Making Fresno an easy place to do business

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The city of Fresno is trying to change its reputation. For years the city has been considered a hard place to do business, and for years city administrations have vowed to change. This latest effort is aimed at getting permits and inspections done quickly.

If you want to get something new built in Fresno, or if you want to expand an existing business, the counter at the planning and development department is your first stop. But there have been complaints about the process being too slow, or uncertain.

City council member Sal Quintero has heard complaints from developers about delays over minor issues. "But they are saying everything's been approved, now I've got this one thing, and I'm being held up."

Jennifer Clark, director of development and resource management told the city council things are changing. "If it's complete and it meets standards, let's just get it approved and get it out the door so that this business can start working."

For example, a dirt lot in Northwest Fresno is to be the home of an assisted living facility.

Developer Brooke Ashijan says this project received swift approval because of the city's effort to be business friendly. "I recently sent a project through the city 70,000 square feet 110 bed assisted living center, 45 days for the initial review, 21 days for the second review. It went through the city in 61 days, it was fantastic."

In the past he says, a project like this could take six months to a year for approval.

Mayor Ashley Swearengin is behind this latest effort to make the city business friendly, but she says it isn't supposed to mean businesses and developers will automatically get their way. "Having good clear processes doesn't mean a business owner just comes in and gets whatever he or she wants."

Mayor Swearengin says the goal is to let those business owners know up front if there are going to be problems or delays, so they can plan accordingly, rather than waiting.

Business leaders say part of the problem is state regulations the city can't control. But at the same time city leaders acknowledge Fresno's reputation for foot dragging meant lost opportunities, like the recent decision by Amazon to open a facility in Patterson, rather than Fresno. That distribution center is expected to mean 1,000 jobs for that community just 98 miles away.