Overview
The County of Fresno and Fresno County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), in partnership with TIP Strategies, is developing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 2025-2030 to chart the course for the county’s economic growth and resilience. This strategy will set the vision for long-term prosperity, offering a roadmap for business expansion, workforce development, infrastructure investments, and more. The final plan will meet the requirements of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), ensuring Fresno County remains competitive for federal funding opportunities.
Why Participate?
As Fresno County prepares for the next decade of growth, we are seeking input from a diverse range of stakeholders. Your involvement in the CEDS process will help define the county’s future by addressing key issues, identifying opportunities, and contributing to strategies that will foster sustainable economic development.
Project Highlights
- Equity & Inclusion: Promoting economic opportunities for underserved communities.
- Workforce Development: Enhancing job training and education to meet business needs.
- Resilience & Recovery: Building an economic recovery and resiliency plan to withstand future disruptions.
- Innovation & Sustainability: Supporting technology-driven industries and environmentally sustainable development.
Key Outcomes
The CEDS will result in several critical outcomes, including:
- A strategic plan to guide economic development across Fresno County and 14 cities.
- A framework for business attraction and retention, job creation, and infrastructure investments.
- A blueprint for building regional resilience and economic recovery from future shocks.
- A user-friendly digital dashboard for tracking progress and decision-making across the county.
Timeline
The project launched in mid-2024 with data collection and stakeholder engagement already underway. The final CEDS document is expected to be completed by Spring 2025. In the coming months, the project will include:
- Roundtable discussions with key stakeholders in October 2024.
- A competitive position analysis, including a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) assessment.
- Strategy workshops in early 2025 to refine the plan before its completion.
Who We Are
About the County of Fresno, Fresno County EDC and TIP Strategies
The COUNTY OF FRESNO was formed in 1856 encompassing 6,011 square miles in the Central Valley, with a population of 1,018,241 residents. County of Fresno government is defined and authorized under the California Constitution, law, and the Charter of the County of Fresno, and provides countywide services, including elections, voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health and social services. In addition, the County serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas.
FRESNO COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EDC) is a public-private nonprofit organization committed to marketing Fresno County as the premier location for business prosperity. The EDC facilitates site selection, business retention, and expansion through partnerships and resources. Over the past 40+ years, it has fostered job creation and attracted significant investments in Fresno County.
TIP STRATEGIES, INC. (TIP) is a privately held Austin-based firm providing consulting and advisory services to public and private sector clients. Established in 1995, the firm’s core competence in strategic planning for economic development has broadened to include expertise in talent strategies and in organizational development. TIP has worked with more than 400 communities across 44 states and 5 countries to develop innovative strategies, programs, and outreach campaigns.
CEDS Planning Committee
Lauren Nikkel
Fresno County Economic Development Corporation
Nick Audino
Newmark Pearson Commercial
Karen Foster
Selma Chamber of Commerce
Mike Kissinger
Kerman Chamber of Commerce
Will Oliver
Fresno County EDC
Deep Singh
City of Selma
Sean Brewer
City of Coalinga
Thomas Gaffery
City of Fowler
Lisa Olivera
Fresno Clovis Visitors Bureau
Lisa Swartz
Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce
Chris Brown
Fennemore Dowling Aaron
Cristian Gonzalez
City of Mendota
Cassandra Little
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
Nathan Olson
City of Sanger
Erik Valencia
Reedley Chamber of Commerce
Elizabeth Cabrera
City of San Joaquin
Nicole Zieba
City of Reedley
Ray Leon
City of Huron
John Jansons
City of Kerman
Jonathan Meza
Mendota Chamber of Commerce
Julian Ramos
Fresno County EDC
Ed Dunkel
Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.
Simran Jhutti
Fresno Council of Governments
Vong Mouanoutoua
Community Health System
Bernadette Rojas
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
Bryn Forhan
The Forhan Company
Bernard Jiminez
County of Fresno
Scott Netherton
Coalinga Chamber of Commerce
Fernando Santallian
City of Selma
Get Involved
Take the Survey!
Click here or scan QR code to take the Fresno County Community Vision Survey. This is your chance to provide input on the future of economic development in the County of Fresno!
For more information or inquiries, please contact:
Lauren Nikkel
lnikkel@fresnoedc.com
(559)721-2241