Fresno Sports Council/SMG Celebrates 5-year Anniversary     
Organization continues to bring New Events, Room Nights and Millions in Economic Impact to Fresno

In 2004 the Fresno Sports Council/SMG (FSC) was formed with the mission to bring sporting events to the City of Fresno and the region. In its first 5-years the FSC has booked and/or hosted over 150-events that consist of 18-National, 26-Regional and 57-State Championships including:

• 2005-2010 CIF Central Section Basketball Championships
• 2007 & 2008 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships
• 2007, 2008 & 2010 USA Taekwondo National Qualfier
• 2007 CIF Cross Country State Championships
• 2008 ASA Girls U-14 Fast Pitch Western Nationals
• 2008 & 2009 California/USA Wrestling Frosh/Soph Folkstyle Championships
• 2008 & 2009 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships
• 2009 ASA Men’s 45-Over Fast Pitch National Championship
• 2009 US Masters Swimming-Short Course National Championships
• 2010 ASA Girls U-16 Fast Pitch Western Nationals
• 2010 ASA Men’s Class D Western Nationals
• 2010 ASA Men’s 45-Over Fast Pitch National Championship
• 2010-13 AAU Cross Country National Championships

FSC events are expected to generate an estimated $30,000,000 in economic impact and $800,000 in hotel occupancy tax based on over 70,000 room nights for Fresno through 2013.

The FSC will continue to work closely with the Fresno Convention & Visitors Bureau, Fresno Parks & Recreation, local universities, colleges and high schools to bring new and larger events to Fresno and the region. These partnerships have been extremely valuable and have furthered Fresno’s reputation in the eyes of those who select event sites.

“We are pleased with the results of the FSC so far. It has been an excellent vehicle to promote the City of Fresno, its venues and amenities to the Sports Events Industry.” said Bill Overfelt, General Manager of the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center and Chief Financial Officer of the FSC. “The sports council will continue to pursue major sporting events for our City and we do expect its financial impact to increase even more in the next 5-years.”

The Fresno Sports Council is a non-profit organization managed by SMG on behalf of the City of Fresno. The FSC’s mission is to develop and attract sporting events to the greater Fresno area while driving economic impact. The FSC strives to promote the wide variety of venues available in the region and to position Fresno as a premier sports event destination.

The Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center is managed by SMG, the world’s largest private manager of public assembly facilities. The Philadelphia based company manages over 200 venues, in 41 states, Puerto Rico, Asia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Canada and Europe, controls over 1.4 million entertainment seats worldwide, and manages more than ten million feet of exhibit space. For additional company information, visit www.smgworld.com.

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1st Annual Central Valley Health Forum     
May 27, 2009, Fresno Convention Center

Broad and accumulating evidence shows that 30 to 40 percent of our health care dollars are spent on care that is clinically sub-standard, medically unnecessary or unsafe.
When purchasers, providers, health plans, patients and communities work together, they can dramatically improve both the quality and cost of health care, leading to better employee and community health and lower health costs.
The May 27th conference will propose concrete strategies to eliminate under-use, overuse and misuse of care that endanger patients while adding to employer, family and community health costs.

Central Valley employers, unions, health and welfare trust funds, HR professionals, providers, health advocates and community residents are invited and encouraged to attend.
To learn more, please download the official invitation and visit http://chccnet.org/centfor09.htm to register online.

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DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION   

Motorcycles, Music, and Kebab   

The Downtown and Community Revitalization Department along with a dynamic network of community partners are hosting two free, fun filled, family-friendly events on the Fulton Mall in downtown Fresno within the next few weeks.

The Fulton Rev Fest -- Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30th. There will be a motorcycle parade down Fulton Mall on Friday evening. Radio host Ray Appleton will serve as the Grand Marshal, with special guest Miss Fresno County. After the parade, the bikes will be showcased at Chukchansi Park during the Grizzlies baseball game.

All day Saturday there will be a Motorcycle Show and Contest, local blues bands, with food and fun for the whole family. As part of the event the Fresno Police Department will also be hosting its Motorcycle Skills Competition within walking distance. For more information, visit www.revfest.org.

The Fresno HyeFest -- Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th. This event is a celebration of Armenian culture which will showcase food, music, dance, art, and much more. The goal of Fresno HyeFest is to share the ancient and rich culture of the Armenian people with the Fresno community. Please visit www.hyefest.org for more information.

Events like these show everyone what a thriving downtown looks like. “…lots of happy people, great food and drink, and terrific local music are key, whether it’s to celebrate motorcycles or any other Valley culture.”, says Elliott Balch, Downtown Revitalization Manager for the City of Fresno.

If you are interested in being a sponsor or a vendor, contact Angela Vasquez at angela.vasquez@fresno.gov or 559-621-8354. Volunteers are needed; please contact Jenna Slawinski at jenna.slawinski@fresno.gov or 559-621-8359 to sign up.

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PBID Property Owner Meetings on May 13 and 14   

The Downtown Fresno Partnership invites all Downtown property owners to meetings on May 13-14 regarding the proposed downtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID). In addition, a public meeting is being held for business owners and other interested parties on Friday, May 15. For times, locations, and areas included, visit www.downtownfresno.org/pbid.

At these meetings, a new draft business plan will identify possible assessment levels and benefits, and owners will be encouraged to comment on the proposal. Since property owners control all aspects of the PBID (boundaries, services, budget, governance and assessment), the May meetings are their opportunity to make key decisions as the PBID formation process enters its final stages.
More information is available at www.downtownfresno.org/pbid, by email (pbid@downtownfresno.org), or by calling Jan Minami at 559.490.9966 or 559.859.1763 or Dan Doyle at 559.323.3320.

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City Seeks Members for New Downtown Planning Committee   

Applications are now being accepted for a new citizen’s committee to help guide the future development of downtown Fresno. The 21-member committee will assist with the creation of the city’s Fulton Corridor Specific Plan, ecompassing a variety of unique project areas including the Cultural Arts District, Central Business District, South Stadium area and Chinatown.

The Fulton Corridor Specific Plan will be the community's vision for its own future. The Fulton Corridor Specific Plan will contain a new set of development laws and focus intensely on the design of the built environment, integrating land use planning with the potential economic impacts of the community’s choices.

Applicants should have an interest in planning and development policies and be familiar with various downtown issues such as historic preservation and building standards, as well as business and social conditions. Property owners, business owners, and residents within the downtown area are encouraged to apply.

The committee is expected to begin its work in July and will continue through the completion and approval of the plan in 2010. Online applications are available through the City of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov/boards. For additional information, contact Wilma Quan in the Downtown and Community Revitalization Department at 559-621-8371 or wilma.quan@fresno.gov.

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Downtown Farmers Market Begins in May       

In January the Fresno County EOC, the Downtown Association, and the City of Fresno released a community survey about the decades-old idea of a farmers' market on the Fulton Mall. Over 1,500 respondents gave feedback on their preferred days, times, and product offerings.

Backed by that input and support, the new "Market on the Mall" is set to launch Wednesday, May 13, at the corner of Mariposa and Fulton Mall. Please join Mayor Ashley Swearengin and the City's nonprofit partners that day at 12 noon at the Mall's Free Speech Stage for a celebration of the Market opening.

The Market on the Mall will run from 10am to 2pm each Wednesday and Friday through the fall. The Market's central location and midday time make it convenient for thousands of Downtown workers, jurors, hotel guests, FAX bus riders, and EOC voucher clients.

"The Market on the Mall is a great example of combining resources creatively to serve a range of needs in our community," said Mayor Swearengin. "I am proud to see that our Valley's agricultural heritage is playing a role in the revitalization of downtown Fresno."

Market offerings will be organic and seasonal, with fresh produce and other farm products certified to come straight from local growers and producers. As the season progresses, be sure to check the "Market on the Mall" website at www.downtownfresno.org/market for updates on lunchtime entertainment and product offerings.

Bon appétit!

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Downtown Dining Guide helps the Lunch Bunch   

Jurors, convention-goers and the Downtown Fresno workforce are finding it easier to enjoy lunch this spring and summer! The new Downtown Fresno dining guide helps you find delicious food in Downtown Fresno. Businesses can use this guide to assist customers in navigating Downtown Fresno.
Guides are available in hotels, restaurants and many office buildings. Individual and bulk copies are available by calling the Downtown Association at 559.490.9966 or emailing <info@downtownfresno.org>. For an online restaurant listing, visit www.downtownfresno.org/dining.

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FILM, ENTERTAINMENT,& TOURISM   

Why Some Trade Shows Still Work   

The Fresno Film and Entertainment Commission (FFEC) recently participated in the 24th annual LOCATIONS Trade Show in Santa Monica. FFEC Commissioner Ray Arthur met with over 100 Hollywood decision makers over the three day event. LOCATIONS is produced by the Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI) and is the only worldwide locations event of its kind. Arthur, who has attended since 1992, noted that both the quality and quantity of participation was the best it's been in several years.

Arthur commented that the well worn trade show format still sizzles in Hollywood for at least three reasons. The location professionals that film commissions need to reach are rarely all in one place at one time but the LOCATIONS show reaches them when most series have wrapped but before the TV pilot season has begun. Secondly, there’s only one! Many industries have multiple trade shows throughout the year. For ‘on location’ film production, LOCATIONS is the only game in town. And finally, everybody loves Santa Monica.

The FFEC is following up with a direct mail campaign to all the participants. Arthur states that new contacts mean an introduction of the greater Fresno area to production companies who have never previously considered our city, while the networking opportunities with location professionals going back 18 years keep the lines of communications open and current. 

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GREEN ENTERPRISE    

Common Vision-Fruit Tree Tour Visit Fresno   

Got Food? Common Vision brought PLENTY of food to Fresno as they planted over 19 fruit trees at the African American Cultural Museum on Friday, March 20, 2009. The best seller; “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan talks about our lack of fresh foods, an idea that recent tour by Common Vision embraces. Michael Pollan discusses just how “starved” we are as a society with so many food choices pre-packaged and scientifically engineered. Simple solution; plant and grow your food; just as Common Vision does on their Emmy Award winning – Fruit Tree Tour!

Tree Fresno in collaboration with Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling supported the Fresno portion of Common Vision’s Fruit Tree Tour on March 19-20, 2009. Common Vision; over the past 5 years has directly impacted 40,000 students, transformed over 100 urban schools and community centers into abundant orchards, and planted over 3,000 fruit trees. In the spring of 2009, 27 eco-educators and performing artists traveled in the world's largest veggie- oil-powered caravan to plant trees, play drums, dance, perform, and write eco-rhymes with urban youth and adults from San Diego to Sacramento. Fresno was in the middle of this most exciting tour benefiting from over 40 trees planted at the Museum, Kirk and Columbia Elementary Schools.

Common Vision brings inspiring and relevant earth education to diverse communities and to cultivate dynamic and experienced leaders in sustainability practice and education. With a fleet of vegetable-powered vehicles, a dedicated staff, and big vision, Common Vision’s mobile operation weaves a wide network in California as it creates and inspires collaborations amongst volunteers, schools, farms, mentors, nurseries, musicians, and native peoples

Tree Fresno’s project director, Karen Maroot quotes; “While Tree Fresno focuses mainly on shade trees to help our air quality and decrease people’s utility bills; we could not help but support Common Vision’s Tour; they had a whimsical performance about caring for our planet that engaged students of all ages with music and a fun theatrical performance; these kids left the event feeling good and knowing they have the power to make a difference! We will most definitely support another visit by Common Vision and I encourage families to plant more trees, shade or fruit, it’s ALL GOOD!”

Looking to get more “green” in your life; join Tree Fresno in one of their many upcoming plantings; www.treefresno.org

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LOCAL BUSINESS INITIATIVES   

Enterprise Zone Sets record Breaking Numbers   

The Downtown and Community Revitalization Department is happy to announce that a record 765 Enterprise Zone vouchers were processed in April! Each of these vouchers represents an employee hired by a business located in the City of Fresno Enterprise Zone. They also represent a potential $37,440 in state tax credits for the employer. That's money right off their bottom line! During these tough economic times it's increasingly important for businesses to look into additional ways to save money. Tax credits offered by the City of Fresno's incentive zones equal more jobs and more money invested back into our community. Don't let Sacramento take your money! Visit our website at www.fresnoez.com or contact the City of Fresno's Incentive Zone Manager at kelly.trevino@fresno.gov or (559) 621-8426 to learn more and sign up to attend a FREE WORKSHOP!

The City of Fresno offers FREE WORKSHOPS for businesses, CPA's, Realtors, and others interested in the Enterprise, Empowerment, and Municipal Restoration Zones. Don't leave money on the table! Learn how to make these zones work for you! Visit our website at www.fresnoez.com for upcoming workshop dates or contact the City of Fresno Incentive Zone Manager at kelly.trevino@fresno.gov or (559) 621-8426.

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Partnering with our Business Community to find Common Solutions   

On May 7th the Department launched our first “Affinity Group,” a local business initiative that gives local businesses from similar industries the opportunity to meet with City staff and the Mayor’s office to discuss any issues they are currently experiencing with local government or how the City can better serve a particular industry.

In this case we met with representatives from over 20 local staffing and personnel agencies with a specific goal in mind: how can we as a City best communicate the different employment opportunities to our residence, and how can we get our employment agencies to work together collectively to decrease our local unemployment rate.

The input from the Personnel, Staffing and Recruiter agencies proved to be invaluable. A number of recommendations came from the group including innovative ideas on ways to train individuals for executive positions, the value of communicating to our community that through these agencies hundreds of people a year are placed temporary to full time positions, and much more.

While the short term goals of the affinity groups are to solve the day to day issues for local business owners, the long term goal is to create a sustainable, transparent relationship between the local business community and the City and to provide efficient services to help our local businesses thrive.
This month we will also be meeting with local licensed contractors and in June will be meeting with local Certified Public Accountants.

If you fit into one of these categories and want to be sure to be included in the affinity group, or if you would like to recommend an affinity group for your business industry please contact Amy Huerta at 621-8362 or amy.huerta@fresno.gov

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Conserving Water makes, “PureSense”   

The Department of Downtown and Community Revitalization partnered with Councilmember Andreas Borgeas to proclaim May as “Water Wise” month. In addition to an official proclamation, Claude Laval spoke to the City Council about the importance of our region being the leader in water technology, capitalizing on our resources and supporting locally owned water technology companies as they are an economic driver in our region.

In conjunction with the proclamation presentation, the PrimeTime for business honoree was Pure Sense out of the WET Incubator. PureSense enables growers make better crop irrigation decisions, gaining more profit per acre through the efficient use of water and other farm inputs- a great example of a business making there way in one of our region’s most thriving industry.

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Are You a Small and Locally Owned Business?   
The City of Fresno wants to do Business with You        

Our locally owned small businesses had a huge win during the first 100 days of the Swearengin Administration- the City Council passed an ordinance that gives a 5% preference to locally owned small businesses who bid on City projects through the Purchasing Department. The Purchasing Department is responsible for the needs of the City in supplies, materials, equipment services, and bids on all public works projects (excluding consulting services which are purchased directly by City departments). The preference is given to those businesses who are in Fresno County or are in a 25 mile radius of City Hall and who have less than 100 employees and less than $12 million in revenue.

While the ordinance is a step in the right direction, it is imperative to give the local businesses the tools they need to be able to successfully bid on projects. Our department will be partnering with the Purchasing Department to host quarterly workshops for businesses who want to learn how to win contracts with the City. The first workshop is set for Friday, June 12, 2009. For more information, please contact Amy Huerta at 559/621-8362 or amy.huerta@fresno.gov.

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SBA expands eligibility for 7(a) loans       

More small businesses will be eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration-backed loans, meaning greater access to much-needed capital in this tough economy, as a result of a temporary alternate size standard for the agency's largest lending program.

SBA’s alternate size standard for its 7(a) loan program will go into effect early next week and extend through Sept. 30, 2010. As a result of the temporary change, more than 70,000 additional small businesses — including auto and RV dealerships, auto industry suppliers and others — could be eligible to apply for SBA 7(a) loans.

“This is just one more step we are taking to make sure small businesses have access to capital to keep their doors open and employees working during these tough economic times,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. “We have seen signs that small businesses that are just outside the traditional 7(a) size standard are being shut out of the conventional lending market. This temporary change will help those businesses weather these tough times and help move our nation closer to economic recovery.”

The temporary 7(a) loan size standard will parallel the standard for the agency’s 504 Certified Development Company loan and will allow businesses to qualify based on net worth and average income. The net worth for the company and its affiliates can’t be in excess of $8.5 million, and average net income after federal income taxes (excluding any carryover losses) for the preceding two completed fiscal years can’t be more than $3 million.

The temporary change to the 7(a) loan size standard is not unprecedented. SBA took similar actions in 1993 as a result of the recession of the early 1990s and again in 2005 as part of a program aimed at helping small businesses in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

This change also means more small businesses can take advantage of benefits made possible through the Recovery Act. On March 16, the SBA implemented two key provisions of the Recovery Act that raised the guarantee on 7(a) loans to 90 percent and reduced fees for borrowers. Since then, the agency has seen average weekly 7(a) loan volume increase by more than 25 percent and new SBA loans made by nearly 450 lenders who had not made loans since October 2008.
For more information about SBA’s revisions to its small business size standards, visit http://www.sba.gov/size/indexwhatsnew.html and click on “What’s New about Small Business Size Standards.”

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NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION

Neighborhood Revitalization   

With the new focus of our department, I thought I would take the opportunity to write about neighborhood revitalization.

The mission is to restore the historic neighborhoods that encircle downtown Fresno into healthy, mixed-income communities that are desirable for their quality of life and their proximity to a revitalized city center.

We are focusing our efforts on the neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, and will use a “People and Place” strategy. This means that we will not only focus on the neighborhood, but also on the people that live in the neighborhoods. Concentrated poverty is the proportion of people who live in high poverty neighborhoods; a double burden.

Our first neighborhood of focus is the Lowell Elementary school area. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Fresno.

A lot of people ask me “What do they need?” The answer is so simple, yet for so long has seemed unattainable. “They” need and want all the same things the rest of us enjoy, a good quality of life for themselves and their families, access to ALL services and access to opportunities to improve their lives.

Goal in Lowell

 We are going to transform this neighborhood

 It will look, feel and be better five years from now

 Incremental change to people’s lives, hopes, skills

In the months to come, we will be working with various City departments, such as, Parks, Planning, Police, and Public Works to coordinate services. Additionally, we will work with non-profits, faith-based and community based organizations, as well as partnering agencies such as Fresno Unified School District, California State University, Fresno, HII, WIB, EOC, County of Fresno and others to coordinate services to the neighborhoods of concentrated poverty that encircle downtown Fresno.

We will be able to layer and leverage resources in an effort to become as efficient as possible. Please join us in this rewarding work.

Elaine Robles, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager

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