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Business Park & Inland Port

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Matheny Tract Annexation

Project Overview
The City of Tulare is exploring the development of a Business Park and Inland Port to support long-term private investment and job creation. A Business Park is a planned area designed for offices, warehouses, and light industrial uses supported by modern infrastructure. An Inland Port is a logistics hub that facilitates the movement, storage, and distribution of goods away from congested seaports, improving regional freight efficiency.

After evaluating two potential sites—northwest near the Cartmill Interchange and southwest near the International Agri-Center Way interchange—staff recommends moving forward with the southwest location due to its proximity to Highway 99, the Union Pacific Railroad, and available undeveloped land.

To better understand the economic potential of this Project, the City hired ZacTax, a consulting firm, to study five developed interchanges along Highway 99 in the Central Valley. Their analysis examined the types of land uses, square footages, and associated tax revenues generated at these locations.

To learn more, the following studies were conducted:

Supporting the Matheny Tract Community
Because the recommended project area is near the Matheny Tract, staff also recommends annexing the community to ensure residents directly benefit. In recent years, the City has partnered with regional agencies to bring potable water to the Matheny Tract and is now working to extend sewer service. Residents have also expressed the need for paved streets, sidewalks, streetlights, housing rehabilitation, park and buffer space, employment opportunities, and a stronger voice in City Hall.

A Collaborative Path Forward
Development surrounding the new interchange—including areas south of the Matheny Tract—could generate the resources needed to fund long-term community improvements. As a CDBG entitlement community, the City receives approximately $700,000 annually to serve low- to moderate-income households, and annexation could allow a portion of these funds to be directed toward Matheny Tract priorities.

Businesses receiving City incentives could also be required to make “good faith” efforts to offer employment first to Matheny Tract residents. The City would partner with the Workforce Investment Board to provide job training and, where applicable, support naturalization efforts.

Community Benefits and Job Creation
Working together on this Project offers several potential benefits:

  • Improved infrastructure and amenities for Matheny Tract residents

  • A stronger voice in City decision-making through annexation

  • Expanded job opportunities for both City and Matheny Tract residents

  • Increased access to state and federal funding through the area’s disadvantaged community designation

  • Strengthened relationships with Latino and immigrant communities

Expected job creation includes opportunities in construction, warehousing, distribution, logistics, agricultural packaging, light manufacturing, and commercial retail.

 View the Presentation to City Council: