About $90M in new money is proposed for Fresno and inland projects in Newsom’s budget
In his new budget proposal on Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for about $90 million in new spending in Fresno and other inland areas for ongoing and one-time projects related to hospitals and upward social mobility.
Newsom unveiled a $222.2 billion budget proposal with plans to spend part of a projected $5.6 billion surplus on green technology and homeless aid.
The Fresno-area dollars include $15 million to expand services from the UC San Francisco School of Medicine’s Fresno Branch Campus in partnership with UC Merced. That program has long been touted as a way to increase access to doctors for Valley residents.
The one-time spending in the Valley includes $50 million for Fresno area investments focused on improving economic mobility. That’s $33 million for the establishment of a “Fresno-Merced Food Innovation Corridor” to stimulate research jobs and economy and $17 million for educational attainment and economic mobility from kindergarten through college.
The San Joaquin Valley commonly has a stubbornly high unemployment rate, often doubling the number seen in other parts of the state.
The governor was in Fresno in early November as part of the annual California Economic Summit.
Fresno DRIVE Initiative applauded
While presenting the latest version of the budget, Newsom said “I’m so impressed” by Fresno DRIVE Initiative, a 10-year economic development project focused on the economic future of the region, including efforts to improve social mobility.
Fresno DRIVE is an effort shepherded by the Central Valley Community Foundation headed up by Ashley Swearengin, the foundation’s CEO.
“I think we’re seeing a real commitment, not just talk, but a real commitment from the governor to pay attention to inland California,” Swearengin said on Friday. “I think it’s encouraging that the chief executive officer of the state is really calling out Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley and then following it up with investment.”
She pointed to the goals mentioned in the governor’s plan like early childhood development, education and clean drinking water as similar to those in Fresno DRIVE, giving the effort a competitive edge at pulling down state grant money.
“For Fresnans who have been plowing these fields for so long, they should be encouraged,” she said.
Newsom’s announcement kicks off months of negotiations between his office and the Legislature. He’ll release a revised proposal in May.
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand said the proposed new funding was good news. “Fresno and the Central Valley have significant needs because we have significant challenges, and it’s good to see that Governor Newsom not only recognizes those needs but is willing to invest a substantial amount of state funding to address them,” Brand said on Friday. “We have a lot of work to do and this money will go a long way to helping our city and our region move forward.”
Newsom and lawmakers have until June 15 to pass a budget in time for the start of the upcoming fiscal year July 1.
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, praised the budget’s plans related to homelessness and health care, and highlighted Newsom’s decision to reward Fresno DRIVE. His district encompasses much of the southern half of the city and Fresno County.
“I also am pleased that the Governor’s budget includes resources directed to the Central Valley and designates investments to the Fresno DRIVE Initiative,” he said on Friday. “These funds will be a down payment on bolstering opportunities in our region that continues to face economic obstacles.”
Another $25 million in Newsom’s proposed budget would be programmed toward expanding enrollment for the UC Riverside School of Medicine.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 12:10 PM with the headline "About $90M in new money is proposed for Fresno and inland projects in Newsom’s budget."
