Fresno Launches Study on Southeast Asian Businesses

Goal is to better understand and support this growing economic sector

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Fresno has launched a comprehensive study of Southeast Asian businesses in the city, led by the nonprofit organization Access Plus Capital. The study aims to gather data on this often overlooked segment of the local economy, with the goal of improving access to capital, resources, and policy solutions for Southeast Asian entrepreneurs.

Why it matters

Southeast Asian Americans make up a significant portion of Fresno's population, over 80,000 residents, yet their businesses have been largely invisible in local economic data. This study is an important step towards better understanding and supporting this growing economic sector, which can have a positive ripple effect on the broader Fresno community.

The details

The study, which officially launched on Friday, will be conducted by Access Plus Capital, a nonprofit that provides financing and business support to underserved communities. The goal is to 'surface gaps between visibility and access' for Southeast Asian businesses, which have often been aggregated, misclassified or missing from official data sources.

  • The study officially launched on Friday, February 1, 2026.

The players

Access Plus Capital

A nonprofit organization that provides financing and business support to underserved communities in Fresno.

Tate Hill

The president and CEO of Access Plus Capital, who is leading the Southeast Asian business study.

Pao Yang

The president of the Fresno Center, a local organization that supports the Southeast Asian community, who expressed excitement about the study.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This study is an important step to making that vision real. The study is designed to surface gaps between visibility and access. When businesses are aggregated, misclassified, or missing from the data, they are also missing from capital flows, program design, and policy solutions.”

— Tate Hill, President and CEO of Access Plus Capital (The Business Journal)

“It's long overdue in the county of Fresno, long overdue probably in the state of California, long overdue in this country, to gather data that is so vital to the success of our economy.”

— Pao Yang, President of the Fresno Center (Fresnoland)

The takeaway

This study represents an important step towards better understanding and supporting the Southeast Asian business community in Fresno, which has long been overlooked in economic data and policy decisions. By gathering more comprehensive data, the city and local organizations can work to improve access to capital, resources, and tailored programs that can help these entrepreneurs thrive.