Building Madera’s Workforce, Together

The Workforce Development Board serves as your source for all training and development resources to ensure that Madera County remains a growing and prosperous community.

Our Workforce Assistance Center held Daiso recruitment events on December 15-16, 2025, drawing 185 job seekers. The events demonstrated strong community commitment to growing the local workforce. Attendees learned about Daiso’s culture, open positions, and growth potential in Madera.

Founded in Japan in 1977, Daiso is a global retailer of affordable goods. Daiso operates thousands of stores worldwide and is known for innovation and value. Daiso is expanding in California’s Central Valley, now including Madera along with Stockton, Atwater, and Visalia.

After months of anticipation, Daiso opened on January 24, 2026 with a grand celebration. The store offers more retail options and jobs in Madera County.

Thank you to Daiso and all participants for helping us connect people with employment opportunities. We look forward to new partnerships in Madera.

AUTOZONE DISTRIBUTION CENTER

GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

AutoZone held their grand opening ceremony on January 13, 2026 for its new Distribution Center in Chowchilla.The event welcomed state and local leaders and began with a guided tour of the facility, followed by a formal ceremony.

The Chowchilla Distribution Center employs 352 workers and is expanding. As one of only three AutoZone distribution centers on the West Coast, alongside Southern California and Washington, it is vital to the region and AutoZone’s operations.

A NEW RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES

The Madera Unified School District held a grand opening for their Parent Resource Center on January 22, 2026. The Resource Center is next door to our Workforce Assistance Center and we look forward to providing additional resources and employment support to parents in our community.

The Parent Resource Center supports families by providing free educational programs, resources, and engagement opportunities that empower parents to play an active role in their children’s academic success.

Through parent education and skill-building classes, family literacy and math nights, access to the MUSD Call Center, and the annual Parent & Community Engagement Conference, the Parent Resource Center strengthens partnerships between home and school while building confident, informed families.

MADERA THRIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY PARTNERSHIP TAKES SHAPE

The Workforce Development Board has officially launched the Madera Thrive Renewable Energy Sector Partnership. This collaborative is underway to bring together green and renewable energy employers and workforce system partners to help shape the initiative's priorities.

This project is funded through the Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative and aims to strengthen local infrastructure, expand green workforce training opportunities, and prepare Madera County residents for careers in the growing renewable energy sector.

RAPID RESPONSE RESOURCE CLOSURE EVENT

In response to the closure of Quality Container Company at the end of 2025, the Business Services Division coordinated a Rapid Response Orientation to support employees affected by the shutdown. A total of 12 individuals were impacted by the company’s decision to cease operations.

Partners provided information and guidance to assist affected employees with accessing unemployment insurance, re-employment opportunities, training services, and other support benefits available through the workforce system.

Rapid Response efforts aim to ensure that impacted workers receive timely information and direct connections to services that support rapid re-employment and career transition.

WORKFORCE UPDATE: MISSION BELL WINERY AND JBT FOOD TECH

Following the recent closure of Quality Container Company, two additional employers, Mission Bell Winery and JBT Marel, have announced plans to cease operations, affecting nearly 300 workers.

Our business services team is coordinating with impacted employees and local and regional partners to support workforce continuity. Employers with current or upcoming hiring needs that may be interested in re-employing impacted employees are encouraged to connect with our team to help retain local talent.

For re-employment opportunities,

contact Jorge by phone at (559) 662-4540 or via email at jespinosa@maderaworkforce.org

If you are interested in interviewing the candidates,

please contact Jorge by phone at (559) 662-4540

or via email at jespinosa@maderaworkforce.org

HR Webinar at no-cost

The Workforce Development Board of Madera County and the California Employers Association have partnered to provide HR webinars at NO-COST. 

To date, we have provided webinars on the following topics:

01.20.26 - 2026 Labor Law Update

12.16.25 - Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors

11.19.25 - Harassment Prevention Training for Employees

10.23.25 - Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace

09.23.25 - Form I-9 and E-Verify

08.26.25 - Ethics in HR & Management

07.29.25 - Mid-Year Labor Law Update

These webinars are presented in local partnership with:

Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce

Golden Valley Chamber of Commerce

Madera Chamber of Commerce

Madera Economic Development Commission

Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce

Valley Community Small Business Development Center

For those that may have missed a webinar training, just "CLICK" the link below to view all past webinars hosted.

The unemployment rate in the Fresno MSA was 8.1% percent in November 2025, above the year-ago estimate of 7.8%. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.4% for California and 4.3% for the nation during the same period. The unemployment rate was 8.2% in Fresno County and 7.6% in Madera County.

From-To

• Disaster Assistance

• Revolving Loans

• Tools For Business

• And Many More Resources...

Madera County E.D.C has a significant number of beneficial resources you can learn and grow from.

From-To

• Water Conservation for Agriculture

• Soil Health Enhancement

• Wildfire Risk Reduction

• And Many More Resources...

The Sierra Resource Conservation District (SRCD) is dedicated to facilitating natural resource conservation within eastern Fresno County, California, by integrating and delivering essential technical, financial, and educational resources to local landowners.