The City of Wasco is a growing and vibrant community located in the heart of the most diversified agricultural region in the world. A short tour around Wasco will take you among blooming rose fields, almond and pistachio orchards, sugar beets, grapes, many varieties of fruits and vegetables, and white cotton fields. Known as the Rose Capital of the Nation, more than 50% of the rose plants grown nationwide are produced by the rose growers located in the Wasco area.
Location Strategically located in California's Central Valley, Wasco is the gateway to the central coast. A short two hour drive can take you to the beach, the mountains, or a major metropolitan area. Just 139 miles north of Los Angeles and 257 miles south of San Francisco, Wasco is ideally located for ease of access and distribution.
Growth Wasco has become one of the fastest growing cities in Kern County, with 3,344 residential lots under development. The new homes range in size from 1,250 square feet to 2,525 square feet. Entry level homes are priced around $180,000 with new homes beginning at $230,000. With its strategic location, affordable land, available labor, and quality of life, Wasco is a great place to live and a great place to do business.
Quality of Life Here you will find safe, quiet, neighborhoods and a variety of housing choices, with recreation, sports, and performing arts activities. There is a common decency here reflecting a friendly, small town feel.
Affordable land, affordable labor, reasonable housing costs, available infrastructure and a central location in California? Yes, you can have it all...right here in Wasco!
Business Resources
Wasco Business Resources
Hiring/ Recruiting/ Training
Employers Training Resource 2001 28th Street Bakersfield, California 93301 661-324-9675 Employers' Training Resource (ETR) administers workforce training to individuals who qualify in Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties; provides job recruitment and hiring assistance; coordinates training opportunities where jobs currently exist; plans for future growth and changes to meet the workforce needs of local economy.
Workplace Learning Resource Center 2101 K Street Mall Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-395-4121 The Workplace Learning Resource Center, staffed with professionals from both the public sector and private business, provides services to both individuals and corporations. Training and consulting services include: workplace needs assessments, skills assessment, basic skills instruction, customized training, curriculum development, coaching, facilitation, certification, ESL, and organizational consulting.
Corporate and Community Services at Bakersfield College Weill Institute 2101 K Street Mall Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-395-4160 Some of the services and programs available are: customized training, job skill assessments and coaching, bilingual training, funding assistance, performance consulting, and organizational development.
Business Assistance
Small Business Development Center 2100 Chester Avenue Bakersfield, CA, 93301 661-395-4126 Offers business counseling and workshops to business owners and to those who are interested in starting a business. Workshop topics include: steps to starting a business, contracting with the government, employment law and tax planning; many of the workshops are free.
Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE), Bakersfield Chapter 2100 Chester Avenue, 1st Floor Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 861-9249 The Bakersfield Chapter of SCORE is part of a national nonprofit association that offers entrepreneurial education. SCORE volunteers come from the public and private sectors to provide confidential business counseling and workshops (free or for a modest fee) for both start-up entrepreneurs and in-business small business owners. Volunteer counselors are experts in areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, management and business plan preparation.
Merced College Center for International Trade Development 301 W. 18th Street, Ste 104 Merced, CA 95340 Jeanette Benson, Director 209-384-5892 Industry Focus: food processing, agribusiness industry and equipment Region Focus: Japan, China, Mexico, ROW
Candy Hansen, Director 390 West Fir Avenue Building B, Suite 303 Clovis, CA 93611 Phone (559) 324-6401 Toll Free 1-888-638-7888 Industry Focus: agricultural commodities and services, biotechnology, manufacturing Reion Focus: Brazil, Mexico, Asia
Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2100 Chester Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-633-5495 The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (KCHCC) is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian organization. It is a recognized Hispanic business resource and leader in the economic and business development of Kern County. As the largest Hispanic business organization in the region, the KCHCC can help you and your business access this growing and dynamic Hispanic marketplace.
Commercial & Industrial Areas
Consumer Spending Patterns
For information on Wasco's Consumer Spending Patterns please click below:
The City of Wasco has approximately doubled in size since 1990, averaging an annual growth rate of 7%. The trend is toward a more diversified population with younger families. The majority of Wasco residents own their own home and seek more shopping choices. View the Wasco Trade Area Profile and the 10 & 20 Minute Drive Time for further detail.
Located in the heart of the West Coast's oil production region, CSU Bakersfield has the only public university petroleum program west of the Rockies. Its Center for Biomedical Research engages in research and scholarly activities in the biomedical sciences (e.g. microbiology, physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry).
National is California's second largest independent, nonprofit university. Graduate students comprise approximately 73 percent of the student body. National University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the International Assembly for Collegiate Buisiness Education, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
University of LaVerne Central Valley Regional Campus Bakersfield, CA (30 miles)
n/a
Private
Specializes in Adult Education, offers distance and online Bachelor's and Master's Degrees.
University of Phoenix Bakersfield Learning Center Bakersfield, CA (30 miles)
n/a
Private
Specializing in Adult Education, University of Phoenix offers distance lerning, traditional classes, and a blend of the two approaches for those working towards certificates or degrees. Disciplines include: business administration, technology, nursing, healthcare, education, human services, and criminal justice.
The emphasis of Cal Poly is "learn by doing." Programs offered include: 66 bachelor's, 26 master's, one doctorate of education in association with UC Santa Barbara, 67 minors, 14 credentials
Source: State of California Employment Development Department. www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov First Quarter 2007 Data (January 2008)
The state of California has not adopted any Right to Work laws. A Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. However, employees who work in the rail or airline industries are not protected by a Right to Work law, and employees who work on a federal enclave may not be protected.
Employment Taxes & Mandated Benefits
Tax/ Benefit
Rate/Basis
Administering Agency
Disability Insurance
0.08% of wages up to $86,698 (employee paid via withholding)
Employees covered by disability insurance (see above) are eligible for up to six weeks of paid family leave to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner, or to bond with a new minor child. Disability insurance is paid by employees.
The City of Wasco is experiencing an explosion in residential growth. There are 3,867 dwelling units currently** under development. This represents a projected increase in population of 14,656, or 62%, pushing Wasco's projected population to 38,364. According to American Factfinder, as of the 2000 census, there were 2,146 single-family, owner-occupied dwellings in Wasco; the median value for the homes was $81,700.
Source: American Factfinder, Realtor.com, and City of Wasco (Jan 2008) * Starter Homes: one or two bedroom, 800 to 1000 square feet, 0 to 50 years old. Midlevel: three or four bedrooms, minimum 1200 square feet, 0 to 10 years old. Executive: four or more bedrooms, minimum 2000 square feet on 1/2 acre lot, 0-5 years old
The City of Wasco provides water and sewer service. The water system has a reserve of 7.46 mgd and the wastewater system has a reserve of 1 mgd. Improvements are underway that will add 4.32 mgd to the water system and 3.0 mgd to the wastewater system.
Offers customized cost and usage estimates and self-generation options; incentives are available as well. For more information visit PG & E Economic Development or call City of Wasco City Manager Ron Mittag at 661-758-7205
