Located in the heart of the Central Valley, Fresno is the largest city in California’s most productive agricultural region. While Fresno is a vibrant and resilient community, some of its neighborhoods have endured decades of civic disinvestment.
Infrastructure projects, such as major freeway constructions, divided and cut off communities of color from economic progress and access to resources. Redlining policies effectively denied homeownership opportunities for countless Black and immigrant residents. Decades later, the legacy of discriminatory planning is still evident, manifested in significant disparities across Fresno’s neighborhoods.
Amidst these challenges, Fresno communities have become the birthplace of innovative solutions. In a region where significant disinvestment has been tied to land ownership, control, and access, Community Vision is committed to supporting organizations in advancing community ownership of community assets. While much community development financing concentrates in major metropolitan areas like LA and the Bay Area, we are directing resources to the central parts of the state.
For nearly 20 years, we have provided affordable capital and strategic advising for local nonprofits, developers of color, and small businesses revitalizing the Central Valley, from Stockton to Bakersfield. In Fresno alone, we have distributed over $46 million to 80 nonprofits, healthy food enterprises, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and arts-based organizations. By supporting these deeply rooted organizations, we partner to improve access to capital and promote economic and racial justice in the region.
This past year, our real estate and financial management consultants worked with several nonprofits to increase land ownership in historically redlined neighborhoods in Fresno. These clients included Southwest Fresno Development Corporation, Lowell Community Development Corporation, and South Tower Community Land Trust.
These organizations exemplify the power of community-driven solutions, using their resources and expertise to address neighborhood priorities, while also collaborating to create lasting change across the city. Among the groundbreaking projects is their current work with the City of Fresno to deploy 24 tiny homes in clusters across the city, a creative solution to address housing insecurity among rent-burdened seniors, individuals, and small families.
Our clients are leveraging the inherent strengths within the community and empowering residents to shape their own destinies. Together, we are working towards equitable, holistic community development for all of Fresno and beyond.
This series was featured in our FY23 Annual Report. Read the full report here.
