Funding Local Projects in the Valley
To meet the needs of our communities, the Appropriations Committee accepts requests to fund local projects within the federal budget. Under the guidelines issued by the committee, each U.S. Representative was permitted to request funds for up to 10 projects for the Fiscal Year 2022, and 15 projects for the Fiscal Year 2023.
Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. The submission of the projects does not guarantee funding. Rep. Costa's office received several requests during both project processes. After careful consideration and evaluation, Costa and his team selected unique, local projects for inclusion.
The Appropriations Committee will then review applications, make selections and then bring its budget package to the House for a full vote. The package containing the projects must then be passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President to be funded.
Fiscal Year 2022 - Local Projects
Costa secured $11,004,664 from the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding package for 10 local projects that will respond directly to some of the most pressing needs in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties. These include:
$475,000 for Fresno City College to develop the Nurse Pipeline Extension Project, a collaborative program with Fresno State, to increase the number of Nurse Practitioners in the San Joaquin Valley;
$1.9 million for the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation to construct a 60,000-square-foot training center in West Fresno to assist women, minorities, veterans, ex-offenders, at-risk and disconnected young adults, and other underrepresented individuals with job training and counseling;
$500,000 to study the viability of a project to expand the single-purpose Los Banos Creek into a multi-purpose reservoir, which would provide long-term solutions to flooding, drought, overdraft, and subsidence in Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties.
$2 million for the Merced County Courthouse Museum to rehabilitate Merced County's most historic building, community gathering place, and educational resource;
$279,000 for the City of Dos Palos to replace a water clarifier at the city's aging water plant to ensure uninterrupted service for residents.
$3.5 million for the City of Madera to rehabilitate a 50-year-old corroded pipeline responsible for carrying the City's wastewater to its treatment plant;
$950,000 for the City of Gustine to finish the water loop line from North Avenue to East Avenue, which will create a more stable and safe water distribution system;
$625,000 for Madera Unified School District to ensure the district's approximately 5,500 English Language Learners address unfinished learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic;
$475,000 for UCSF Fresno to construct an Alzheimer's Center and Center on Aging, which will provide clinical services for age-related care and serve as a center for geriatric and neurological education for students and residents;
$300,000 for Advance Peace Fresno to intervene and help prevent gun violence by investing in communities and individuals disproportionately impacted by violent crime.
Fiscal Year 2023 - Local Projects
Costa is working to bring more federal dollars back home through 15 local projects that he selected for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget bill. All projects were selected for inclusion by the House Appropriations Committee. The package containing the projects must then be passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President to be funded. Nine projects have already passed the House.
This would provide $29.85 million to the counties of Fresno, Madera, and Merced to address homelessness, repair critical water and transportation infrastructure, and create good-paying jobs. These projects include:
$4.4 million for the City of Fresno to improve Fresno Yosemite International Airport's primary runway, which is used for daily commercial flights, transportation of goods, wildfire suppression, and homeland security.
$1 million for the City of Fresno to address homelessness by immediately helping dozens of formerly homeless residents move out of motel shelters and into permanent affordable tiny homes.
$4 million for the County of Fresno to revitalize streets, sidewalks, and roads in the disadvantaged community of Calwa. This will ensure all residents benefit from safer travel routes and improved sidewalk facilities that are ADA-compliant.
$3.68 million for the Merced County Association of Governments to provide equitable and sustainable transportation to Yosemite National Park by converting the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) fleet to clean diesel buses.
$3 million for the City of Atwater to improve access to clean drinking water, sanitation services, and water management, which will create opportunities for economic growth in the region by revitalizing water infrastructure in a rural, underserved community.
$200,000 for Fancher and Redbank Creek projects to increase water supply, improve regional flood protection, and enhance environmental protection in a disadvantaged region.
$1.95 million for the County of Madera to improve and expand Highway 41. The project addresses safety and congestion concerns on the primary route between Fresno and Yosemite National Park. The project improves safety, reduces greenhouse gases, and eases traffic congestion.
$1.35 million for the City of Gustine to improve internet access and bridge the digital divide by connecting low-income residents to affordable, reliable high-speed internet, including 5G access for businesses throughout the community.
$1.5 million for the Fresno Center to support and expand services for transportation, mental health, HIV prevention, and treatment for substance use disorders.
$1.5million for Community Regional Medical Center to expand and enhance its microbiology lab, which would improve patient care services like COVID-19 testing and other essential healthcare laboratory work.
$703,000 for Madera County Sheriff's Office to purchase a Rapid DNA system, which will bolster law enforcement's ability to quickly obtain accurate analysis, identify victims' remains, and relieve the backlog in crime laboratories.
$500,000 for the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission to train residents for firefighting and land conservation jobs with agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, and the Bureau of Reclamation.
$484,047 for Reading and Beyond to revitalize and re-establish the California Bridge Academy in Fresno and Madera counties. The plan integrates employment and training services for minorities and low-income individuals.
$457,000 for Merced County Sheriff's Office to purchase a Rapid DNA system, which will bolster law enforcement's ability to quickly obtain accurate analysis, identify victims' remains, and relieve the backlog in crime laboratories.
$150,000 for the Central California Veterans Home Support Foundation to help maintain the Fresno Veterans Home Memorial, a historical landmark that honors the service and sacrifice of local veterans who served our country.