The Fresno Airport District Rotary Club takes a group picture last week to celebrate its first meeting. Photo by Frank Lopez

Last week, the Fresno Airport District Rotary Club was officially registered at the Vision View Business Formation Center near Fresno Yosemite International Yosemite Airport (FAT).

During this initial meeting, which involved voting to fill different executive positions, Lynisha Senegal, founder of Vision View, was voted president of the Rotary Club.

Being able to partner with Rotary will provide valuable networking and support to the businesses operating at Vision View and in the airport district, she said.

“For our economic development plan for the airport district, the Rotary will give us the support structures to ramp that up,” Senegal said. “It will connect us politically, connect us with service and connect us with corporate.”

The extended business family will allow Vision View to open more doors of opportunity, Senegal added.

With FAT’s $120 million terminal expansion set to be completed by the end of 2024, she said it is important Vision View has the commercial facilities for its businesses to serve the needs created by the scaled growth.

“When you think restaurants, travel and tourism industry, entertainment, hotels — it’s important for us to rebuild and have an accessible place for business so we can get ready for growth,” Senegal said.

Earlier this month, Vision View received $1.5 million in funding from various sources to support its mission and for construction.

The California Endowment funded $800,000 and the Central Valley Community Foundation provided $200,000, with additional funding coming through the D.R.I.V.E. Initiative.

Fresno City Council President Tyler Maxwell secured $500,000 through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funds will help restore a roof at the Vision View campus. Senegal said the two-story, 10,000 square-foot business park will have an international food court and a rooftop dining area.

It will be home to 30 food entrepreneurs displaced by the pandemic, giving them a space to pivot with access to commercial kitchen facilities and equipment needed to scale up, Senegal said.