Tulare County leaders at the table during statewide economic development forum

More than 120 business professionals attended TeamCalifornia ’s Meet the Consultants Site Selection & Economic Development Forum at the Visalia Convention Center.

The event is held in a different California county each year, with Tulare County serving as the host for the 2024 forum.

"We had the chance to experience firsthand the excitement surrounding one of the state's fastest-growing areas," said Robin Reimold, president and CEO of TeamCalifornia, about holding the event in Tulare County. "The county's eight cities work seamlessly together on regional projects and maintain strong partnerships with other jurisdictions, driven by the belief that we can achieve much more through collaboration."

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The event, which featured speakers from as far away as Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Georgia, brought together site selectors, economic development practitioners, and business professionals to explore various topics, including site selection, retail and commercial investments, energy projects, marketing, trends, and strategic storytelling.

Site selectors from major retail brands such as Jersey Mike’s, Wienerschnitzel, and Dairy Queen were also in attendance.

Showcasing Tulare County's diverse workforce

Adam Peck, executive director of the Tulare County Workforce Investment Board, emphasized the county's young and available workforce, promoting its appeal as a prime business destination.

“Dealmaking begins with relationships,” said Michael Washam, ACE, associate director of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency. “When local leaders sit down and make connections with each other and site selectors, that is when growth happens.”

Alida Verduzco Silva, county economic development manager, said the event not only showcased the business opportunities within the county’s eight cities and 43 unincorporated communities, but also fostered statewide collaboration, expanding economic growth opportunities across California.

“We have a very strong agricultural economy here,” Verduzco Silva said. “We are also focused on securing more diversity and growth in other sectors of our economy, including advanced manufacturing, and retail and commercial investments, in hopes of generating more jobs here in the region.”

Exploring Tulare County

Tulare County staff drew attention to regional industrial opportunities.

"While the forum was held in Visalia, we creatively showcased various areas to our visiting site selectors," Washam said.

During the dinner sponsored by Eagle Mountain Casino, county and city staff showcased key sites in the southern part of the county. Staff also arranged a tour of development opportunities along the Sequoia Day Trip route. The showcase emphasized the county's collaborative efforts, from business inquiries to permitting, development, and workforce training.

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“At the end of the day, site selection is about job creation,” Verduzco Silva said. “Building capacity to understand the site selection process related to how decisions about where jobs will go are made, and how our communities can position themselves for that growth in a county that is already seeing amazing population growth and opportunities is a key takeaway.”

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County leaders at the table during statewide economic development forum