Stanislaus will spend millions on local upgrades, business park and farmworker training
Stanislaus County supervisors approved priorities Tuesday for spending the remaining $17 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The county was allocated almost $107 million in federal funds through ARPA to assist with recovery from the COVID pandemic.
County leaders initially dedicated $50 million for improving neighborhoods that lack basic services, $30 million for economic development and job creation, $5 million for supporting families and $5 million for a community development corporation, while leaving $17 million in reserve for future consideration.
Tuesday’s board decision will increase funding for community infrastructure to $55.6 million. County staff will work on plans for spending the additional $5.6 million on projects in each supervisorial district.
The board also clarified how the $30 million for economic development will be spent, with $18 million dedicated to the Stanislaus 2030 blueprint for developing bioindustrial manufacturing and other 2030 initiatives such as talent development, job skills training and small business growth.
The rest of the $30 million ($12 million) will fund infrastructure improvements for the Crows Landing Business Park development at the former airfield in western Stanislaus County.
With the $12 million combined with other sources, the county will almost have enough to fund the first-phase basic improvements for the business park, estimated to cost $36 million to $42 million. Board members said the 1,528-acre site is a good location for bioindustrial manufacturing, an emerging industry that converts agricultural wastes into products.
The county also will set aside $10 million in ARPA funds for budget balancing and use $1 million for administrative support.
Maria Arevalo, an advocate for farmworkers, said the county needed to get more public input for spending the remaining $17 million. She said that for months, she requested information about plans for the surplus funds.
Arevalo questioned the $12 million allocation for the Crows Landing business park. “How was that decision made,” she asked. “Who is going to benefit from that?”
County officials said the business park will create quality jobs to reduce the commuter population. About 40,000 county residents commute to Bay Area workplaces.
Supervisor Terry Withrow said $55.6 million for neighborhood upgrades and $5 million for a community development corporation will benefit disadvantaged residents.
In another item, the board approved $1 million for a two-year agreement with Central Valley Opportunity Center for providing Farmworker Resource Center services. The resource center, one of only three created in California through 2021 legislation, will have vocational education, English language instruction, housing assistance, help with utilities, emergency food and job placement services.
Another $1 million will pay for training farmworkers for office work, cooking occupations, welding, retail jobs, truck driving and solar installation.
The CVOC has bus services for getting people to training. Those participating in the training programs are known to increase their incomes by $6,000 to $12,000 a year, a CVOC director said. The agreement was supported by the West Modesto Community Collaborative and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.
This story was originally published March 28, 2023 at 3:06 PM.
