FRESNO – The Central Valley’s first SelectUSA Spinoff is taking place in Fresno.
According to the announcement from the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, the event will bring international companies and investors to the region to explore investment opportunities and meet with local business, government and education leaders.
In a statement, President and CEO of the Fresno County EDC Will Oliver noted that California is known around the world for innovation, but said the Fresno-Madera area is another side of the state’s economic story that international companies should know about.
“The Fresno-Madera metropolitan area offers international companies access to the talent, infrastructure and opportunities of one of the world’s largest economies, together with a competitive cost structure, available land and room to grow,” Oliver said. “We call it Common Sense California, and this event gives us the opportunity to show investors that advantage firsthand.”
SelectUSA, a program from the U.S. Department of Commerce, is meant to promote and facilitate business investment into the United States. Spinoff events are a regional, multi-day program organized by local economic development organizations as an official extension of the federal SelectUSA Investment Summit. They’re held in conjunction with the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit, which provides international delegations an opportunity to visit communities throughout the country and learn directly about regional investment opportunities.
International companies that participate in the event will complete SelectUSA’s application and approval process, which is designed to identify firms that are considering investment or expansion in the United States.
The experience will also introduce international visitors to what makes the Central Valley distinctive beyond the business case, said the announcement. Delegates will have opportunities to experience the region’s agricultural heritage and farm-to-table food culture while learning about its proximity to some of California’s most recognizable natural destinations, including Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
“I am thrilled that Fresno EDC has been selected to host the Central Valley’s first SelectUSA Spinoff event. It is a valuable opportunity to connect international investors with the Fresno-Madera region’s strengths in agribusiness, food and beverage, equipment and machinery, talent and innovation,” said Bernadette Rojas, Central Valley and Coastal California Director of the International Trade Administration, in a statement.
Rojas added that foreign investment can create quality jobs, strengthen supply chains, bring new capital and technologies to the region and strengthen the Central Valley’s competitiveness in global markets.
The Fresno SelectUSA Spinoff is scheduled for April 2027, ahead of the SelectUSA Investment Summit in the Washington, D.C. area. It is being led by Fresno EDC with support and participation from Fresno State, the Madera County Economic Development Commission and other regional partners.
Additional details regarding participating organizations, programming and registration will be announced as planning continues.
The Fresno County Economic Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting job creation and investment throughout Fresno County. Working in partnership with Fresno County, its 15 incorporated cities, businesses, educational institutions and community partners, Fresno EDC provides business attraction, expansion, workforce development and economic development services designed to strengthen the region’s economy and expand opportunity for its residents.
