07/08 Update Steve Geil, CEO

Mission: To Establish Fresno County as the Premiere Location to Expand and Grow Core Industries Vision: To be recognized as the Essential Connection for expanding economic development in the Central California Strategy: To accomplish the above by assisting business expansion, retention, and attraction through our alliance with collaborating partners and resources

Year in Review -Marketing Branding Website Publications Events Advertising

Economic Profiles of Rural Cities Enterprise Zone Workshops Job Fairs Assist with RJI Transformation AmeriCorp Vista Program Published Compelling Data and Editorial highlighting Fresno County Attributes Created the Bear Action Network EDC Projects

Emerson Estrada Director Business Expansion & Retention (BEAR) Action Network

Business Expansion & Retention Program – Why?  Keep Fresno County’s businesses from relocating to other areas  Help Fresno County’s businesses survive economic difficulties  Assist businesses with expansions that add new jobs  Assist companies to become more competitive in the wider marketplace

Growing Existing Businesses ** Studies have shown that the businesses already existing in a community are responsible for up to 80% of all net local employment 80%

How It Works Outreach team makes contact with targeted business CEO or Plant Manager to conduct company analysis Collected information and action items are entered into Executive Pulse, the nation’s premier business expansion and retention software.

How It Works (cont.) Referrals are delegated to service provider team based on type of service or information requested.

How It Works (cont.) Services providers follow-up with company contacts to complete action items. Outcomes are entered and tracked on Executive Pulse. Report Success Stories.

BEAR Action Network * Outreach Team * Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County Fresno County Workforce Investment Board State Center Community College District Small Business Development Corporation County of Fresno – Employment & Temporary Assistance

BEAR Action Network * Service Provider team * County of Fresno City of Fresno City of Clovis City of Huron City of Selma City of Parlier City of Reedley City of Kerman City of Mendota City of Fowler City of Coalinga City of San Joaquin City of Coalinga City of Fresno County City of Sanger Employment Training Panel (ETP) Fresno County Workforce Investment Board Small Business Development Center State Community College District UP Railroad/BNSF City of Fresno – City Council members Valley Small Business Department Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Lyles Center For Innovation AT&T PG&E Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce Construction Developers Inc. Waldrum Accountancy Corporation Manco Abbott Inc.

What can the BEAR Action Network Offer Businesses? Site Selection Assistance Workforce Development, Screening, and Employee Recruitment Services Financing and Micro-loan Programs Customized Training Program Development Internship Program Information and Referrals Performance Enhancement/Skills Building/Skills Attainment Training Programs Building Contracting Strategic/Marketing/Formal Succession Planning Lucrative Business Tax Incentive Information: Enterprise Zone, Empowerment Zone, MRZ, HUB Zone, and Foreign Trade Zone

What can the BEAR Action Network Offer Businesses? Utilities – Incentives, Rebates, Special Programs, and Energy Rate Analysis Assistance Assistance of City Permits, Zoning, and Licensing; other Municipal Services Structure Deterioration & Blight Aversion and Improvements of Existing Infrastructure Research and Development Assistance CPA Services Real Estate & Property Management

Cequent Towing Products Co. “The BEAR Action Network has been extremely helpful in providing us with a qualified pool of employment candidates. Also, the tax credit incentives played a large part in our decision to come to Fresno; the BEAR Action Network is assisting us in capturing all of these savings…paperwork and all!” SUCCESS STORY

Robb Ross Foods/Fruit Fillings Inc. “The BEAR Action Network impressed me by how quickly the follow-up services were provided. In just a few days, the asphalt on the road adjacent to my company was repaired and a job developer called to obtain minimum qualification for some open positions we have available. They will also be helping us with formal succession and strategic planning as well as training my HR person to screen for tax credits.” SUCCESS STORY

1.City of Fresno 2.CSUF Lyles Center of Innov. & Entrep. 3.SCCCD 4.Training Institute 5.Employment Training Panel 6.EDC membership – building construction team 7.EDC Pactiv 1.Municipal Services 2.College Intern 3.Customized Training for Existing Employees 4.State Training Funds 5.Construction Services 6.Referral to Regional Jobs Initiative Manufacturing cluster 7.Tax Credit screening

1.CSUF Lyles Center 2.EDC Site Location team 3.CCSBDC 4.CenCal Financing 5.EDC 6.EDC Building Construction team Zxtreme Boats 1.Product Development 2.Location Assistance 3.Marketing Formal Planning Development 4.Financing 5.Incentive information 6.Building construction

1.Pacific Community Ventures 2.City of Fresno 3.AT&T 4.Workforce Investment Board 5.EDC Site Location team 6.EDC membership - Building Construction team 7.EDC membership – Architect team Ramcast 1.Strategic/Marketing Plan Development 2.Municipal Services 3.Telecommunication Services 4.Employee Recruitment and Use of the Business Services Center 5.Site Selection Assistance 6.Construction Services 7.Architectural Services

Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County EDC BEAR Action Network  EDC Business Attraction team Gather Information from BEAR Action Network to support the Attraction Program

Number of leads: 464 (inquiry for information) Number of qualified leads: 58 (Technical Assistance/ follow-up from EDC Staff) Number of site visits: 26 (County tours of possible sites) Number of jobs created: 749 EDC Business Attraction Team Results November 2007 to April 2008

The EDC VISTA program is being redesigned and the current proposal consists of multiple positions: EDC Marketing – City marketing/editorial EDC Attraction – GIS database maintenance/research EDC Community Development – Grant identification new Vista positions throughout the County – terms are still being negotiated AmeriCorp Vista Program

Take a tour of the NEW EDC WebsiteEDC Website & CountyScape Interactive MapCountyScape