the International Park of Commerce on the west side of town. No mention was made during the council’s discussion of the potential user of the building, which is referred to as “Project Big Bird.”

In order to clear the project for development the Tracy City Council needed to approve an amendment to the Northeast Industrial Area Specific Plan, allowing buildings in the area to be as high as 125 feet, more than twice the height now allowed under that plan, provided the building is at least 250 feet from any property line. The council approved that amendment on a unanimous vote. The council also unanimously approved the development review for the building, which will be between Skylark Way and Chrisman Road, with the developer building a realigned Paradise Road at the south side of the project.

The footprint of 823,522 square feet includes 55,808 square feet of office space on the north side of the building and 767,714 square feet of warehouse space on the ground floor. Four levels of 133,024-square-foot robotics-occupied sorting floors above the ground floor bring it to a height of 99 feet with 1,355,618 square feet of space. In addition, each of the upper floors has 532,466 square feet of robotic storage platforms, accounting for another 2.1 million square feet of storage space. The project also includes a parking lot for more than 1,800 cars and more than 230 trailers between the building and Grant Line Road. All 40 loading dock bays would be on the south side of the building.

Representatives of Prologis’ San Francisco office would not identify the potential user, citing client confidentiality. Plans included with the city staff report include a drawing that depicts signage for Amazon, and another shows an Amazon logo on the side of the building. A representative of Amazon would not confirm if Amazon is the user, noting that the company does not comment on its future plans. Amazon has three major centers in town, including its OAK4 fulfillment center, opened in 2013, just south of the new building. Two more, including one that opened this week, are located in the Prologis International Park of Commerce on the west side of town. Ali Harandi, investment officer with Prologis, described Project Big Bird to the city council, without naming the user, as the type of facility that defines modern logistics. “The building is impressive. It represents the future of logistics in fulfillment real estate,” Harandi told the council. “Upon completion in 2022 the building is going to be the flagship of our client’s portfolio. It will retain over 700 city of Tracy jobs, good-paying jobs, while adding an additional 300 manufacturing jobs for the neighboring facility that they occupy. These are higher-paying managerial logistics jobs with heavy engineering and robotics inside of the building. “Also, it will probably generate hundreds of construction jobs, and these aren’t really short-term construction jobs. Based on the sophistication of this build this is going to be a 14- to 18-month construction duration.”

During the public comment part of the hearing several representatives of labor groups endorsed the project and recommended approval, citing the local jobs that such a large construction project would bring to Tracy and San Joaquin County. The council’s discussion about the project focused in part on what the new height limit would mean for the city, with fire protection a primary concern. South San Joaquin County Fire Authority Chief Randall Bradley told the council that after meeting with city staff and representatives of Prologis he is supportive of the project. The challenge for the fire department is that at 99 feet, Project Big Bird is about 40 to 50 feet taller than neighboring buildings, such as Crate and Barrel and Amazon’s OAK4. “While we’re supportive of the project, I do want to go on record as saying that this building is a very tall building, and once you exceed 75 feet it really changes from a suburban fire protection model to an urban fire protection model,” Bradley said.

Council members also cited the local jobs in voicing their support. “I think this is an incredible project,” said Councilman Dan Arriola. “As a council we so often depend on our economic development team to bring in new jobs into the city. This is one of those few opportunities we have as a council to enact policy which itself creates jobs which are those middle class prevailing-wage jobs, and really enhances and builds up that middle class.” The only issue where the council had a split vote was on a resolution that identified a $4 million community benefit that Prologis would provide. The language of the resolution cited a multi-purpose gymnasium “or similar recreational amenity,” but council members Rhodesia Ransom and Nancy Young dissented, stating that they expected a commitment to having the gymnasium as that benefit.

https://www.ttownmedia.com/tracy_press/news/council-clears-the-way-for-modern-logistics-center-on-grant-line-road/article_1582a28c-2531-11eb-b101-d7581b3b963e.html

By Faughn Economy • Logistics 0 Comments

How one Central Valley city became Northern California’s logistics hub

Amazon. Safeway. Costco. FedEx. Ford. The Home Depot. These are just a few of the names that have established major distribution centers in San Joaquin County over the past 30 years.

Federal job statistics confirm that San Joaquin County is a leading center for warehousing, logistics and distribution in the Western United States. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Stockton-Lodi metropolitan area has the second-highest concentration of transportation and logistics jobs in the country — bested only by Laredo, Texas.

So what’s attracting all of these transportation, distribution and logistics operations to the region? A 2019 study from University of the Pacific’s Center for Business and Policy Research attributes the growth of San Joaquin County’s goods movement system to four primary causes: the rise of e-commerce, the coalescence of a Northern California mega-region, the county’s connectedness through its transportation infrastructure and its strategic location, and a workforce ideally suited for transportation and logistics jobs.

Strategic location

San Joaquin County is strategically located at the heart of what economists are calling the Northern California mega-region. It’s a concept that was first coined by the Bay Area Council in 2016. Encapsulating 21 counties in Northern California, the zone is home to more than 12 million people, representing nearly a third of California’s total population. The counties are connected by commute patterns, movement of goods, housing markets, and mutually complementary economies that help meet the needs of businesses throughout the region.

Stockton, San Joaquin County’s largest city (2018 population: 311,178) and primary economic center, is located less than 100 miles from San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento — places where the cost of land makes it prohibitively expensive to house expansive, large-footprint structures like warehouses and fulfillment centers. The combination of Stockton’s lower density and its proximity to large population centers in the Bay Area and Sacramento are what make it attractive to logistics and fulfillment operations in the region.

The exodus by these warehouses and distribution centers out of the core Bay Area began back in the mid-1990s, which was around the same time property values in San Francisco and nearby counties began to rise precipitously, according to the Center for Business and Policy Research. That trend has only accelerated since then. The center’s report finds that concentration of transportation and warehousing jobs has grown nearly three-fold since 1993.

A connected city

Whether it’s by air, land or sea, goods pass through Stockton around-the-clock.

Located at the nexus of two out of three major north-south freeways in California — I-5 and SR-99 — Stockton is connected by a robust ground transportation system to the major population centers in the Central Valley, Southern California and, via I-580, the San Francisco Bay Area. Moreover, its location along I-5, the major north-south freeway in the Western United States, provides connection to cities across the continental U.S.

The Port of Stockton, utilizing the San Joaquin River deep water channel, carries tons of cargo each year between the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay. Stockton Metropolitan Airport allows cargo carriers — including Amazon Air — to dispatch their goods to customers across the country.

All that is bolstered by top-tier rail service: The City of Stockton is served by two national Class I railway lines, and is home to two major intermodal rail-freight terminals, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific.

A motivated workforce

Known as a “city of makers,” Stockton is a top regional destination for artists, chefs, entrepreneurs, craftspersons and others working in the trades. San Joaquin Delta College, recently ranked the No. 4 best community college in the nation when measured along vectors related cost and quality, offers dozens of career and technical education (CTE) programs for career-minded individuals who know what industry they want to work in. Delta College also offers a CTE transition program for high school students grades nine through 12, offering a direct career pathway for jobs that are predicted to be in high demand, bypassing alternative paths that funnel students towards the increasingly saturated tech industry job market.

The culmination of these programs, together with Stockton’s relatively young population (the median age in Stockton is 32.8, compared to a national average of 38.2), creates a motivated, practical-minded, career-ready workforce ideal for filling blue-collar posts like those in the transportation and logistics industries. Additionally, with Stockton’s relatively low cost of living compared to coastal population centers in California, businesses will find a hardworking, relatively low-cost workforce in the Bay Area’s backyard.

By Faughn E-Commerce • Economy • Logistics • Top Stories 0 Comments

Port of Stockton operations not crimped by COVID-19 pandemic

California’s largest inland seaport, the Port of Stockton, is open and operating normally, officials say, although some measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness. “The Port of Stockton’s priority is to ensure the health and safety of all Port stakeholders; to date, the Port of Stockton’s ability to support our business partners has not been impacted by COVID-19,” says Port Director Richard Aschieris.

https://files.constantcontact.com/2cb20f61601/2f931797-fd73-4394-b999-f3037480f26c.pdf