MCEDC would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope that your holiday season is jolly and bright! With heavy hearts during these tough economic times we hope that 2009 blesses you with good fortune.
SAVE THE DATE
Attention Manufacturer’s- GMCIA Meeting December 10, 2008 at Noon
Madera Manufacturer’s, please attend the upcoming Greater Madera County Industrial Association (GMCIA) meeting on December 10, 2008 at Noon, located at the Madera Municipal Golf Course.
For more information, contact Shirley Driggs at 559-673-8496.
Madera County Economic Development Commission (MCEDC) will hold their quarterly Commissioners Meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the Madera County EDC office located at 2425 W. Cleveland Ave. The public is welcome to attend MCEDC's Commissioner Meetings. This is a great opportunity to meet Economic Development staff and learn more about the mission and services that MCEDC provides.
Note: MCEDC requests that presentations are no longer than 3-5 minutes.
Chukchansi gives back to the county The Chowchilla News
Representatives from several Madera County agencies, schools and nonprofit organizations gathered at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino for the second annual Community Grant Awards Dinner. The Chukchansi tribe, for the second year in a row, presented $1 million in grants throughout Madera County. The grants were offered as part of a 10-year agreement between the county and the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. Read more
Madera County sees growth boom The Business Journal
Retail development and industrial expansion are this year’s big accomplishments in Madera County, where “change” is the new buzzword and part of the county’s goal to grow its cities and towns. The Madera County Economic Development Commission shared some of the highlights from this year’s work. Read article
Madera school officials redraw district lines The Business Journal
The Madera Unified School District has approved newly drawn lines for school board elections. Hispanic voters will be the majority in four of seven districts. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights sued the district in August, claiming its at-large elections violated the California Voting Rights Act by putting Hispanic candidates at a disadvantage. Read more
Chowchilla breaks ground on a new Kentucky Fried Chicken/ Taco Bell restaurant
Chowchilla had an official ground breaking of a new Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell Restaurant located in the Fig Tree Plaza shopping center. The new establishment is expected to open in early 2009. The franchise owner is Tim Duncan. The shopping center also includes a 50,000 square foot Savemart Supermarket that opened in August.
The grand opening of The Dojo, Valdez Karate and Fitness Center was kicked off with a Madera Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony. The Dojo is located at 1600 Howard Road in Madera. Owner and head instructor Pete Valdez is offering martial arts classes, fitness classes and birthday party entertainment. For more information please visit www.valdezdojo.com.
The Tackle Box Too in Madera celebrates a Grand Opening
New owners of the Tackle Box Too, Brandon and Patrese Hedding celebrated a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony given by the Madera Chamber of Commerce. The new owners are offering a variety of new services and products. They are expanding their deli services to include weekend barbeque and small event catering and facilities. To learn more about the owners and business please visit www.tackleboxtoo.com.
Valley casino future unsure Vegas company faces financial struggles Fresno Bee
The Las Vegas company that wants to build a $250 million casino off Highway 99 near Madera is struggling financially and may have trouble lining up money to fund the project, gaming industry analysts say. Station Casinos, however, says it expects to make its debt payments on time and complete the Madera project. Since it could be two years before the Madera casino breaks ground, there is a good chance Station Casinos will be able to fund the project, assuming it survives the nation’s economic storm, says Bill Eadington, an economic professor and the director of the institute for the Study of Gaming and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada in Reno. Read article.
Gottschalks sells stock to Chinese Deal will give 75% to overseas firm, brings $30m cash infusion Fresno Bee
Gottschalks Inc. has inked a deal giving the retail chain a transfusion of up to $30 million and placing majority ownership into Chinese hands. The agreement between the Fresno based department-store company and Everbright Development Overseas Ltd. Still requires approval by Gottschalks shareholders, its lenders and federal regulators. The deal is expected to close in mid-January. Read more
California tops Wisconsin in milk production The Business Journal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says California remains the top milk producing state in the country, well ahead of rival Wisconsin. California cows produced 287 million gallons of milk in October, ahead of Wisconsin’s 173 million gallons. Read more
Georgia Pacific rewards workers for safe days Madera Tribune
Employees of Madera’s Georgia-Pacific box plant were treated to steak and lobster feast to celebrate 365 days without a recordable accident. The plant operates three shifts a day in a 475,000 square-foot facility built in 1972 by Berry Construction on Ave 13 near Road 24. The facility is the largest box manufacturing plant Georgia-Pacific owns. The plant turns out about 220 million boxes a year. Read more
Fresno in center of warehouse action What makes the valley such an attractive redistribution site to warehousing companies? Fresno Bee
The central San Joaquin Valley is becoming a major distribution center for the western United States—but its foothold could be challenged by competitors as diverse as a Mexican port and faraway Indian reservations. An industry survey says relatively low operating costs and a midstate location make the Valley a strong candidate when businesses are looking for new warehouse sites. Read article
(Pictured is one of the two Madera Buzz Oates/Span buildings available for lease)
Greetings, 
Madera Manufacturer’s, please attend the upcoming Greater Madera County Industrial Association (GMCIA) meeting on December 10, 2008 at Noon, located at the Madera Municipal Golf Course. 
Chowchilla had an official ground breaking of a new Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell Restaurant located in the Fig Tree Plaza shopping center. The new establishment is expected to open in early 2009. The franchise owner is Tim Duncan. The shopping center also includes a 50,000 square foot Savemart Supermarket that opened in August.
The grand opening of The Dojo, Valdez Karate and Fitness Center was kicked off with a Madera Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony. The Dojo is located at 1600 Howard Road in Madera. Owner and head instructor Pete Valdez is offering martial arts classes, fitness classes and birthday party entertainment. For more information please visit 
The central San Joaquin Valley is becoming a major distribution center for the western United States—but its foothold could be challenged by competitors as diverse as a Mexican port and faraway Indian reservations. An industry survey says relatively low operating costs and a midstate location make the Valley a strong candidate when businesses are looking for new warehouse sites.