By Jennifer New Developments • Quality of Life • Workforce 0 Comments

At 3.8M Square Feet, Visalia’s Largest Industrial Development Unveils EIR

Atlanta-based Seefried Industries has submitted an environmental impact report (EIR) to the City of Visalia for a 284-acre industrial park at the northwest corner of Shirk Street and Riggin Avenue. The big project would require annexation into city limits to move forward. It would expand the Visalia Industrial Park to the north.

Called the Shirk and Riggin Industrial Project, the development would be the largest in City of Visalia history with plans to build 3.82 million square feet of industrial buildings with more than 4000 workers once all phases are constructed. The site plan shows 3,750 parking places for all types of vehicles.

The applicant plans eight industrial buildings for warehouse, distribution and light manufacturing; six flex industrial buildings; two drive-through restaurants; a convenience store; a recreational vehicle and self-storage facility; gas station and car wash.

The footprint shows multiple phases of large industrial buildings, with the corner of Shirk Street and Riggin Avenue having several retail uses located across the street from a proposed Costco shopping center.

The EIR says the project would offer four access points along Shirk Street, five access points along Riggin Avenue and five along Kelsey Street. Onsite orchards would need to be removed, and appropriate landscaping and lighting would be incorporated into the overall site design consistent with applicable city requirements and guidelines.

The project’s draft EIR was filed Thursday with a comment period ending May 28. As is typical, a final EIR would be released, and consideration by the city council after that before the project is submitted to the Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for annexation.

Founded in 1984 by Ferdinand Seefried, Seefried Industrial Properties is a privately held real estate firm that focuses on the development, leasing and management of industrial properties across the U.S. The firm primarily focuses on development in core industrial markets and build-to-suits with tenants in core and second-tier markets. Seefried leases and manages approximately 25 million square feet for its institutional and European clients and has developed more than 200 million square feet of space valued in excess of $18 billion across 30-plus markets. Based in Atlanta, the firm has regional offices in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

New $30M investment

In Visalia, Seefried built and leased the 1.2 million square-foot Ace Hardware distribution center on Plaza Drive — now in full operation. In related news, Ace Hardware is installing a $30 million conveyor system expected to automate deliveries from Visalia to all parts of California in a speedy manner. The end result is expected to be higher e-commerce sales from Visalia that could boost the city’s tax revenue.

Seefried also has plans for a second 500,000 square-foot spec warehouse nearby at Goshen Avenue and American Street. The company purchased the Shirk and Riggin property from the Ritchie family.

The company’s site plan for the new industrial park indicates two huge buildings on Kelsey would be first to be constructed, adding up to about 1.8 million square feet across from Amazon.

Seefried is pressing on with these massive plans despite the fact that the warehouse market has cooled in California and in Visalia.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/at-3-8m-square-feet-visalias-largest-industrial-development-unveils-eir/

By Jennifer Manufacturing • New Developments • Workforce 0 Comments

California’s new steel facility in 50 years coming to Kern County

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — California’s first new steel production facility in 50 years is set to be built in Kern County. On Wednesday, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the $540 million project by Pacific Steel Group. Chevron fined millions by state agencies for oil spills in Kern County. The “zero process carbon emissions rebar mill” will be constructed near Mojave. The group also released an artist’s rendering of the project. The mega facility is expected to create around 400 full-time jobs and 515 construction jobs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/california-s-new-steel-facility-in-50-years-coming-to-kern-county/ar-BB1kiZZo#

By Jennifer Economy • Education • Workforce 0 Comments

High-Speed Rail, High-Quality Jobs: Career Trek Shows Students Opportunities

California high-speed rail, a multibillion-dollar project designed to connect the Central Valley to Los Angeles and the Bay Area, promises swift transportation, the protection of agricultural land and contributions to a cleaner environment.

It’s also providing a lot of jobs – from design to construction to, eventually, operation.

UC Merced engineering students recently got the chance to see what opportunities might be available to them. Roughly 25 students took part in a Career Trek to visit the California High-Speed Rail Central Valley Regional Office in Fresno, as well as the Hanford and Cedar viaducts.

Career Treks are offered by the university’s Student Career Center. Students are taken on industry-specific recruiting trips to regions within California, hearing from employers about their professional journeys and the pathways they followed to career success.

Manny Machado, engineering career specialist in UC Merced’s Student Career Center, coordinated the March visit with help from two colleagues, employer services manager Magali Torres and internship and employer services coordinator Xue Lee.

“A Career Trek is when students have the chance to visit a nearby organization to hear more about their recruitment efforts, and to learn more about the work that they do,” Machado said. “During these trips, students get the opportunity to tour facilities, hear about job and internship opportunities they can get involved with, network with employees of that organization and hear more about professional pathways at said organization.

“These Career Treks are also a good way to expose scholars to different career industries while also giving them a chance to showcase their skillsets.”

Students met with engineering professionals at the rail project’s regional office.

“These professionals gave insight to their professional journeys, gave advice on how students can be proactive in their career development and talked about how the different engineering disciplines are needed on a large-scale project like this,” Machado said.

Final designs for the high-speed rail project call for about 500 miles of track stretching from Southern California to San Francisco. The first segment, in various stages of construction since 2015, is a 170-mile stretch from Merced to Bakersfield.

At the project’s Hanford Viaduct, students learned about environmental considerations for construction sites, toured the top of the structure, heard how the structure will become earthquake proof and learned more about the professional experiences of the construction site managers. Students learned more about these issues at the Cedar Viaduct; because it’s further along in construction, they could compare the sites’ development.

Students also learned about the different engineering disciplines required for this work. As the project continues to develop, there will be different roles needed at different times. For example, once construction is further developed, electrical engineers will be vital in incorporating components needed for the stations and tracks. Other opportunities soon to be available include internships with partner organizations such as Stantec and Caltrans. And once work begins on the rail’s Merced station, there likely will be more chances for UC Merced students to be involved.

For this particular Career Trek, participating students had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Once construction gets further along and trains start to run stations, the tours currently being hosted will no longer be offered to the public.

Students interested in learning more about Career Treks get can look at Instagram and view the events calendar through Handshake or go to the Career Center website.

The Student Career Center typically offers one or two Career Treks during the academic year. Previous destinations include Gallo and LinkedIn.

https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2024/high-speed-rail-high-quality-jobs-career-trek-shows-students-opportunities

By Jennifer New Developments • Workforce 0 Comments

$100M Scannell Warehouse Project Seeks Local Contractors

With the Fresno City Council’s final approval Feb. 22 of the $100 million, 900,000 square-foot foot warehouse development by Scannell Properties, it’s time to start learning about bid opportunities.

The Fresno County Economic Development Corp. is hosting a bidders webinar for local contractors Friday, March 15 at 2 p.m. Valencia-based general contractor on the project Storie and Severson Construction will take part.

Nearly two dozen specialty areas are being sought, including asphalt paving, concrete (large scale site and tilt-up), cubs, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and roofing.

Contactors will also be able to learn about local pre-apprenticeship program.

Located off Marks Avenue just north of Highway 180, the speculative project by the national developer is expected to create up to 1,000 long-term industrial jobs and employ 1,000 construction workers.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/100m-scannell-warehouse-project-seeks-local-contractors/

By Jennifer Distribution • New Developments • Workforce 0 Comments

Massive shipping terminal nears completion in Visalia

VISALIA – Visalia is establishing itself as a core shipping hub in California, as evidenced by a 1-million-square-foot shipping facility on track for completion in June.

Bob O’Neill, the senior vice president of acquisitions for industrial real estate agency CapRock Partners, told The Sun-Gazette that Visalia is perfectly situated for shipping. CapRock is the agency responsible for the construction of the new facility.

“One thing we like about Visalia is its central location,” O’Neill said. “It is one of the only locations where a truck driver can do a one-day turnaround within their eight-hour shift.”

O’Neill explained that the two major ports in California are Long Beach and the Bay Area, both of which can be reached from Visalia.

“Corporate occupiers like it because they can play the shipping lines and ports off of each other and have diversification and pricing power,” O’Neill said. “It is also a location that can service over 50 million people in the western U.S. That is something that is very attractive to us and the tenants we attract.”

The current buildout is just the beginning of CapRock’s investment. The property will ultimately bring more than 5 million square feet of warehouse space. The project is staggered, so once a tenant is occupying the first building, the next building will begin construction.

“It is a long-term commitment,” O’Neill said. “We really like working with the city, we believe in the region; so these are long-term investments for us.”

O’Neill said that the city has been helpful in navigating the permitting process and has been highly supportive throughout the project. CapRock first began investing in construction projects in Visalia in 2017. O’Neill said the biggest challenges up to this point have been the market timing.

“The biggest challenges have been navigating inflation which has caused significant construction cost increases and significant increases in financing costs for our construction loan,” O’Neill said. “We have been able to work through those and find a window in time that has enabled us to move forward with this project and deliver it this summer.”

A tenant has not yet been identified for the current space, but O’Neill said he anticipates a Fortune 500 corporation to occupy the property. CapRock has received “very preliminary” inquiries, according to O’Neill.

Depending on the occupant, O’Neill believes the project could employ anywhere from 300 to over 1,000 people. While the building is expected to be some type of shipping hub, O’Neill said similar buildings have been used for light manufacturing and assembly.

Companies such as Tesla frequently occupy large warehouse buildings to construct solar chargers and battery stations, which are then shipped to locations where they are installed.

“We build our facilities to be flexible in terms of what kinds of tenants can occupy them,” O’Neill said. “One of the types of tenants that we have fielded inquiries from in other markets has been the manufacturing type, with some assembly, and also a component of distribution.”

The building currently has the walls up and the roof finished. O’Neill said the next phase of the project will be paint, which he said will happen soon. At that point, O’Neill anticipates rapid increases in interest from tenants who can see the light at the end of the tunnel for the project.

Two other developments, known as CapRock Central Point 1 and 2, were completed in 2021. The shipping hub is located at 4001 Plaza Drive, which offers easy access to freeways, rail lines and airports. The building is expected to be completed in June.

https://thesungazette.com/article/business/2024/03/12/massive-shipping-terminal-nears-completion-in-visalia/

By Jennifer Renewable Energy • Workforce 0 Comments

Renewable energy projects near Rosamond would generate 1,700 construction jobs

Eastern Kern’s renewable energy portfolio would add three large installations producing more than 1,700 construction jobs by the end of this year if the county Board of Supervisors approves the West Coast’s first micro steel mill and two photovoltaic solar developments with power storage set for review Tuesday.

The separate developments, all proposed to be built in the Mojave-Rosamond area, are part of what Director Lorelei Oviatt of Kern’s Planning and Natural Resources Department called the “new future,” in that all three represent clean energy alternatives to conventional industrial models.

By far the smallest of the three projects, San Diego-based Pacific Steel Group’s Mojave Micro Mill on undeveloped land southeast of Highway 14 and Sopp Road, would create the most jobs, employing 417 hourly and salaried workers, plus 23 third-party positions for duties like security.

The plant would run 24 hours per day, seven days weekly, turning scrap metal and raw material into rebar for use in construction mostly in Southern California, with some of the product going to Northern California and some to Mexico.

Carbon capture would be a novel aspect of the project: The 174-acre site would include a system for compressing, dehydrating and purifying carbon dioxide that would be stored on-site and ultimately hauled by truck to a site yet to be identified.

At least some of the power to run the operation, consisting mainly of a 489,200-square-foot steel mill, would come from a 63-acre photovoltaic solar array that would be part of the project. It would also be fueled by petroleum coke or biocarbon.

The board’s approval, as proposed, would entail certifying an environmental review that identified significant and unavoidable impacts to aesthetics, air quality and noise. Supervisors will also be asked to approve a series of conditional use permits and zone variances.

County staff have called for the developer to pay $100,000 for CO2 response equipment and training for the Kern County Fire Department and local fire stations.

If approved, construction would be expected to start in the third quarter of this year; the operation would launch in the second quarter of 2026. At peak construction, the project would employ up to 515 construction workers at once.

The larger of the two photovoltaic projects under consideration is a 600-megawatt plant with 4,000 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage proposed by Enterprise Solar Storage LLC, part of Terra-Gen, which is owned by New Jersey-based Energy Capital Partners.

The project is proposed to be built over 28 months on 2,320 acres of mostly undeveloped land south of Highway 58 and west of Highway 14.

As with the other solar project, it would involve putting up an array of solar panels, an electrical collector system, inverters, battery storage, a substation, transmission infrastructure, communication towers, access roads and security.

Both projects would require the board to certify the respective environmental reviews, zoning changes and conditional use permits. In the Terra-Gen plant’s case, construction would take 28 months of construction averaging 250 people per day, with a peak workforce of 550 workers. The eventual operation would be expected to employ six people on a full-time basis.

The other solar project, called Bullhead Solar, would generate 270 megawatts and offer 1,080 megawatt-hours of battery storage on 1,343 acres of undeveloped, some of it farmland and some grazing property, near 100th Street West and Dawn Road.

San Diego-based developer EDF Renewables LLC estimates construction would take 18 months with an average of 201 people working per day, with a peak workforce of 627. Operations and maintenance would involve the equivalent of 15 people from an adjacent solar project the Board of Supervisors approved in 2020.

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/renewable-energy-projects-near-rosamond-would-generate-1-700-construction-jobs/article_c5e12442-e3fa-11ee-ba46-c3d047c97965.html

By Jennifer New Developments • Tourism • Workforce 0 Comments

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon Breaks Ground

Hard Rock International and the Tejon Indian Tribe celebrated the groundbreaking of the long-awaited hotel and casino located at Hwy. 166 and Sabodan Road West in the community of Mettler, California on Tejon Tribal land. The celebration featured a commemorative shovel groundbreaking with Hard Rock representatives, Tejon Indian Tribe leadership and general membership plus statewide and local community leaders.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will be more than 700,000 square feet of which 150,000 square feet will be gaming space, featuring 2,500 of the most popular slots, 48 table games, and video poker, and will be the second closest class III casino to Los Angeles.

“This is an exciting day for the state of California, Kern County and the Tejon Indian Tribe,” said Octavio Escobedo, III Chair of the Tejon Indian Tribe. “This groundbreaking is a symbolic ceremony for the Tribe, which was landless for more than 150 years and has been a priority for us since we were reaffirmed as a federally recognized Indian tribe. From the start of our relationship with the United States government in 1851, our Tribe has fought for a homeland for our people. Today we are one major step closer to the dream of self-determination through economic development. The Tribe would like to thank local community support, the support from Kern County government, the entire California State Legislature, our federal delegation in Washington DC, and especially Governor Gavin Newsom. Including all the non-governmental organizations, SSCR LLC, Hard Rock International and the Seminole Tribe of Florida who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us to help make our dream of restoring our land base and this groundbreaking possible.”

The project is expected to create approximately 2,000 construction-specific jobs and will be managed by the Penta Building Group, a southern California Company. Once both phases are completed, the project is expected to create approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, both full-time and part-time.

Multiple dining options, including a signature Hard Rock Cafe and fine dining restaurant Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, a Rock Shop, and much more will be included in phase one. Rounding out the second phase will be a 400-room hotel, additional fine dining, pool, spa, cigar lounge and 2,800-seat Hard Rock Live event venue that will draw attractions like concert performances, comedy acts and sporting events to name a few. In addition, Hard Rock’s signature memorabilia will be on display throughout the property. The anticipated completion date of phase one is expected to be 22 months after the first shovel in the ground. Phase two is expected to be another 20 months and will complete the entire hotel and casino.

“Hard Rock is proud to partner with the Tejon Indian Tribe on creating a world-class entertainment destination,” said Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International. “The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon property will be another incredible offering in our West Coast portfolio, and we are committed to supporting the local community and creating a lasting positive economic impact for the State of California.”

https://www.latimes.com/b2bpublishing/business-announcements/story/2023-12-20/hard-rock-hotel-casino-tejon-breaks-ground

By Jennifer New Location • Workforce 0 Comments

SEMICONDUCTOR MAKER RELOCATING TO FRESNO, BRINGING 500 JOBS, CHILDCARE FOR WORKERS

A Wyoming-based corporation has received a $15 million state grant to relocate its headquarters to Fresno, where it plans to manufacture semiconductors and energy storage systems. In the process, the company plans to create at least 500 new, full-time jobs and make nearly $21 million of capital investments in the region.

Tynergy was one of a dozen companies awarded nearly $150 million in grants and tax credits as part of the latest round of the CalCompetes program by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development announced Nov. 17. The announcement comes weeks after members of the Fresno City Council and Fresno County Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Will Oliver hosted a City Hall news conference announcing the Fresno CHIPS Act.

The proposal would create incentives for manufacturers of semiconductors. The Fresno County Economic Development Corp. said in a social media post that Tynergy plans to offer starting salaries of $70,000 per year, complementary training programs and a “robust” benefits package, including childcare services for all employees.

Tynergy is a subsidiary of Indonesia-based green energy company Mirah Green. It bills itself as a sustainable energy development company with a goal to “eradicate poverty through affordable and clean energy while taking climate action.”

https://thebusinessjournal.com/semiconductor-maker-relocating-to-fresno-bringing-500-jobs-childcare-for-workers/

By Jennifer New Developments • Workforce 0 Comments

Niagara Bottling’s Proposed New Manufacturing Project In Delano, California

Niagara Bottling would like to invest in Delano by building a manufacturing facility that will create local employment opportunities, drive direct capital investment in the area and reinforce the City’s position as a manufacturing leader in the bottled beverage market. Niagara’s future employment in Delano, when fully built out, will be approximately 120 full-time positions with average wages between $58,000 to $60,000, not including overtime, bonuses or benefits. The capital investment is estimated to be up to $160 million and is expected to generate approximately $343,000 in annual tax revenues for the City of Delano.

Who We Are

Niagara Bottling has been family owned and operated since 1963. Headquartered in Diamond Bar, California, Niagara operates bottling facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. As a leading beverage manufacturer in the U.S., Niagara Bottling works closely with some of the largest beverage brands, retailers, grocers, club and convenience stores throughout the country. Niagara produces a variety of beverages including bottled water, sparkling, vitamin and flavored water, teas, sports drinks, ready-to-drink coffee, protein drinks and non-dairy milk products.

Our Commitment to Community

At Niagara, we are committed to making a positive impact on society and our communities. As part of this commitment, our local teams place an emphasis on supporting areas of education, emergency need, community beautification, environment, and health and wellness. We are proud to partner with community leaders and charitable organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the world and in the areas where our facilities are located.

Our Focus on Sustainability

Niagara is committed to responsible resource usage and integrating sustainability into every aspect of our business. Niagara has an obligation to not only support environmental initiatives, but to innovate and lead in their product, packaging, manufacturing, and promoting consumer awareness and action on sustainability issues. Here’s how Niagara is putting sustainability first:

  1. Water Stewardship: A Niagara facility uses less water to produce its products than it takes to keep a few golf courses green. Niagara pays volumetric fees for the water it uses and millions in taxes and fees to municipal systems that enable them to maintain and improve their infrastructure.
  2. Packaging Efficiency: Niagara uses the least amount of plastic for its bottles.
  3. Lowest Environmental Impact: Niagara PET bottles have a lower environmental impact across most impact categories when compared to other common beverage and water packaging types. Our half-liter bottles have an embodied carbon footprint that is 46% below the U.S. average.
  4. Recycling Infrastructure and Education: Niagara supports recycling education through International Bottled Water Association’s “Put it in the Bin” campaign and the “Keep the Cap On” campaign.

https://www.niagarawater.com/about-us/delano/

By Jennifer Distribution • New Developments • Workforce 0 Comments

Amazon opens third fulfillment center in Tracy

Amazon officially opened their latest Tracy fulfillment center with a ribbon cutting on Friday at the 3.7 million-square-foot facility on East Grant Line Road. Director of operations Vincent Wong cut the ribbon for the facility, named SCK6, which had a soft opening in October. Assistant General Manager Mohammed Khan said the building will have approximately 1,500 employees and 3,000 robots in the building at 15000 East Grant Line Road.

At maximum capacity he said Amazon will be able to ship 1 million units a day from the facility, which is the online retailer’s second advanced robotics fulfillment center. Wong welcomed the crowd of employees, some dressed in San Jose Sharks attire, along with invited guests to the dedication.

“We are honored to serve the people of Tracy and especially honored to support our work force here in this place. At Amazon, people are our most valuable asset and resources,” Wong said. “Promotion actually plays an important part in their growth and (our employees are) promoted for recognizing our people and reaching their goals. At Amazon, we start with the community in which we work and live, including myself, we are committed to uniting Tracy and leveraging our resources for good. Since the beginning of 2022 we actually provided more than $4 million in donations for our community here and also in in-kind donations and volunteer hours.”

SCK6 is the fourth logistics center opened in Tracy by the online retailer. Mayor Nancy Young welcomed the new facility to the Tracy community noting that her youngest son had just started working at SCK6 the night before.

“When I got on council it was really hard, and even as my children were growing up, it was a challenge to get a job in the city of Tracy, especially for young people because they were really competing with a lot of adults trying to just hold on their homes and make their ends meet,” Young said. “But when Amazon came here it was the first really big opportunity for a lot of young adults and adults alike to be able to get a really good paying job to be able to take care of their finances. I’m just really excited that this is a great addition to continue to grow our community, to grow our economy and I just want to say thank you all for being a part of this and I encourage each and every one of the Sharkies, each and every one of the workers out there to keep moving forward knowing that you can continue to grow wherever you are, blossom wherever you are.”

San Joaquin County Fifth District Supervisor Robert Rickman joined in welcoming the new facility that had been in the planning stages since he was mayor of Tracy.

“When we approved this facility when I was mayor of Tracy one of the issues we ran into was this was going to be the biggest building in the city of Tracy. So, we had to work with Amazon, adjust our zoning in order to get this building built,” Rickman said. “So driving up and down Grant Line Road and seeing just a dirt field to what it is now is just absolutely amazing.”

New jobs generated by the facility will be a boon to the surrounding communities.

“One of our jobs as elected officials is to bring more jobs, bring awesome companies to our counties, to our cities, and Amazon you have fulfilled that role. The building behind me, what you see, you see local employment — people from Tracy, Stockton, Manteca, Ripon, Lodi, Livermore, the entire surrounding communities — coming to Tracy and making a living, not just for themselves but for their families their spouses and their children,” Rickman said.

He noted the health and education benefits their employees their employees and the company’s work with schools and education will make a difference in the community.

“Your footprint isn’t just here in this parking lot on Grant Line Road but encompasses the entire city of Tracy and San Joaquin County where our population is approximately 800,000 people that live here in the county,” Rickman said.

Amazon has three major centers in town include its OAK4 fulfillment center that opened in 2013, just south SCK6. Two more and two centers in the Prologis International Park of Commerce on the west side of town.

https://www.ttownmedia.com/tracy_press/amazon-opens-third-fulfillment-center-in-tracy/article_faf470c0-ce7b-11ed-a6f7-5f3f6ce4d7e1.html