[Photo: City of Fresno]FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Developing business in Fresno’s Ventura-Kings Canyon Corridor is the gist of one city council member’s plan.
Fresno City Council Member Luis Chavez (above) is pitching a plan to the City of Fresno and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
According to the Business Journal’s Gabe Dillard – under Chavez’ plan, new businesses along the corridor would get breaks on city fees and taxes over a 10 year period.
“The program would be kinda similar to what brought Ulta and Amazon — their e-commerce distribution centers to Fresno. It would reimburse some of the taxes and fees paid by these businesses to operate,” said Dillard. “The incentives would be based on the number of employees.”
[Photo: The Business Journal]
Dillard, (above) speaking on the KMJ Morning show, said to receive the benefits each participating business would have to generate at least three full-time jobs, and it would apply to not only to existing buildings but also to new construction and expansions.
“During the great recession this part of town had vacancy rates of about 30 percent,” said Dillard. “Currently it’s about an 11 percent vacancy rate” on the more than four-mile stretch along Ventura Avenue and Kings Canyon Road, between First Street and Clovis Avenue.
Chavez already received the Chamber of Commerce’s approval now he needs Fresno City Council’s buy-in, as well, when it goes in front of council, this week.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
