Economic Development

WHY VISALIA? 

Put simply:

We offer the most affordable homes in CA when comparing local home prices with local incomes (according to www.homearea.com).

We have a world class local healthcare system including numerous family practices, the Family HealthCare Network, and Kaweah Health Medical Center which is ranked one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals (according to www.healthgrades.com) and the only hospital between Madera and Kern counties to earn the distinction.

We have a top-quality public-school system and post-secondary education options including College of the Sequoias, Fresno Pacific University, and Fresno State.

We take great pride in providing one of the most streamlined entitlement and permitting processes in the state and are very business friendly.

Our Visalia Industrial Park (VIP) has industrial zoned sites and buildings available and all necessary infrastructure for your project.

We have a beautiful, bustling downtown district.

We are central to all major CA metropolitan tourist destinations while providing stunning natural beauty in our backyard including the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park system.

We provide affordable access to all things CA has to offer while providing a close-knit, slower paced, high quality of life community for families to enjoy!

With a population of over 143,000 and a trade area population of over 630,000, the City of Visalia is one of the fastest growing cities in California’s San Joaquin Valley and, offers the most affordable homes in California. As the Tulare County seat, principal regional retail center in the Tulare and Kings County region, and home to several large industrial employers in our 1,500+ acre industrial park, Visalia has a diverse economy that offers opportunities for families to live in the Golden State while also getting the quality of life families deserve. Local benefits include a vibrant downtown district, safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, many community parks, low cost of living, and institutions for higher learning.

Nestled in one of the country’s most agriculturally productive counties, Visalia offers small town charm with metropolitan amenities. Such amenities include a world class healthcare system mainly served by the Kaweah Health Medical Center and Family HealthCare Network, our own Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, a thriving arts community including many theater companies, a large downtown convention center, and numerous fine dining and microbrewery establishments throughout town. Additionally, the city offers a very diverse faith-based community and numerous service group opportunities. The city also has a minor league baseball team (Visalia Rawhide) and women’s flat track roller derby team (V Town Derby Dames), two golf courses, and numerous other outdoor and recreational activities.

For the outdoor enthusiast, the nearby mountains, national parks, lakes and rivers provide year-round opportunities for sports and recreation within an hour to two hour’s drive. California’s beautiful Central Coast is just a two-hour drive away and the excitement of Los Angeles and San Francisco are just a few hours away. Meanwhile, families can enjoy the freshest produce and best food this state has to offer with year-round farmer’s markets in Visalia and the region. Visalia has the most active downtown in the San Joaquin Valley and recently the city approved a microbrewery/microwinery overlay district for the east downtown area that is encouraging redevelopment while giving many local and regional craft brewers the ability to grow their market.

Visalia prides itself on having one of, if not the most streamlined entitlement processes in the state. We offer a free, one week site plan review process in which all applicable departments submit responses to your proposed project site plan. Complete site plan review applications submitted to the Community Development Department by Thursdays at 4pm are reviewed the following Wednesday morning with staff. Should the project not require any additional discretionary approvals the project is eligible to move on to submit for building permits. We have a professional and courteous development staff ready to assist your design and build team.

Shipping made easy -- Thanks to our location in the heart of California, and direct access to Highway 99, California’s major trucking corridor, Visalia is an ideal location for distribution, warehousing, services, and manufacturing in California. Unlike any other site in the state, Visalia’s location makes it possible to efficiently reach 99% of California – plus portions of Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada – overnight. If you’re looking for a strategic location in the middle of the fifth largest economy in the world, look no further than the City of Visalia.

For any questions or assistance please contact the City of Visalia's Economic Development Manager:

Devon Jones
Economic Development Manager
315 E. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291
559-713-4190
[email protected]