Merced is a medium sized city that experiences a rapid 3.4% annual growth rate.  Approximately 45% of the Merced County population resides within Merced's urban area.

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Affordability, a strategic California location, and an available and productive labor force appeal to companies looking at Merced as a home base. Merced offers a welcoming attitude, motivation, flexibility, and a spirit of cooperation. With these characteristics, Merced is a fine place to do business.

Merced is a rapidly growing city that has traditionally relied on its agricultural base, combined with light industry and a role as the regional center for trade and services.  Merced's population is very diverse and one of the youngest in the nation.

UC Merced's presence in the community introduces significant economic opportunity for Merced, as well as the possibility of profound community change.  Merced is well prepared for this change with community planning and infrastructure systems.

The City of Merced team is dedicated to assuring that all incoming business and expansion projects are turned around in a timely manner.  Permits have been turned around in as little as 1 week.

Merced Civic Center

Primary and Secondary Education
Merced offers a variety of educational experiences. Kindergarten through 8th grade classes are provided by Merced City School District and Weaver School District, with a combined student population of more than 14,000 students. The Districts' programs are augmented by 5 private elementary schools, offering academic and religious education. Merced has won state recognition for Hoover Middle School. Full programs of sports, music and other activities are offered.

Merced Union High School District is a unified district of high schools within Merced County, including three campuses located in Merced. Golden Valley and Merced High Schools offer complete traditional programs, including advanced placement and honors classes. East Campus provides alternative education. The high schools have complete sports, music and extra-curricular programs, and frequently win honors in these fields.

The Merced County Office of Education provides a continuation high school and special education services.

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 The City of Merced and its surrounding areas provide an abundant and productive labor force, including both skilled and unskilled workers, at very reasonable wage rates. True to the area’s agricultural roots, these workers tend to be hard working and loyal, resulting in low turnover rates for local employers.  Businesses locating in Merced can reduce the costs of recruiting, screening and training employees by taking advantage of several available programs through WorkNet of Merced County. 

Companies relocating or expanding to Merced have always enjoyed a high applicant to job opening ration. In one case over 3,000 applications were received for a new business hiring 40 positions. Merced is well known for assisting companies with their staffing needs.

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A choice to locate facilities in California’s Heartland means rapid and cost-effective access to the West’s major markets, via truck, mainline rail, or air service.

Merced has long been a Central California transportation hub. The town was born when the Central Pacific Railroad established a station here in 1871, and rail service still plays an important role in getting goods to market and getting Merced’s citizens where they want to go. With Highway 99 (the Main Street of California) running through the City of Merced, and I-5 on the West side of the county, a substantial portion of all north/south traffic in the state passes through the county.

 Rail Service
The City of Merced sits on the main lines of both the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads. We are within a local dray zone of two major intermodal ramps featuring double-stack service. Container facilities and/or bulk shipping facilities within 100 miles of Merced include the ports of San Francisco, Oakland, and Stockton. The port of Los Angeles-Long Beach is within a 275-mile radius. Additionally, Amtrak provides passenger rail service to the San Francisco Bay area, Sacramento and Los Angeles.

Airports
Merced Regional Airport currently offers corporate facilities.  Fresno Air Terminal, about an hour to the south, offers more than 90 daily commercial flights via Alaska Airlines, Allegrant Airlines, America West, American, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air, Northwest Airlines and United. Four international airports (Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose) are within a two hour drive.

Highways
Our central location in California's Heartland can put your business within overnight truck delivery to just about anywhere in the state. Merced is strategically located at the juncture of three major highways (99, 59, and 140) and is serviced by all major regional and transcontinental LTL common carriers. The area is also serviced by all major California LTL common carriers.

 The City of Merced is well-equipped to provide support services for its expanding business and residential population. City residents have come to expect the high-quality services that contribute to the overall livability of the area.

Power and Natural Gas

The recent deregulation of the electric power industry in California insures that customers have choices, generally resulting in lower rates. Merced has both a major regional provider as well as a locally-owned public utility. Pacific Gas and Electric provides a wide variety of pricing options, competitive industrial rates, financial incentives, economic and financial analysis, and assistance with facility siting. Merced Irrigation District has recently undertaken an initiative to provide low-cost electric power to Merced, particularly industrial and commercial users. PG & E provides natural gas throughout Merced.

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Water and Sewer
All domestic and industrial water is supplied by the City of Merced. The water source is groundwater and the current maximum pumping capacity is 57.6 million gallons per day (MGD). Average demand is 21.5 MGD, so water production capacity is available. The long-term water supply outlook for Merced is excellent with adequate sources available for growth.

The capacity of Merced’s wastewater (sewage) treatment plant is 12 MGD.  The Wastewater Treatment Plant is undergoing an upgrade and will eventually have a capacity of 20 MGD by the time all upgrades are completed. Costs for sewer connections vary, based on the physical installation of pipe and strength of flow.

On July 1, 2010, City Council approved a decrease in sewer rates.  Read more about it here.

 Telecommunications
AT&T serves Merced with a highly sophisticated telecommunications network. State-of-the-art 5ESS switching equipment provides the most modern digital features, including Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) capability for simultaneous voice and data transmission. In addition, Pacific Bell has placed fiber optic facilities in Merced’s downtown business district and other strategic locations to serve the City’s current and future telecommunications needs.

Additionally, US Sprint supplies 100% digital fiber to Merced. Cellular telephone service is provided by AT&T, Verizion, Sprint, etc...

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The Merced Police Department is a highly trained and professional organization that is dedicated to fighting crime and preserving public safety.  Response time to in-progress calls is 3 minutes on average and response time to non-critical calls is 10 minutes on average.

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 The City of Merced is served by five staffed Fire Stations strategically located throughout the community.  Each station has an established geographic response area with an average response time of 4 to 6 minutes.  The department has an Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating of 2.  Supporting this rating are 5 staffed engine companies and 1 staffed truck company.  The Merced Fire Department possesses equipment and training for specialized responses including confined space rescue, trench rescue, emergency medical services, first responder hazardous materials respons and aircraft firefighting.

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While the future holds great promise, that future will be built on the solid foundation established by those who have gone before us.  Merced is a wonderful place to live, and the community is committed to preserving our special quality of life.

Merced boasts dozens of tree-shaded parks, miles upon miles of bike paths and plenty of choices for sailing, water skiing and fishing.  Lake Yosemite is a favorite with sailors and windsurfers alike, and its grassy, tree-lined shore makes a perfect setting for a Sunday afternoon picnic.  Or you may prefer to take in a play at Playhouse Merced or stroll through an art exhibit at the Multicultural Art Center in the lovely Downtown. 

Recreation and cultural opportunities certainly contribute to that special quality of life in Merced, but what may be more important is the sense of community that is shared by the people who live here.  Businesses and individuals take pride in their volunteer accomplishments.  Local government is responsive to community needs.

Perhaps it is our agricultural roots, but Merced has maintained a small town environment in an urban setting.  Neighborhoods are still the building blocks of the community.  Wide, tree-lined streets and spacious homes offer a pleasant contrast to the congested residential areas of larger cities.  Neighbors spend time together and watch out for each other.

We invite you to consider investing in Merced.  Affordable land and labor costs, good transportation access, and a location central to major markets should motivate your strategic planners.  Affordable homes, quality education, abundant recreational opportunities and friendly neighbors will motivate your employees.

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