LA makes Merced County development deal

In late October, the Board of Supervisors unanimously authorised the Chair of the Board to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the port which facilitates significant investment and development in the County’s Mid-California International Trade District at the Castle Commerce Center and Castle Airport.

The deal formalises the relationship between the two parties and ushers in several actions including the development of a joint Business Development Plan, an exporter outreach venture in California’s Central Valley, in which Merced County is located, and collaboration to share business intelligence and work on prospective deals.

The port’s executive director Gene Seroka said: “This MOA not only paves the way for collaboration, it will give Central Valley shippers more awareness, support and access to global markets through a broad network of high frequency shipping line services.”

As well as having a goal for the port, the agreement aims to make Castle – which has a centralised position in California, quick access to a freeway and airport capabilities – a hub for manufacturers.

Additionally, both the Port of Los Angeles and Castle have direct access to the BNSF Railway, one of North America’s largest freight railroad networks.

The port views the Central Valley as being uniquely appealing for its business growth and backs the development of new logistics and manufacturing hubs in the region.

Merced County is developing Castle as a location for industrial investment in different manufacturing and distribution sectors such as the automotive, industrial machinery, specialty chemicals, commercial space systems, medical products and supplies and food processing industries.

County staff feel that developing a strong working relationship with the port is vitally important to inciting future development and investment at Castle.