Local firms benefiting from construction of major retailers and local companies

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- What was once farmland is now filled with tractors and contractors as e-commerce goes up in Southwest Fresno.

City leaders say more than 500 people are up and working at the new sites.

"There's a lot of huge work going around here. Amazon and ultra behind is huge. This place is booming and I haven't worked out in his part in the country in awhile," said Target Constructors Project Superintendent Ron Dunbar.

Dunbar showed us around Valley wide beverage company's center taking shape right in the middle of all the action.

The local company is expanding into this new 223,000 square feet facility, about 100 people are on the job there.

"It's nice to have a local company use a local contractor and local sub-contractors," said Dunbar.

Good weather has helped progress on Valley-wide.

Crews have mostly finished the inside and are doing the final touches from landscaping to painting and more.

Other companies are benefitting from the business boom.

Local civil engineering firm Yamabe and Horn have been a start of the Ulta and Amazon projects before any dirt got moving.

"We had all the infrastructure master plan pretty much all designed so when they started talking about Ulta and Amazon we were at the table with them. We went back to Texas to check out the ultra-facility," said Principal Engineer Brandon Broussard.

Broussard worked with the landowners to design the infrastructure, which includes sewer, water, and storm drain, about 10 to 15 people worked on the project.

The massive project was ten times the size of their normal buildings.

All of these projects are fueling jobs in the area and there's more room to grow. City leaders say in addition to this area, an Industrial Park could be built nearby creating more economic opportunities.