Fresno State Receives $4.36 Million State Investment for Manufacturing Innovation Hub

Fresno State will receive $4.36 million from the state to create The Forge, a new hub designed to help Central Valley entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses without leaving the region.

Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Jobs First Council announced the investment August 26 as part of $48.5 million awarded across eight regions and 33 counties. The Forge funding is part of more than $10.4 million directed to Central Valley manufacturing projects.

“For too long, entrepreneurs and emerging companies from our region have had to look elsewhere for the specialized facilities, technical support and connections they need to grow,” said Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval. “The Forge will help change that. We want innovators to start here, build here, manufacture here and create jobs here.”

Advertisement

The hub will support startups in advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, ag-tech, and biotech. Entrepreneurs will have access to technical expertise and connections to industry and investors. Partners include the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance, Plug and Play, F3i, Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, and the cities of Fresno and Clovis.

Dr. Ram Nunna, dean of the Lyles College of Engineering, led the effort to secure the funding. “This investment gives Fresno State an opportunity to build something the Central Valley has needed for a long time: a place where entrepreneurs can move from an idea to a prototype, from a prototype to a customer, and ultimately from a startup to a growing company,” he said.

Fresno State’s Water, Energy and Technology Center will become part of The Forge, expanding the university’s existing startup support.

The Breakdown

• $4.36 million in state funding awarded through California Jobs First
• The Forge will provide technical resources and industry connections for Central Valley startups
• Focus areas include advanced manufacturing, robotics, ag-tech, and biotech
• Part of a larger $10.4 million package for Central Valley manufacturing projects
• Newsom’s initiative aims to support 20,000 new jobs statewide through 18 projects

What This Means for You

Fresno State received $4.36 million in state funding to establish The Forge, a hub intended to support Central Valley entrepreneurs in advanced manufacturing, robotics, ag-tech, and biotech. The funding comes through California Jobs First as part of a broader $48.5 million investment across eight regions.

What to Watch

The stated goal is keeping Central Valley entrepreneurs from leaving the region. The real test isn’t whether The Forge opens, it’s whether it becomes something entrepreneurs actually use and whether the startups it supports stay here after they grow. The material doesn’t say how many jobs The Forge itself expects to create, or what the state expects in return for this investment. That’s worth asking before the next round of funding.