www.thebusinessjournal.com UPDATED DAILY MARCH 26, 2021 thebusinessjournal.com the FOCUS | 9 Technology Apps give small businesses more firepower the EXECUTIVE PROFILE | 12 SIX FLAGS OVER FRESNO? Source: Negotiations underway to bring Christa Atchley Director amusement park to town Terry's House the LIST | 10 Edward Smith – STAFF WRITER Bitwise Tech Consulting tops the Business Technology Services list Negotiations are underway for a Six Flags amusement park to come to Fresno This Week Online 6 County despite fervent Leads 8 denial from City of Vallejo People on the Move 16 officials. Public Notices 18-25 Sources confirm that Opinion 26 talks have begun with the amusement park Six Flags | Continued Page 3 PHOTO BY JEREMY THOMPSON ON WIKIPEDIA.COM | “The Joker” steel roller coaster opened in 2016 at Vallejo’s Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. HEALTH CARE Doctor, nurse shortage worsens as demand grows Breanna Hardy | Page 5 PHOTO BY BREANNA HARDY | Nursing students from Gurnick Academy in Fresno receive their clinical hours by administering the Covid-19 vaccine. SENSITIVE TIME PRIORITY HANDLING PERIODICAL: FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 ISSUE #325835 $1.25 PER COPY USPS 145-100 FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 www.thebusinessjournal.com 3 Six Flags | From 1 about the possibility of locating true, but said “I am pursuing every the tourist attraction to the area. avenue to bring Fresno forward as Six Flags Marketing Manager Marc an entertainment community.” Merino said it is not their policy to Fresno City Councilman Mike comment on rumors. Karbassi said an amusement park Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in would need a great deal of land. Vallejo features both roller coasters Parks are usually located near and animal exhibits. It is also the freeways. The height of roller city’s second largest employer prior coasters means special zoning for to the pandemic, according to the parks, but the city could be very “Vallejo Times-Herald.” competitive in attracting the park. In 2015, the park employed 1,591 This won’t be the first time a people, according to the “North Bay major entertainment company has Business Journal.” sought to develop in the Central Vallejo City Manager Greg Nyhoff Valley. Walt Disney had a vision to said park officials have assured him develop Mineral King in Sequoia they aren’t going anywhere. National Forest into a ski resort “I have heard this baseless rumor with hotels and restaurants in the about the park leaving Vallejo, mid-1960s. But the project was and according to park officials, it bogged down by environmental sounds as if there is absolutely no lawsuits as well as the death of Walt truth to this report, and the source PHOTO BY JEREMY THOMPSON ON FLICKR.COMY | The “Drench” dolphin show at Toyota Stadium, located at Six Flags Disney, who trumpeted the cause who reported this is incorrect,” Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, is seen in this 2016 photo. The animal encounter/amusement park is in talks to for the resort. relocate to Fresno, according to sources. Nyhoff said in a statement. After the U.S. Department of A Vallejo City Council member the Interior came out against the and more than $500 million in new Six Flags in Fresno would have a and the mayor both spoke with the project, Mineral King Valley was added investment, according to Solano “huge impact” for Fresno County. park manager, according to Nyhoff, to the National Parks system. County documents. Road trippers often drive along and the manager informed them she Fresno city officials, however, say Merino said he would not comment the coast when traveling across the had spoken with the corporate office they would work to bring a project like on development plans there. state, Oliveira said. But the addition who said there was no truth to the Six Flags to fruition — if, indeed, they As it stands now, Six Flags Discovery of the amusement park to other draws rumor. get that shot. Kingdom has more than 60 rides, such as the national parks as well as The origin of the rumor began with “It’s very exciting and the City shows and attractions, including 10 agricultural tourism adds incentive a letter by a citizen to the “Vallejo is doing everything they can to roller coasters on 135 acres, according to bring those travelers through the Times-Herald” about dissatisfaction encourage companies like that to to the “North Bay Business Journal.” Central Valley. by Six Flags corporate with a nearby come to Fresno,” Karbassi said. It receives about 1.5 million visitors While the project could be years development of land at the Solano a year, the report by Solano County away from completion, it could go a County Fairgrounds called the 360 stated. long way toward Visit Fresno County’s project. The plan to develop the Lisa Oliveira, interim president goal to increase overnight guests. land began in 2009 and would have for tourism marketing organization Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said there brought 2,500 permanent jobs, Visit Fresno County, said that kind of are a lot of rumors but could not Edward Smith | Writer can be reached at: 490-3448 5,700 temporary construction jobs attraction makes her “salivate.” discuss to what extent those might be or e-mail [email protected] Already have an IT company? • Flat Rate Managed IT Services with No Long-Term Contracts • Cloud Services including Microso 365 Are they making and GSuite your life easier? • IT Consulting & Project Management • System Monitoring & Security • Voice over IP Phone Systems We do that, • Threat Awareness Training for Employees and much more. CONTACT US FOR A FREE ASSESSMENT Trusted by more law enforcement agencies than ANY other IT company. A leader in managed IT services in the Central Valley since 2004. 55 Shaw Avenue, Suite 204 Phone: (559) 297-1007 www.unityit.com Clovis, CA 93612 Email: [email protected] thebusinessjournal.com ­ FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 www.thebusinessjournal.com 5 Central Valley cities approach downtown revitalization their own way Ravyn Cullor – STAFF WRITER Freeways have dragged business centration of life, business, you name While some suggested trying to at- to create an area where customers go hubs out of the downtowns of cities it, and I don’t think you get that in any tract those retailers back to downtown, to spend time as opposed to just shop- across the country, but Central Valley other environment.” Robertson said he felt moving large ping. Robertson said they are working cities are taking steps to build a differ- As the main retail areas moved away stores away from the convenience of to create more flexible codes to allow ent business community in the histori- from city centers, cities like Clovis, the freeways wasn’t ideal for in- or out- the properties in the area to do more cal center of town. Hanford and Selma saw a different of-city customers. with the historical buildings. Like most of the country, the Cen- type of business and cultural value in a “The reality is the big box retailers Cameron with the California Down- tral Valley saw retail businesses move strong downtown area. All three of the are going to go in the malls and wher- town Association said it’s important to from downtown areas to strip malls cities are in distinctly different stages ever they can get the most traffic, and have a mix of culture and business in and commercial centers along high- of revitalization. our city fully supports that,” Robert- any urban center because the vibrancy ways as residents moved into subur- The City of Selma has begun its first son said. “In order to revitalize down- of the area often drives commerce, a ban communities, starting in the 1940s serious revitalization project since the town, there has to be a new vision. workforce and a strong identity for a and stretching though most of the 20th ‘90s and is approaching it with a more Downtown is … a unique area and city. century, said Emilie Cameron, board long-term outlook, said Mayor Scott it’s something that should be encour- Clovis started its revitalization pro- member for the California Downtown Robertson. aged through flexible building codes, cess in the 1980s after seeing signifi- Association. Downtown Selma was originally through an improvement district, and cant vacancy in business properties “It’s important to recognize that over built around the train station, which a strategic plan is important to that.” downtown, said Andrew Haussler, the last 20 years or so there really has served as a police station for a period, Selma is working to move the busi- community development director for been a shift back toward focusing on and saw big box retailers move towards ness community in the area to more the city. downtown,” Cameron said. “A big part Highway 99, which was ultimately ben- boutique and experience based mod- “When we brought together a group of that is because downtowns really are eficial for the city as a whole, Robert- els, as well as integrating mixed resi- of property owners, business owners a place where it’s such a unique con- son said. dential, cultural and office properties, and the City to become partners, along Downtown | Continued Page 14 Doctor, nurse shortage worsens as demand grows Breanna Hardy – STAFF WRITER The Central Valley’s medical practi- There’s a nursing shortage too, but 130 residents in various stages of train- can be very difficult compared to other tioner shortage is the result of a domino there are not enough schools to train ing. areas of California.” effect of challenges. the amount of incoming talent. People According to the American Associa- If someone is looking to open his or The Valley’s medical field is already are being turned away.