By Faughn Economy • Education • Manufacturing 0 Comments

Fresno State gets $4.36M for new entrepreneurship innovation hub

Fresno State will receive $4.36 million through California Jobs First to create The Forge, an innovation and commercialization hub designed to help entrepreneurs and emerging companies build, test and grow their businesses in the Central Valley.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Jobs First Council announced the investment Aug. 26 as part of a $48.5 million awarded across eight economic regions and 33 counties to support job creation and regional economic growth.

Part of $10.4M for Valley

The Forge investment is part of more than $10.4 million awarded to a portfolio of Central Valley manufacturing projects developed with the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance and other education, workforce and economic development partners.

“For too long, entrepreneurs and emerging companies from our region have had to look elsewhere for the specialized facilities, technical support and connections they need to grow,” President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said. “The Forge will help change that. We want innovators to start here, build here, manufacture here and create jobs here.”

A hub for supporting innovation

The hub will support startups in advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, ag-tech, biotech and related fields, including ventures started by Fresno State faculty, staff and students.

Entrepreneurs will have access to specialized resources, technical expertise and connections to industry, investors and regional partners.

Partners include the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance, Plug and Play, F3i, Fresno County Economic Development Corp., the cities of Fresno and Clovis and the Central Valley Community Foundation.

Dr. Ram Nunna, special assistant to the president for strategic partnerships and dean of the Lyles College of Engineering, led the development of The Forge and the funding effort.

Source: The Business Journal

Fresno State receives $4.36M to launch The Forge

By Faughn Education • Hi-Tech • Manufacturing 0 Comments

NASA administrator offers UC Merced students a glimpse of their future

It might seem that an airfield filled with old planes is a strange place to talk about the future of space flight. But Jared Isaacman, the administrator of NASA, said Atwater’s Castle Air Museum was the perfect setting to talk about what’s ahead.

Isaacman visited the former Air Force base last week to tour the planes and talk with students, including a contingent of more than 30 from UC Merced. The group included undergraduate and graduate students, members of the university’s first nanosatellite team, and faculty conducting NASA-supported research.

Among the faculty were Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Gillian Wilson, an astronomer and cosmologist, Professor Sayantani Ghosh, an expert in condensed matter physics, and Professor Erin Hestir, a remote-sensing scientist and director of CITRIS, the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society & the Banatao Institute at UC Merced. The visit followed a stop at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab, where Isaacman met with scientists working on some of the technology to launch with Artemis IV, a moon-landing mission planned for early 2028.

“That’s just the opening act to America’s grand return to the lunar surface,” Isaacman said.

But space flight started with subspace flight, and the Castle display includes a F-100 previously flown by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Gus Grissom, the NASA director said in a post on X. “A real piece of NASA and American aviation history.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/nasa-administrator-offers-uc-merced-students-a-glimpse-of-their-future/ar-AA2bZ9Cx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

By Faughn Economy • Education • Hi-Tech • Manufacturing 0 Comments

‘We’re not finished making history yet’: CSUB hosts celebration of aerospace, defense grants

Industry, government and academic leaders gathered at Cal State Bakersfield Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the award of $6.8 million in state grant money to support a series of aerospace and defense projects in eastern Kern.

The brief event focused on the momentum that appears to be building around an industry speakers said has the potential to support job creation and entrepreneurial interest.

One of the event’s speakers, county District 2 Supervisor Chris Parlier, extended the celebration to include a compressed-air energy storage project and a steel rebar plant, both of which are being developed not far from the properties where the state grant money will be invested.

“If you haven’t been out to the east side lately, you have to,” he said, adding that aerospace testing and other assets available in the area “are difficult if not impossible to replicate anywhere else.”

Event emcee Justin Salters, project lead at New York-based talent and tech accelerator the Griffiss Institute, traced the county’s success at winning the grants to an economic development effort begun in 2021 and later named B3K Prosperity. He said the collaboration led to the creation of tactics for overcoming fragmentation within the local sector.

The grants through the California Jobs First initiative are intended to fund improvements to the Mojave Air & Space Port, establishment of an innovation hub at CSUB and enhancement of an engineering workshop open to entrepreneurs in the Ridgecrest area.

Salters outlined several efforts he said will come together during the next two years. One will provide leadership within the local industry cluster, including formalization of a “public-private-federal” steering committee and execution of an agreement guiding collaboration.

There will also be a significant expansion of the Mojave Aerospace Accelerator, he said, as well as a broadening of efforts to commercialize military technology.

Additionally, the industry’s growth will benefit from greater use of the Aerospace Valley brand name, development of a business retention and expansion strategy, and construction of a pipeline of companies exploring expansion or relocation within the region, Salters noted.

He said Aerospace Valley, which encompasses much of Antelope Valley, is one of three industry clusters in California, with the other two focused in Southern California and the area around Vandenberg Space Force Base in the Lompoc area. Salters said there is hope that the three can be integrated in a way that benefits all three.

One-quarter of the grant sum will be spent on a project known as Techgrid that CEO Bryan Went of Camarillo-based Future Laboratories said will foster collaboration and innovation among the U.S. Navy, small businesses, industry leaders, academic, government agencies and the U.S. military.

CEO and General Manager David G. Smith at Mojave Air & Space Port, which scored $3.1 million in state grant money, described three construction projects at the facility that are expected to create close to 1,000 construction jobs he predicted will be “repeatable over time.”

The three consist of the repair of a hangar door at the facility, a roof repair job at a building whose next tenant Smith said has already been lined up, and rehabilitation work on a road that offers access to rocket test sites around Mojave.

Already, he said, the air and space port houses 60 “mission partners” supporting 3,000 jobs.

“We can grow that number and absolutely make it better,” Smith added.

Among other speakers at the event was President Vernon B. Harper Jr. of CSUB, which took the lead in applying for the state grant money.

Harper recalled the region’s substantial contributions to the aerospace industry, saying, “We’re not finished making history yet.”

He voiced optimism for the cluster’s future, including for entrepreneurs looking to find ways to innovate in aerospace.

“We believe in the talent, the ingenuity of the people that call this place home,” he said.

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/were-not-finished-making-history-yet-csub-hosts-celebration-of-aerospace-defense-grants/article_72c1ad59-98a6-48c8-bc1a-6a7919e2b32b.html

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 Hi-Tech • Manufacturing • Renewable Energy • Uncategorized 0 Comments

Solar component makers plans 600 jobs

Solar components manufacturer AMPS is proposing to establish a solar module assembly facility located at 10652 Jackson Ave., the former Del Monte plant on the outskirts of Hanford. The vacant facility is huge at 1.3 million square feet. Del Monte closed the processing plant in 2025.

Now Kings County will get some of those jobs back if this deal goes through.

According to a public notice, the solar module assembly facility (up to 8 gigawatts) includes production line installation inside an existing industrial facility with no building expansion or structural changes. There are no hazardous manufacturing processes proposed. The project proposal is limited to interior equipment installation and solar module assembly operations within existing buildings. Operations will include automated assembly lines, packaging, warehousing, shipping, receiving, and related office and support uses.

Phase 1 will include assembly lines in Warehouse #1 and Warehouse #2 and finished product storage and distribution in Warehouse #3 and Warehouse #4. Phase 2 includes future expansion of assembly into Warehouse #3 and/or Warehouse #4 if needed. There will be an estimated 10-20 truck trips per day during operations. The facility will operate up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, depending on demand, and will have approximately 200 employees per shift or 600 total.

AMPS is a Hesperia-based manufacturer located just on the outskirts of Los Angeles. AMPS stands for American Made Power Solution.

“At AMPS, we proudly manufacture our high-quality solar products in Southern California, operating from two state-of-the-art factories. These facilities leverage the latest solar technology to ensure reliability and efficiency. By adhering to strict quality and safety standards, we deliver exceptional products that support the local economy and promote sustainability. Choose AMPS for solar solutions that exemplify American craftsmanship and innovation,” their website boasts.

The company serves residential, commercial, industrial (C&I), and utility-scale projects. Currently it operates out of a 150,000 square foot advanced manufacturing facility in Southern California. It has been expanding its production lines to reach an annual manufacturing capacity of 1.5 GW.

https://hanfordsentinel.com/business/agriculture/solar-component-makers-plans-600-jobs-john-lindt/article_fb64ae42-8702-4c01-b6bd-91ef1002f0f3.html

By Faughn Manufacturing 0 Comments

Hellwig Products marks 80 years of American-made suspension

Hellwig Products, a Visalia manufacturer of towing, hauling and performance suspension products, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. The anniversary comes alongside fourth-generation CEO Melanie Hellwig-White’s first year as Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) chairperson.

SEMA is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963, with the annual SEMA Show debuting in 1967. Automotive specialty equipment manufacturers display and debut new products and connect with industry buyers from around the world. The 2026 SEMA Show takes place Nov. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

To mark the eight decades in business, Hellwig has updated its branding at various events throughout the year and will host an open house to celebrate its original incorporation date of September 1946.

Hellwig has manufactured sway bars and helper springs for a wide variety of American and foreign vehicles since its founding.

The family-owned brand’s passion for providing customers with upgraded towing capabilities, comfort and safety in their SUVs and trucks has continued for more than four generations of ownership.

Hellwig still uses American steel for all its products at its headquarters in Visalia.

“Over the last 80 years, the Hellwig family and staff have been proud to support millions of Americans who trust our products on the vehicles they use every day,” said Hellwig-White. “While many things have changed over the years, we’re excited to continue offering second-to-none American-made products for those who need the most out of their vehicle’s suspension.”

Hellwig Products will be celebrating the anniversary throughout the rest of the year with special branding at various events across the country, including SEMA 2026. There are also plans to host an open house and a barbeque cookout in early September for those wishing to tour the factory and celebrate the brand’s legacy.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/hellwig-products-marks-80-years-of-american-made-suspension/

By Faughn Manufacturing • Workforce 0 Comments

$42M manufacturing facility keeps Coast Aluminum — and its workers — rooted in Fresno

Coast Aluminum, Inc, a Hayward-based aluminum supplier, will break ground on a 163,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Fresno, marking a major expansion for the longtime metals supplier and helping secure its future workforce in the region. The ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 5255 E. Home Ave, near the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT). The project represents a $42 million investment, including land, development, construction and equipment, according to Coast Aluminum.

It’s slated to open in 2026.

Coast Aluminum has 16 locations across the Western U.S. and Northern Mexico, according to its website. Coast Aluminum, Inc has a current location at 1360 E North Ave in South Fresno, which has sentimental value to Tom Clark, founder and owner of Coast Aluminum, Inc.

“This project is especially meaningful to me,” Clark said Tom Clark, founder and owner of Coast Aluminum, Inc. “We started our company in Hayward, California, in 1982, and Fresno became our very first branch in 1993. It was also the first building I ever owned and developed back in 1996 — the same one we’ll soon be moving from into this brand-new facility. This expansion represents not only growth, but a continued investment in our people, our customers, and the Fresno community that’s been part of our story from the beginning.”

Clark said the expansion reflects “a continued investment in our people, our customers, and the Fresno community that’s been part of our story from the beginning.”

Boise, Idaho-based Adler Industrial, LLC will be developing the project. They specialize in Class “A” Industrial properties across the Western United States.

Michael Adler, CEO of development firm Adler Industrial, said the company is “honored to be trusted with bringing their Fresno project to life.” After developing Coast Aluminum’s Boise facility in 2024, Adler said the renewed partnership “reflects the strength of our relationship and our shared commitment to quality, innovation, and community investment.”

Builder JB Steel Construction is based out of Oregon and specializes in commercial and industrial construction.

Russ Batzer, president of JB Steel Construction, said the design balances “efficiency, quality, and flexibility — everything we strive for in modern industrial design.”

He added that partnering with local subcontractors helps strengthen the local workforce. Ethan Smith, a commercial real estate broker with Newmark Pearson, represented the seller of the land and said the project represents a breakthrough in bringing shovel-ready industrial space to Fresno.  Smith said the project began three and a half years ago, with the landowner taking on the upfront entitlement risk. That preparation allowed Adler to start construction within weeks of closing escrow — a first-of-its-kind scenario in the Fresno industrial market, he said.

Smith added that without the site, Coast Aluminum potentially could have had to relocate out of the city, but the property gives the company future growth potential and operational flexibility.

He said the approach of having developers and landowners complete the entitlement process for construction before selling the land is a step in the right direction.

“I think it’s a path forward in the city to get more projects out of the ground with developers being willing to go through this process,” Smith said.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/42m-manufacturing-facility-keeps-coast-aluminum-and-its-workers-rooted-in-fresno/

By Faughn Distribution • Manufacturing 0 Comments

Visalia tills crops into industrial plants

Dairyman Jay teVelde, Jr. is the latest north Visalia landowner to request a large annexation within the city limits to capitalize on the need for greater industrial space.

TeVelde, Jr. is requesting annexation of more than 300 acres into the City of Visalia that will add more developable land to the Visalia industrial Park. The site is north of Riggin and east of Plaza. The multiple parcels reach close to Highway 99 to Road 68 on the northern edge of Goshen. His mixed-use proposal consists of some residential and commercial designations with 225 acres zoned for industrial uses, according to a recent plan filed with the city.
The proposed annexation adds to five other recent annexations that will bring more residential, big box commercial and industrial uses as the city expands its reach to accommodate growth. A number of these projects are still in the works, including land for Costco to build a new retail store at Riggin and Shirk and add some 500 new homes around it.

Other annexations include a 320-acre industrial project on land owned by the Ritchie family that is in the middle of an environmental review seeking approval probably early next year.

Landowners on the northern tier of Visalia have in the past few decades, cashed in on the fact that development, from residential to industrial, has been moving their way. Names include long time farming families such as Doe, Shannon and Ritchie, and now teVelde, who all own or owned mostly low-value, field-crop land north of the historic city limits. It’s not low value anymore.
Some families have taken a direct hand in the development of these lands like the Shannons, who have developed Shannon Ranch and mixed use residential and retail projects like the new northside Costco project expected to break ground in a matter of months.

Of course, the Doe family has a street in the industrial park named after them and annexed 156 acres into the city a few years ago at the NW corner of Plaza and Riggin, later sold to Fresno developer John Brelsford who is marketing it.

Also, as mentioned, the Ritchie family, who is now annexing a whole section of land into the city, has sold off the development rights to Seefried Industries awaiting completion of their environmental impact report before annexation is approved. This project is a behemoth as Seefried has come to an agreement with the Ritchie family to build a proposed 3.8 million square foot industrial complex north of Riggin Road between Kelsey Street and Shirk Road. The project is expected to employ 4,100 workers at build out.

Another industrial annexation was recently approved on 80 acres at the southwest corner of Riggin and Shirk by YS industries. The project was recently challenged with the lawsuit claiming that the city allowed the project to move forward without proper environmental studies. The city has rejected the assertion and the applicant expects the project to move forward early next year. Part of the land used to be a dairy.

Now to the west, the dairy family led by Jay teVelde, Jr. is planning to develop over 300 acres north of Riggin and west of Plaza (See maps). The specifics of the new teVelde proposal include some 225 acres of industrial, about 50 acres of high density residential and 25 acres of commercial fronting on Riggin. There’s also land set aside for a water storage basin.

Asked this week if he could comment on his annexation request, Jay, Jr. said he could not. Visalia-based 4 Creeks consultants are steering the project through the city approval process.

Family history

The teVelde family have expanded their already successful dairy operation since arriving from Southern California in 1989. Their Facebook page states Double J Dairy started Dec. 1, 1988, as a partnership between Jay teVelde, Sr. and Jay teVelde, Jr. Originally located in Chino, California, the dairy relocated to Visalia in June of 1989. The facility was an open-lot style dairy equipped to milk approximately 1,000 cows. By 1998, the herd expanded to 4,400 milking cows and was remodeled to freestall barns. Over the next two decades, teVelde, Jr. was able to expand his surrounding land base and is now self-sufficient in terms of forages while also diversifying into nut crops.

The teVelde dairy is north of the proposed annexation on Ave 328. Dairies typically own acreage around their dairy to provide a home for their dairy waste and to grow feed crops for their cows. So, it’s not unusual that teVelde owns substantial acreage nearby.

Jay, Jr. penned a paper for his CalPoly studies in 2016 mentioning some family history: “The family finds its dairy roots all the way back to George teVelde, the owner’s grandfather. George immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands in 1920. After arriving in California, George found a job as a milker in southern California. Over time George saved up enough to buy some cows of his own. He was fortunate to have the support of his boss, who helped him get started. George spent much of his working life adding to his business. Eventually George’s sons discovered their own passion for the dairy industry. One of his sons, Jay TeVelde, branched off and started his own dairy. Jay, like his father, spent most of (his) working life expanding his business. Also like his father George, Jay’s children discovered a passion for the dairy industry.”

Flurry of construction

This new annexation project is happening after a flurry of industrial construction took place in the past few years. Now the boom in industrial building activity has turned quiet in the past year. That can be seen by the shiny new 1.2 million square-foot spec building constructed by CapRock completed earlier this summer that sits empty for now. The building on Plaza north of Riggin is a close replica of two other Amazon buildings nearby. But Amazon remains mum on whether they would lease this massive building as well.

CapRock bought several sections of the land on the northeast corner of Plaza and Riggin in the 1990s from a farm family. They worked for a decade unsuccessfully trying to attract major logistic players to Visalia until they did. The big boom began when CapRock sold the corner of Plaza and Riggin to UPS for a Central Valley shipping hub. Many industrial firms use UPS for their daily package shipments.

At the time the paper reported “The Visalia UPS super hub’s location is critical, says CapRock’s Pat Daniels, because “only the Visalia/Fresno area can reach 99% of California with overnight shipments. The UPS Fresno facility is landlocked for growth and the current Visalia UPS terminal is quite small. On July 10, UPS pulled their permit for the shell of the building valued at $21.2 million. The general contractor is Layton Construction.”

CapRock set off the Visalia logistics boom, selling acreage to UPS that became a 450,000 square-foot package distribution hub that opened in 2020. That was followed by construction of the 1.1 million square-foot Amazon fulfillment center, operational as of 2021.  Between the two locations, 1,700 people are employed. That was followed by a second Amazon warehouse now operating.

As the paper has noted before, it took 60 years, 1958 to 2018, for the Visalia Industrial Park to get to 16.6 million square feet. But it may take just a few years, say 2018 to 2024, to double that square footage with all the million-square foot warehouses on tap. Looking at land, the district had 381 acres in 2018 and has already doubled that acreage today.

Not unlike the expansion of retail on Mooney Boulevard from 1980 to 2000, where we saw a steady move to open land to the south, the Visalia Industrial Park has seen a steady move north to more open land and adding larger parcels. The recent move north also includes a big retail push along Dinuba Boulevard replicating many of the retail tenants we see on South Mooney. Retail has followed a rapid construction of homes in the north in recent years. That in turn has been allowed by the city council decision to open its city limits on all sides. But that was held back for a while by a lawsuit requiring ag land mitigation – now an adopted policy. Tulare County’s Local Agency Formation Committee, which oversees municipal district boundaries, has been busy mostly approving new annexations in Visalia at nearly all of its recent meetings.

The opening of vast tracts of land for new industrial uses has its pluses and minuses, you could say. For Visalia, opening all these industrial areas promotes new jobs and tax dollars and growth of the city that may be positive or not. The tracks of land are owned by over a dozen major players allowing for competition on land prices. That helps keep locating a large complex here much cheaper to build than in the big metro areas of California.

There might be a slowdown in tenant decisions to locate here. But a number of spec builders are building in anticipation that the gravy train will continue in the next year or two and that their investment in building before the tenant shows up will pay off. That will require more land. It appears Mr. teVelde is joining the crowd

https://thesungazette.com/article/news/2024/10/17/visalia-tills-crops-into-industrial-plants/

By Faughn Food Processing • Manufacturing 0 Comments

US Cold Storage in Tulare plans $76 mil expansion after food package deal

United States Cold Storage Inc. expects to complete an 8.56- million-cubic-foot refrigerated addition at its Tulare North warehouse in Tulare come February 2025. This $75.7 million expansion will include some of the industry’s latest storage and retrieval automation and bring the operation’s total space to more than 24.7 million cubic feet, the largest single footprint in the company’s network.

“I am thrilled for our fifth strategic expansion in Tulare,” said Rod Noll, USCS senior vice president for the Western Region. “This expansion reflects the continued growth of some of our major customers who are broadening their manufacturing capabilities. Specifically, we have a consumer-packaged goods customer relocating its business to northern California and to this facility.

“Meanwhile, we also look forward to contributing to the local Tulare business community and creating additional job opportunities.”

Tulare City Manager Marc Mondell added praise. “US Cold Storage has been a fantastic local employer and partner for over 20 years,” he said.  We are thrilled that they are making another large investment into their Tulare facility and look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.”

US Cold Storage plans to break ground for the attached expansion this month, which will ultimately include two new refrigerated rooms capable of storage down to -20F degrees. Officials expect by this November to complete a conventional storage space spanning 3.08 million cubic feet. A second, 5.48 million-cubic- foot room is scheduled to open in February 2025. That space will feature very narrow aisle storage serviced by a warehouse guidance system and semi-automated, turret-style storage and retrieval forklifts.

Upon completion, Tulare North will have approximately 98,500 available pallet positions. The addition also includes 23 more shipping and receiving doors for the operation’s dock, which will boast 73 doors after completion.

“Tulare North is one of our largest facilities in the West Region,” Noll added. “Being a multi-dimensional facility, it can handle a large range of storage temperature requirements. Offering the flexibility of food grade ambient, refrigerated, frozen, and ice cream storage temps allows us to customize our services for many types of customers and many stages of production.”

USCS first built its Tulare North operation in 2002 as a 3.4 million-cubic-foot dry warehouse. Tulare North also offers import and export services, rail handling and product re-pack services. It also is certified according to the BRCGS Food Safety Global Standard. USCS also services the area from a second Tulare operation, a 7.3 million-cubic-foot Tulare South facility, which also offers ambient and refrigerated storage. USCS’s cold storage and logistics network spans 40 sites from coast to coast, including nine California locations from Sacramento and south to Bakersfield.  The company is a subsidiary of the U.K.’s John Swire & Sons Ltd.

https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/2024/02/05/us-cold-storage-in-tulare-plans-76-mil-expansion-after-food-package-deal/72451106007/
By Faughn Manufacturing 0 Comments

Agreement aims to put Fresno on the map for semiconductor-related opportunities

New partnerships seek to poise the Central Valley for a role in the growing semiconductor manufacturing industry.

On Wednesday, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Councilmember Nelson Esparza travelled to San Francisco for the signing of a formal partnership memorandum of understanding (MOU) between global semiconductor manufacturing association SEMI; the City of Fresno; City of Clovis; California State University, Fresno; Fresno County Economic Development Corporation; and Silicon Farms Corporation (SiFa).

This agreement, the first of its kind in the Central Valley, is a step toward diversifying local economies, according to the mayor’s office.

The aim of the agreement is to place the Fresno region on the map as “open for business” for locating semiconductor supply chain and manufacturing facilities.

“This partnership is a monumental step towards ensuring that the semiconductor industry knows the advantages of the area and the support for their industry,” Dyer said. “Leveraging years of experience from the partners at Silicon Farms, Fresno is being positioned to have the best shot possible to capitalize on opportunities in the semiconductor industry.”

The MOU includes several elements, including “high-level” introductions by SEMI to semiconductor companies and related companies to SiFa and Fresno State.

There is also the intention that SEMI will use its global corporate and institutional framework to promote SiFa activities and Fresno State and encourage broad industry, government, and financial community engagement.

Atherton-based SiFa MANAGEMENT will fund and execute the agreed upon activities, events, programs, and partner services, unrelated to existing SEMI events.

Fresno State intends to establish a budget amount each fiscal year to support the execution of activities, events, programs, and partner services unrelated to SEMI events.

SEMI has 3,000 member companies worldwide, and its President and CEO Ajit Manocha said the semiconductor industry is expected to nearly double in annual revenue to $1 trillion around 2030.

“Adding new hubs such as the Central Valley will strengthen the semiconductor supply chain in the U.S. and globally,” Manocha said.

The Cities of Fresno and Clovis will assist with its resources to introduce SiFa and its related parties to local investors, property principals, and government officials.

EDC has intended obligations to support the overall strategy to enhance the efforts for the establishment of a High-Tech Park in the Fresno region.

“Our partnership with SEMI marks an important milestone for the Fresno region,” said Fresno County Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Will Oliver. “This collaboration will help diversify our economy, prepare local talent, and position the region to be part of the growing semiconductor industry, driving innovation and job creation for our community.”