WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $18.4 million in federal funding for 15 projects along the Central Coast in the first package of FY 2024 appropriations bills. The package includes the Agriculture; Energy and Water; Military Construction-VA; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; Commerce, Justice, and Science; and Interior appropriations bills. The House and Senate will consider the bills this week ahead of the March 8 funding deadline before they are sent to the President to be signed into law.

“I am proud to have secured millions in funding for projects that will improve the quality of life along the Central Coast,” said Senator Padilla. “These investments will support local governments and non-profits working on the ground in our communities to protect against flooding and improve the reliability and quality of our water. As water rates continue to climb and climate change causes devastating atmospheric river floods, these investments in local infrastructure are critical for improving sanitation, water affordability, and agricultural production throughout the region.”

Projects along the Central Coast that will receive federal funding include:

• Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project – $3 million: This project aims to recreate hydrological connectivity, restore habitat, and reduce flood hazards in the Carmel River Watershed.

• Santa Cruz Harbor Dredging – $2.16 million: This funding will provide for the dredging of Santa Cruz Harbor to maintain a safe and navigable entrance.

• San Luis Obispo County Radio Dispatch Console Replacement Project – $2 million: This funding will replace the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office dispatch system, which is reaching its end of life and handles law enforcement dispatch for several jurisdictions and medical dispatch countywide.

• Pajaro to Prunedale G12 Corridor Project, Segment 6: Pajaro and Salinas Road Project – $1.81 million: This project will make improvements to better protect pedestrians and cyclists on the Pajaro to Prunedale G12 corridor, which serves as a travel alternative to State Route 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. This funding supports the construction of Segment 6, the northernmost segment of G12 that acts as the main street of Pajaro and runs adjacent to the future Pajaro/Watsonville Multimodal Train Station project site.

• Pajaro County Sanitation District Sewer System Improvements – $1.5 million: This funding will replace and repair sanitary system sewer pipes in the Pajaro County Sanitation District.

• Ventura County Regional Public Safety Radio Project – $963,000: This funding will support upgrades needed to improve Countywide communications interoperability for public safety and first responders.

• City of Salinas Wastewater Treatment Facility Project – $959,752: This funding will support energy efficiency enhancements needed for the expansion of the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility in Salinas.

• City of Oxnard Water Pipeline Replacement Project – $959,752: This funding will support replacement of aging cast iron water pipes in the Kamala Park neighborhood at risk of failure.

• City of Santa Paula Mesa Tanks Replacement Project – $959,752: This funding will help the City of Santa Paula replace old steel water tanks with concrete reinforced tanks, adding storage for agricultural support and fire-fighting capability and ensuring reliability.

• County of Monterey Clean Drinking Water Project – $959,752: This project will address ongoing water quality problems for the small, disadvantaged farming community of San Lucas, which have caused its residents to live under bottled water orders for eight of the past ten years. The project would construct a new pipeline to tie into the Cal Water system in King City and deliver water directly to the District water distribution tank.

• City of Santa Maria Storm Drainage Improvements Project – $959,752: This funding will support the Santa Maria Storm Drainage Improvement Project to protect the community from the worst impacts of rainfall induced flooding.

• Lompoc Police Department Records Management System Upgrade – $728,000: This funding will provide for a new Records Management System for the Lompoc Police Department to better handle call volumes, dispatch, and casework.

• City of Oxnard Santa Clara River Levee 3 Project – $500,000: This funding will help construct a reinforced concrete flood wall and flood gate system along the Santa Clara River Levee.

• City of San Buenaventura State Water Interconnection Project – $500,000: This funding will support a seven-mile pipeline that will allow the City to access its California State Water Project entitlement to improve water supply reliability.

• Monterey County Family Justice Center – $500,000: This funding will support the establishment of a Family Justice Center in King City, which will co-locate services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

More information on these appropriations bills is available here.