For many years, Fresno basked in its plentiful sun, quiet, and stillness. Steadfastly building on its agricultural foundation, Fresno enjoyed small town amenities, while the metropolitan centers to the north and south were concerned with "big city" issues.  

We were a quieter place then.Today we are a rapidly growing, culturally diverse city of more than 400,000 people. The City's central location, with over 35 million consumers within a days drive, catapulted Fresno near the top of an Ernst and Young study of preferred sites for manufacturing and distribution. Designated as a "Port of Entry", Fresno's  location and comprehensive transportation network make  it a natural distribution hub for a myriad of goods and services.

Still under construction, the new Gap distribution  center located near Fresno Yosemite Internation Airport. One of the primary reasons the Gap chose Fresno was its central location.

   
Enterprise Zones are another of Fresno's many treasures available to area businesses. These zones enable the city to offer tax credits, employee benefits, priority status for bond and infrastructure financing, reductions in development fees, and numerous other incentives.  

Fresno is also home to nationally and globally recognized organizations such as:  

Quickie Designs - one of the nations largest wheelchair manufacturers  

Pelco - a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of cameras and surveillance equipment.  

Grundfos Pumps - the North American headquarters for one of the world's leading pump manufacturers  

Gottschalks - a large (and growing) department store chain with stores throughout the west coast  

Duncan Enterprises - the world's largest hobby ceramics manufacturer  Nisshinbo Industries - a leading Japanese textile manufacturer  

The Gap Stores - recently broke ground on a $200 million distribution facility  

Aetna - regional claims processing center for one of the nation's largest insurance providers  

Agricultural processing constitutes a large percentage of Fresno's manufacturing industry. Products manufactured in the Fresno area include:  

                  Canned, cured, dried, and frozen foods  
                  Non-electrical machinery  
                  Metal products  
                  Transportation equipment  
                  Athletic equipment  
                  Stone, clay, and glass products  
                  Extruded plastic products  
                  Lumber and wood products  
                  Furniture and fixtures  
                  Apparel and textile products  
                  Chemical products  
                  Electrical and electronic equipment