More than 120 Attend Event to Attract More Business Interest to California and Central Valley - TeamCalifornia's Meet The Consultants Forum

More than 120 business professionals attended TeamCalifornia’s Meet the Consultants Site Selection & Economic Development Forum at the Visalia Convention Center on August 6-8, 2024. The Meet the Consultants Forum is held in a different California each year, with the County of Tulare serving as the Host County for 2024.

"Hosting our event in different regions allows us to showcase the numerous development opportunities across California. This year, 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.”

The event brought together site selectors, economic development practitioners, business professionals from across the state, and local dignitaries, to explore trends various topics, including site selection, retail and commercial investments, energy projects, marketing, and strategic storytelling. Featuring 13 dynamic speakers from across the nation, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Georgia, the forum ignited meaningful discussions. Site selectors from major retail brands like Jersey Mike’s, Wienerschnitzel, and Dairy Queen attended. Notably, Adam Peck, Executive Director of the Tulare County Workforce Investment Board, emphasized the County's young and available workforce, enhancing its appeal as a prime business destination.

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

As noted by Alida Verduzco Silva, Economic Development Manager for the County of Tulare, the event not only showcased the business opportunities within Tulare 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. In addition to that, 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,” Verduzco Silva said.

Local Collaboration

The forum was sponsored by various organizations, including the State of California’s Employment Training Panel (ETP), REsimplifi, the City of Fresno, Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Stockton, and local Tulare County businesses: Stafford’s Chocolates, Reimer’s Candies and Gifts, Eagle Mountain Casino, and Setton Pistachios. Rob Taylor, owner of Stafford’s Chocolates and Reimer’s Candies, played a key role by leading a tour of Sequoia National Park and featuring his products as the Official Chocolate of the event. Local sponsors also included the cities of Visalia, Tulare, and Porterville, which collaborated seamlessly with the County to ensure the event's success. The Tulare County Economic Development Office (EDO) worked closely with TeamCalifornia, the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC), the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED), and other regional organizations to make the event a success. The County’s forward-thinking approach and collaborative spirit also make it a leading voice at the California Jobs First table and in the Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative (S2J2) to boost opportunities in the Central Valley, with Washam heading the County’s efforts on that front.

Tulare County Tours

With nearly 5,000 square miles to cover, Tulare County staff found ways to highlight regional industrial opportunities.

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

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 to the north of the County along the Sequoia Day Trip route. Individual tours were also available by request. The showcase emphasized the county's collaborative efforts, from business inquiries to permitting, development, and workforce training.

“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.”