Central Valley projects get $16M; Modesto police, fire included
Rep. Adam Gray announced Thursday that he secured more than $16 million in federal funding for 15 infrastructure, public safety and community projects across California’s 13th Congressional District, including upgrades to Modesto police and fire facilities.
The funding covers projects stretching roughly 160 miles across the San Joaquin Valley, from southwestern Fresno County to Lathrop, according to Gray’s office.
Among the largest local allocations, the city of Modesto is set to receive more than $1.8 million combined for police communications upgrades and rehabilitation work at a downtown fire station.
The Modesto Police Department is slated to receive about $1.03 million to replace aging mobile and portable radios used by officers. The funding also covers related software, training and equipment designed to improve emergency response communication, Gray’s office said.
An additional $850,000 is earmarked for rehabilitation and safety upgrades at Modesto Fire Station No. 1. The improvements aim to enhance firefighter readiness and help speed emergency response times.
Gray, a Democrat who was elected to Congress in 2024 after serving a decade in the California Assembly, said smaller infrastructure projects can have significant local impacts.
“Providing better sidewalks in Huron or making sure the bay doors open when they’re supposed to in a Modesto fire station might not seem like a big deal to people in LA or Miami, but in my district, these projects have real impact on people’s lives,” Gray said in a statement.
Projects span multiple Valley communities
The federal funding package includes projects focused on public safety, water infrastructure, transportation and community development across several Valley cities and counties.
Among the larger projects:
• Bear Creek flood protection project in Merced: $3.15 million to improve flood resilience infrastructure and restore habitat areas while protecting nearby public safety facilities and farmland.
• Madera sewer rehabilitation: $2 million to repair a major sewer main along Avenue 13 and improve reliability of wastewater infrastructure.
• Mendota community center: $2 million to develop a multipurpose facility intended to serve residents across the city.
• Dos Palos wastewater facility: $1.09 million for construction of a new treatment plant to replace aging infrastructure.
• Chowchilla and Le Grand water intertie: $1 million to improve drinking water reliability and irrigation capacity between two water districts.
The funding also includes transportation and safety projects such as roadway improvements in Merced and Huron, sidewalk and lighting improvements in Biola, and road and drainage upgrades in Caruthers.
A $366,000 grant will help the Gustine Unified School District develop a wellness center to expand access to school-based mental health services.
Federal community project funding
Under House Appropriations Committee rules, members of Congress can request funding for up to 15 community projects each fiscal year. Eligible recipients include local governments and nonprofit organizations.
Gray said the projects reflect priorities identified by communities throughout his district.
“This Congress has been one of the most contentious in living memory,” Gray said. “But people didn’t send us to Washington to argue. They sent me here to work, to get things done.”
California’s 13th Congressional District covers much of the San Joaquin Valley, including portions of Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno and San Joaquin counties.
