Welcome to Madera County Economic Development’s E-BIZ! On a monthly basis, our online Newsletter covers important local, regional and national news that impacts our local economy. E-BIZ reports on new projects and events in our cities and towns and keeps readers up to date on the state of the region’s economy. News about your business is always welcome.
Attention Manufacturer's- GMCIA Meeting
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 at 7:00AM
Madera Municipal Golf Course
Madera Manufacturer's, please attend the upcoming Greater Madera County Industrial Association (GMCIA) meeting on May 11th, 2011 at 7:00AM, located at the Madera Municipal Golf Course.
For more information, contact Shirley Driggs at 559-673-8496.
Madera Pomegranate Celebration and Festival May 25, 2011 12:00pm
Madera Community Hospital
Join the Madera Tourism Alliance at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, May 25 at Madera Community Hospital to learn how your business can take part in the Madera Pomegranate Celebration Oct 30 - Nov 6.
Have your business included in this weeklong event celebrating Madera for FREE! Lunch will be provided, cost is $5.
We are still pushing our "Bring Target to Madera County, CA" campaign on Facebook. We have over 2,100 fans and are still gain more everyday. If you haven't already please help support the campaign and click
Madera County could use the jobs, sales tax revenue and new shopping outlet. Click here to
Featured Property Turn-Key Office-Ready Warehouse-For Lease
3451 Yeager Road, Madera CA
Lease Rate: $8,550/Month NNN
3,000 +/- SF Furnished Office/Showroom
(3) 12' x 14' Roll-Up Grade Doors
18' Clear Height
Located close to Madera Airport
400 AMP Electrical
16,000 +/- SF Warehouse
Includes 5,000+/- SF Cool Storage
3.52 +/- Acres
Concrete Tilt-up
Comments: Building was constructed in 1998. Warehouse space with 5,000+/- available cool storage area can maintain the temperature between 50 and 60. Ample pave storage and multiple roll-up doors. Turn-Key, well-maintained showroom/retail store with private and open offices. Existing furniture in place is available to tenant.
Every Thursday night a group of Mountain Area residents gather at the Yosemite Lakes Park clubhouse to watch with anticipation as contestants are knocked off of American Idol. Why? Because one of the eight contestants has close ties to a Yosemite Lakes Park resident. Sara Ball, maternal aunt to rocker James Durbin, and her friends and other residents have been gathering to cheer on the popular 22 year-old contestant from Santa Cruz, in the 10th season of the most watched TV show in history. Read more
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau Debuts New Website SFGate.com
The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau unveiled a new website during their recent Board of Directors meeting. The websiteis aimed at potential visitors looking for the California experience. "The idea of this site is to target that person looking to experience California by showing that Madera County has just about everything for which our state is known," said Jarrod Lyman. Read more
Madera County School is selected as a 2011 California Distinguished School CA Department of Education Press Release
Chowchilla's Dairyland Elementary School was selected along with 96 other California public middle and high Schools as a 2011 California Distinguished School. The California School Recognition Program is now in its 25th year and honors the state's most exemplary and inspiring public schools with the California Distinguished School Award. The 97 schools identified join more than 5,300 public schools that have been designated or redesignated a Distinguished School.
Agency makes long-range economic plans Madera Tribune
Correction to article:
Houlding & Kaufman Ironworks Inc. is a business start-up company established and owned by local businessmen Todd Houlding and Tom Kaufman.
Recent Economic Development projects include: Oakhurst's Sheriff's Department Substation, John W. Wells Youth Center, Madera County Fossil Discovery Center, SCCCD's Madera Center's-Center for Advanced Manufacturing. ~MCEDC did not directly assist with the above projects but values the economic benefits they bring to the community.
When major real estate brokers look for a California presence, Madera County should be first on their list, said Bobby Kahn, director of the County's Economic Development Commission. The EDC is in the business of long-range economic planning for the county, said Kahn. The department connects companies that either are starting a new business or are relocation to Madera County. Read more
Madera's oldest family winery (and oldest Port winery in the U.S.) has recently been awarded Gold Medals at two major wine competition in the United States. At the recent 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine competition, Ficklin's Hazelnut Passport was awarded a Gold Medal. Also, at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in New York, Ficklin's Hazelnut PassPort, 1996 Vintage Port, the Aged 10 Year Tawny Port, and the Old Vine Tinta Port all were judged and awarded Gold Medals. Read more
Valley wineries come away with medals The business Journal
The San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association announced good news about several awards reaped by three of its member wineries at some recent competitions (including Madera County wineries. At the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Fasi Crest winery of Madera earned a gold for its 2007 Syrah along with a silver medal for its 2008 Sweet Syrah. Birdstone Winery of Madera came away with a gold medal for its 1997 Tinta Madera Port during the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition held in January. Read more.
Twin Pomegranates expands distribution The Business Journal
Twin Pomegranates, a Madera winemaker that uses the Asiatic Fruit in its vino, cut deals to expand its distribution in Save Mart and Luck's grocery stores. Locations that will stock the company's wine range from Chico to Bakersfield in the Central Valley and stores in the San Diego and Reno, Nev. areas. Read more.
A local store that's been in business a little more than a year was nationally recognized by a new corporation award program for its superior customer service, sales and contributions to the community. The Madera store was among 190 locations across the country to receive the 2011 Sears Hometown Store Premier Dealer award. Read more.
Madera Ford Agency is under new ownership Madera Tribune
In a move consistent with Ford Motor Co.'s "One Ford Plan," which aims to consolidate dealerships to bring in more profit, the Madera Ford agency has been purchased by Chowchilla's Silva Ford. Formerly known as Madera Ford Mercury, the car lot on 200 S. Madera Ave. became Silva Ford on March 30. Read more.
Money available for electric mowers New Funding for popular lawn mower trade-in program
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
New funding and a simplified, regional voucher request process will make clean, electric lawn mowers available to more Valley residents through the Clean, Green Yard Machine program began on April 11. The lawn mower trade-in program replaces old, polluting, gas-powered mowers with clean, electric Neuton mowers for just $50 (14"cutting blade) or $100 (19" cutting blade), including shipping, with the trade-in of an older, gas-powered mower. Vouchers will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more details about the program, visit www.valleyair.org
Tax-Exempt financing for Real Estate and Equipment California Enterprise Development Authority
California Enterprise Development Authority is pleased to offer tax-exempt financing to encourage economic development throughout California. Both manufacturers and eligible non-profits can use this low-cost financing tool to purchase, construct and equip their facility. Click here for a flyer.
For more information on Industrial Development Bonds, 501 (c) (3) Bonds or other Private Activity Bonds please contact Mona Dmitrenko, Executive Director, California Enterprise Development Authority. Call 916.448.8252 ext. 16 or email monad@caled.org
Madera Manufacturer's, please attend the upcoming Greater Madera County Industrial Association (GMCIA) meeting on May 11th, 2011 at 7:00AM, located at the Madera Municipal Golf Course. 
Every Thursday night a group of Mountain Area residents gather at the Yosemite Lakes Park clubhouse to watch with anticipation as contestants are knocked off of American Idol. Why? Because one of the eight contestants has close ties to a Yosemite Lakes Park resident. Sara Ball, maternal aunt to rocker James Durbin, and her friends and other residents have been gathering to cheer on the popular 22 year-old contestant from Santa Cruz, in the 10th season of the most watched TV show in history. 
The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau unveiled a new website during their recent Board of Directors meeting. The 
Madera's oldest family winery (and oldest Port winery in the U.S.) has recently been awarded Gold Medals at two major wine competition in the United States. At the recent 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine competition, Ficklin's Hazelnut Passport was awarded a Gold Medal. Also, at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in New York, Ficklin's Hazelnut PassPort, 1996 Vintage Port, the Aged 10 Year Tawny Port, and the Old Vine Tinta Port all were judged and awarded Gold Medals.
In a move consistent with Ford Motor Co.'s "One Ford Plan," which aims to consolidate dealerships to bring in more profit, the Madera Ford agency has been purchased by Chowchilla's Silva Ford. Formerly known as Madera Ford Mercury, the car lot on 200 S. Madera Ave. became Silva Ford on March 30. 
