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Editor’s note: The Business Journal published its 2026 Regional Economic Forecast issue on Nov. 28. This is one of those stories.

From the grand opening of mom-and-pop shops in the revitalized downtown Tulare region to the groundbreaking and celebration for one of the region’s biggest entertainment venues, Tulare County looks to build on successes from 2025, carrying that momentum and motivation into 2026 and beyond.

Tulare growth

The City of Tulare saw its downtown region undergo revitalization in 2025, efforts that build upon the city’s focus in expanding opportunities for local businesses, building momentum for additional economic growth, with room to expand going into 2026.

The recent grand openings of Tulare Supreme Cabinet & Granite and The 26th Hour — a new “speakeasy” venue in downtown Tulare, speak to the broad-scope growth and variance in business the region has seen and hopes to see moving forward. Tulare Chamber of Commerce CEO Donette Silva said that two grant programs, as well as the Taste Program — a grant-program targeted at restaurant development — have helped grow the region significantly and hope to continue that growth moving forward.

“We have interest from others that are looking at the downtown area,” she said, adding that, aside from downtown expansion and growth opportunities, large-scale retailers have shown interest in the city as well.

Grassroots effort

She credited some of the growth — the development of a new Save Mart Supermarket, expected to open in 2027 — to former Tulare City Councilmember Greg Nunley and his family, who have worked to attract the retailer to the region.

“We’re excited to partner with The Save Mart Companies to deliver a high-quality shopping experience for Tulare families,” Nunley said in a news release earlier this year. “The Nunley Family extends their gratitude to everyone for their dedication and collaboration in making this project possible.”

Tulare has also attracted big brand names Chick-fil-A and McDonalds to the Mooney Boulevard corridor as well, furthering opportunities for investment into the community.

Tulare also saw the first successful concert season at the newly completed Adventist Health Amphitheater at Zumwalt Park, something that Silva said not only attracts concertgoers, but encourages them to stop and spend money, further stimulating the region’s economic footprint.

The venue has teased its 2026 calendar on its website, with the hope that its second season proves as successful as its first which saw headliners Los Lobos, Dokken and A Flock of Seagulls perform, among other local up-and-coming artists.

Visalia on the rise

The City of Visalia also has an eye on 2026, in particular in industrial logistics, retail growth and infrastructure preparation.

As the Visalia Industrial Park — a $130 million project that seeks to connect Visalia to Highway 99 and improve travel in the region — nears completion, large parcels of land will become available for development.

Building off a strong 2025, the city will continue its focus on expansion in 2026, with zoning/infill incentive programs in place, and a new project tracker website, where infrastructure projects can be tracked individually.

In 2026, Visalia aims to transition from foundation-building to execution, aiming to stimulate economic growth through years of continued pre-development for future projects that look to come to fruition in the coming years.

World Ag Expo leadership

The International Agri Center’s World Ag Expo is under the leadership of a new show chairman, and the global event hopes to see an even larger turnout in 2026.

Now under the leadership of Tulare native Ron Clark, the 2026 show theme, “Grounds for Innovation” will seek to highlight the event space, featuring cutting-edge ag technology on display for both visitors and prospective buyers.

The 2025 expo saw more than 100,000 visitors from 49 states and 80 countries, with the 2026 show hoping to surpass those numbers. Tulare Chamber’s Silva said that between 80-90% of exhibitor space has already been reserved for this year’s show.

“Our team is hard at work preparing for next year’s show,” said International Agri-Center CEO Jerry Sinift. “We are happy to continue providing a place for the agriculture community to connect, learn, and grow.”

In addition to next year’s expo, the space around the International Agri Center hopes to undergo major expansion over the next several years; Silva said that conversations have been underway with businesses interested in the over 300 acres of space near the center, adding that the real estate is perfect for not only vendors and store owners, but also hoteliers looking to capitalize on the annual event’s popularity, as well as the attractions of local national parks and other tourism-driven enterprises.

For visitors who come from California, traveling is also expected to become easier over the next several years, with infrastructure improvements to Highway 99 expected to be completed in 2027, with some parts, including sections of freeway near the Agri Center, slated to open as soon as next year.

Wheels up, chips down

This year has brought with it a rise in community investment and business growth for the Porterville community, with that investment paying dividends in anticipated growth in the upcoming year.

City of Porterville Development Associate Magdalena Salazar said that the city’s combined addition of new retail, housing, tourism assets, workforce programs and infrastructure modernization will create a strong foundation for continued economic growth in 2026 and beyond. She highlighted the work the city has done in 2025 along Henderson Avenue, Main Street and Riverwalk Marketplace.

“Porterville’s continued progress reflects strong collaboration among the City, the Tule River Tribe, local organizations, and the business community,” she said. “The City’s commitment to business-friendly processes, community investment, beautification efforts, and quality-of-life improvements is positioning Porterville as one of the most promising growth areas in the Central Valley.”

Construction on Eagle Mountain Casino’s hotel broke ground in 2025 and will continue throughout 2026, driving the future of the casino and the Tule River Tribe’s vision to revitalize the casino’s footprint in the Valley. Upon completion in 2027, the 250-room hotel and expanded entertainment center will support up to 1,000 jobs, driving additional tourism to the region.

The casino relocated to within city limits in 2023, phase one of a three-phase project that looks to build on the legacy and success of the tribal gaming center.

Nearby, the Porterville Municipal Airport is undergoing a multi-year upgrade project, including a $4.44 million taxiway project that will allow larger airport operations and support additional aviation-based businesses to the city.

This year will also see the addition of the Henderson Commercial Project, a 92,000 square-foot retail center including a grocery store, drive-thru restaurants and a 24-hour pharmacy. Approved late this year, the project will bring a slew of new jobs to the Highway 65 corridor.