Stockton, California

STOCKTON, CAL I FORNI A California, and attributes to San Joaquin’s ranking of the sixth largest agricultural county in the United States. Throughout Stockton’s history, almost every major fruit, nut, and field crop has been grown in Stockton. Current major crops include blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, walnuts, and almonds, plus other smaller-production orchard, row and feed crops. Grapes amount to 40 percent of the fruit and nut harvest and contribute 18 percent to the county’s agricultural dollar. Prize-winning wines are produced from vineyards north of Stockton, contributing to the international reputation of fine-quality California wines. Today, Stockton’s central location, relative to both San Francisco and Sacramento, as well as its proximity to the state and interstate highway systems and its comparatively inexpensive land costs, has allowed the city to diversify its economy to include telecommunications, manufacturing, and healthcare. Its logistic position makes it ideal for swift and cost- effective distribution of goods to major West Coast, as well as worldwide, markets, and notably, Amazon, which has two distribution facilities in Stockton. The city’s transportation network includes a 35-foot-deep inland seaport, rail access, and the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, which serves commercial, corporate business, and general aviation needs of the community and features top-of-the-line air cargo capabilities. In addition, Stockton has a large, diversified workforce with an affordable wage structure, and an abundance of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities for its residents. “We have everything that it takes for a business to thrive,” says Carrie Wright, Stockton’s Director of Economic Development. “That can include a small business in the downtown core area to very large, commercial opportunities in our southeast section. Last year, we issued over 7,500 building permits with the biggest growth in our commercial sector. We’re perfectly positioned