Funding will support water and transportation infrastructure, health care services

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $12 million in federal funding for 10 projects across the Central Valley. These projects were included in the bipartisan FY 2022 appropriations package that passed the House yesterday. The President is expected to sign the bill into law next week after it passes the Senate. 

“I am proud to have secured funding for projects in the Central Valley to improve our water reliability and quality, upgrade transportation infrastructure, and support health care services,” Senator Padilla said. “This funding will go to local governments and community organizations that are directly serving our neighborhoods. Federal dollars will support projects to modernize our transportation infrastructure and spur economic growth. We are also investing in projects that will increase capacity to deliver mental health services.”

Projects across the Central Valley that will receive federal funding include:

• $3 million for Water Tank and Booster Pump Station Improvements in the City of Gustine.
  This funding will allow the City of Gustine to improve drinking water reliability, water pressure, and firefighting capability for the community by replacing the current 75,000-gallon tank with a 1-million-gallon water tank storage system and booster pump station.

• $2 million for the Fresno Yosemite Airport Terminal Expansion and Safety Enhancement Project
  This project will modernize the Fresno Yosemite Airport with two new dual-use (domestic and international) elevated arrival and departure gates, a new Federal Inspection Station, new baggage facilities, an expanded and modernized TSA passenger security checkpoint, new and rehabilitated airport and airline support areas, and additional concession spaces. Passenger safety will be enhanced by eliminating ground deplaning activities via new boarding bridges.

• $1.7 for the Earlimart Utility District’s Front Street Well
  This will fund water treatment improvements on Front St. Well to improve quality and capacity.

• $1.5 million for the North Lathrop Multi-Modal Transfer Station Project
  This funding will support the construction of a new train station to help facilitate the extension of Altamont Corridor Express service to Sacramento and Ceres/Merced. It will improve connectivity to various major employment centers and essential businesses throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area while reducing emissions.

• $1.2 for the Earlimart Utility District Sewer Relief Project
  This funding will improve wastewater collection capacity to prevent sewer overflows and improve sewer utility service for homes and schools in this disadvantaged community.

• $1 million for Groundwater Recharge in San Joaquin County
  This funding will support the South System Groundwater Recharge Project’s efforts to modernize the southern portion of the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District’s surface water irrigation system. This will build long-term resilience against drought by providing surface water for irrigation in-lieu of groundwater pumping.

• $950,000 for the City of Gustine’s Water Loop Line Completion Project
  This funding will support a project to create a more stable water distribution system with sufficient water pressure throughout the city that minimizes public health risks and safety concerns, in compliance with the EPA’s national primary drinking water regulations.

• $665,000 for the Southwest Fresno Community Food Hub
  This funding will support the City of Fresno’s St. Rest + Food to Share Hub project, which will result in the annual recovery of over 1 million pounds of nutritious food that would otherwise be wasted and redistribute it to underserved and disadvantaged families.

• $310,000 to Expand Mental Health Services for Spanish-Speaking Californians in Stanislaus and Merced Counties
  This funding will allow First Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (FBHUCC) to begin a pilot program to increase the capacity of the Mental Health Access Program by at least 33 percent—adding availability for 900 new appointments with Spanish-speaking therapists. Services would be provided at FBHUCC’s office, as well as virtually through a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.

• $200,000 to Examine Flood Mitigation Proposals in San Joaquin County
  This funding will support a US Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study to examine flood mitigation proposals for the second phase of the larger Lower San Joaquin River Flood Control Project encompassing the City of Stockton and the San Joaquin County region. 

A full summary of the FY 2022 Appropriations Omnibus package is available here.

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