Chowchilla, California

Chowchilla has done exceptionally well is to listen and interpret what needs to happen from a workforce perspective. “We’ve worked with our local Madera County Economic Development Commission, and they have a great partnership with workforce development,” Pruett explains. “We’ve been able to ensure that our workforce is trained where it needs to be, based on what local employers are asking for out of the City of Chowchilla and Madera County. The Merced Community College District has a lot of classes available for a variety of trades and sectors and, actually, the professors are living within the golf course and commuting into the University of California, Merced campus. We’re also seeing a lot of students who are living here while they’re going to school at Fresno State, just because it’s a lower cost of living and it’s a short commute for them as well.” One of several Central Valley communities to jump on the e-commerce train, Chowchilla is now finalizing a venture it’s calling ‘Project Sunset’, which would bring a distribution center and around 300 jobs to an industrial park within Chowchilla city limits. “We’ve talked about the need to possibly work with our high school and get some skilled labor,” Pruett says. “Work programs that would allow local residents – whether they’re from Chowchilla, the County of Madera, or Merced – to have a career here. That’s one of the big things about being in a small city, it’s a great place to raise a family and everything, but the job opportunities are not always there. So, people leave for their careers, and then they come back. With the addition of this distribution center, we’d like our kids trained up for those jobs so they can ultimately stay here.” While zoning reforms and smart, sustainable growth efforts continue to stay on the forefront of the City Council’s agenda, Pruett acknowledges, “I’d like to see this growth happen in the correct manner. We don’t want to get too big too fast. Financially, we’re in a very good position with our reserve levels. I’d look to maintain those and continue to be a financially viable community.” CHOWCHI LLA , CAL I FORNI A