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Vision View, a minority-owned business campus in East Fresno led by Linisha Senegal, celebrates two milestones on Saturday, February 17th.
Linisha Senegal's minority-owned business hub, Vision View, was launched just a few years after bankrupt Fresno technology company Bitwise Industries opened its doors.
In an interview with Fresno Land, she compared the trajectory of her business to that of Bitwise, saying it took seven years to raise about $2 million, while Bitwise raised about $100 million in 10 years. He said he had procured it.
Bitwise's former CEOs have since pleaded not guilty to wire fraud related to these investments. Critics say the shuttered tech hub has grown too big and too fast.
Meanwhile, Vision View is preparing to celebrate paying off its mortgage with an off-campus 7th anniversary party on Saturday, February 17th.
In an interview with Fresno Land, she said each company's unique but parallel journey speaks to the unique challenges of Black women-owned businesses like hers.
“We don't get the same level of investment,” she said, attributing it to “an inherent distrust of minority businesses.”
“While Black women may be the fastest-growing small business base, and we are the ones creating jobs for people like us, we probably account for only 1% of all investor funds.” %,” she added. ”
These challenges are not unique to Fresno, but could be more pronounced in areas like Silicon Valley, where there are far fewer investors than other parts of California, she said.
But that didn't stop Senegal from making a name for himself with Vision View, along with Fresno city elected officials and philanthropic organizations helping realize Senegal's vision of building a business center in East Fresno near Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Ta.
And she hasn't stopped dreaming of the next big thing for Vision View. It's about making what she calls Frenso's “airport district” a community and small business gathering place on the same level as the River Park and Tower District.
What is Vision View?
Senegal acquired the current Vision View business campus on Clinton Way in February 2017.
She got the idea for the venture while doing research as part of Fresno's DRIVE Initiative Executive Committee. She noticed that many visitors to Fresno flock to Starbucks near the airport to meet with potential employers, and there are few hotel options nearby.
“What better place for companies and individuals to meet with employers?” she said.
“There was no real location or designation here…it was near the airport, so people would feel like there was a business center,” she added.
Seven years later, Vision View's campus is home to 37 small businesses. Most of them rent dedicated space at the company's headquarters in Clinton, within walking distance of the airport.
These companies include startups ranging from Pleasant Living, an adult day center for people with disabilities, to a mobile phlebotomy business.
In addition to leasing office space for these companies, Vision View also provides support with other tasks that can be difficult for startups, from marketing to payroll assistance, according to Vision View's website. That's what it means.
She hopes these services will help Fresno's minority-owned small businesses overcome their important five-year milestone.
“We are committed to small, emerging microbusinesses, helping them scale and providing them with all the resources we can,” she said.
ARPA funding and international food courts
Over the past seven years, keeping Vision View's headquarters fully operational has been a challenge.
About two months after Senegal acquired the land, part of the roof caved in. That part of the building remained unused for several years.
She credits Councilman Tyler Maxwell, whose district also includes the Vision View neighborhood, with helping secure $500,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to repair the roof. .
A $200,000 grant from the Central Valley Community Foundation and $500,000 from the California Endowment also helped pay off the building's mortgage, she said.
As for the roof renovation, Senegal said it has partially completed it.
ARPA dollars will also help fund an international food court on top of the building, which Senegal says will feature everything from Caribbean cuisine to Italian cuisine.
The space will also provide a commercial kitchen for cottage food businesses, the state's name for home food businesses.
Senegal said this was necessary following the pandemic.
“A lot of those (food) businesses had to pivot,” she said. “They may have pivoted to food trucks, but they still need commercial space to safely prepare and handle food.”
vision view celebration
Vision View's commemorative event, which also serves as a celebration of Black History Month, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Jericho Field, located directly next to the Vision View building at 4974 E. Clinton Way.
Senegal said this is a family-friendly event with plenty of bounce houses for the kids and food stalls for everyone to enjoy.
According to a media release announcing the event, attendees will enjoy live music and dance performances, as well as a ceremony honoring 100 Black men who helped “foster and/or build the Vision View campus.”
Admission is free and parking is available on the Vision View campus.
Senegal said small and medium-sized businesses interested in learning more about Vision View's services should call the company's main line at 559-851-5787 or email laneesha@visionviewca.com.