Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin says the the city's economy is on the road to recovery in 2013, thanks in part to growth in the local food processing sector.
"I'm telling you that things are getting good around here when it comes to industrial expansion and expanding our food business," Swearengin told the crowd.
She used her 2013 State of the City speech to announce the expansion or relocation plans of several food industry businesses, including a Southern California firm called Pressed Juicery. The company operates 10 retail stores throughout the state and Swearengin says the firm plans to move its production facility from Los Angeles to Fresno.
The mayor also highlighted expansion plans by Kraft Foods. The company will add 20 new jobs to its Fresno plant in order to boost production of its Mio brand water enhancer.
"Having an international giant in the food industry like Kraft, select Fresno over, I'll just tell you, it was Chicago, for a plant expansion is a great endorsement of our city," said Swearengin.
Swearengin also used her speech to call for the use of Measure C money to fund litter pickup on Fresno's freeways, and highlighted new downtown revitalization developments, including plans for a restaurant and lounge on the top floors of the former Security Bank Building.
