FRESNO - On Wednesday, Mayor Jerry Dyer was joined by Councilmember Nelson Esparza for the signing of a formal partnership memorandum of understanding between SEMI, a global semiconductor manufacturing association, and the City of Fresno, City of Clovis, California State University Fresno, Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, and Silicon Farms.
This is the first agreement of its kind in California’s Central Valley and is a significant step toward diversifying local economies. It is designed to put the Fresno region on the map as “open for business” when it comes to locating semiconductor supply chains and manufacturing facilities.
The goal of the formal partnership memorandum is to leverage the strengths of partners to bring new business and career opportunities to the Fresno region. With more than 670,000 residents combined, Fresno and Clovis are prepared for the high-tech businesses needed to support the semiconductor industry.
“For too long, the Central Valley has been too quiet about its strengths,” said Mayor Dyer. “This partnership is a monumental step towards ensuring that the semiconductor industry knows the advantages of the area and the support for their industry. Leveraging years of experience from Silicon Farms partners, Fresno is positioned to have the best shot possible to capitalize on opportunities in the semiconductor industry.”
“This is a historic agreement that the City of Fresno has entered into today,” said Councilmember Nelson Esparza. “It is the beginning of a new wave of jobs and economic development for our region, as we continue to leverage our strategic partnerships to attract new companies and investments in the semiconductor industry.”
A critical partner to this new alliance is SEMI, which includes more than 3,000 member companies worldwide.
“The SEMI partnership with California’s Central Valley will help extend the innovation of Silicon Valley to Silicon Farms,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. “The semiconductor industry is poised to nearly double in annual revenue to $1 trillion around 2030, and we are seeing investments around the globe to expand the manufacturing and design ecosystem to support this growth. Adding new hubs such as the Central Valley will strengthen the semiconductor supply chain in the U.S. and globally.”
“Fresno State is excited to be part of an unprecedented opportunity to diversify our region's economy. As a core partner in this public-private effort, we will leverage our one-hundred-plus years of legacy in engineering education, R&D, highly skilled workforce development, and strong partnerships to support the development and growth of the semiconductor industry in the greater Fresno region,” said Fresno State President Saúl Jimenez-Sandoval. “We will make strategic investments in the Lyles College of Engineering, support innovation, and create opportunities for our students, leading to the much-needed high-skilled workforce for the industry. We are grateful to SEMI CEO Ajit Manocha for his enthusiastic interest and commitment to support our region’s efforts.”
“Clovis is open for business,” said Clovis Mayor Lynne Ashbeck. “Clovis is known for our award-winning school district, safe and clean neighborhoods, and small-town charm with the amenities of a much larger city. We are 100% aligned with our regional partners in the effort to support new, high-tech businesses looking to relocate to Fresno County. Our Economic Development Department is ready to take your calls and help you find the best solutions to fit your workspace and workforce strategies.”
“Our partnership with SEMI marks an important milestone for the Fresno region,” said Fresno County Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Will Oliver. “This collaboration will help diversify our economy, prepare local talent, and position the region to be part of the growing semiconductor industry, driving innovation and job creation for our community.”
“Silicon Farms and its principals, Magnus Ryde and Gary Peacock, are excited to enter into a partnership with the Fresno Region, CSU Fresno, and SEMI. We are very enthusiastic to represent the region as they embark on attraction efforts centered around the high-impact tech industry,” said Ryde and Peacock. “We look forward to assisting in bringing in the diverse and high-paying jobs associated with semiconductor manufacturing, R&D, and fostering innovative, high-tech startups.”
