Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
How to spend $70 Million in Fresno
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
February 16, 2017

Share

[Correction: the word ‘not’ was left out of the original quote of Taymah Jahsi. It has since been updated]

The city of Fresno is ready to receive its largest grant in history- $70 million. The debate on how to spend it is just starting. Wednesday night (February 15), the state agency in charge of distributing the money met with nearly 100 members of the community to inform them of the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program.

The state legislature set aside the money, derived from the state’s Cap & Trade program, for three disadvantaged communities. Fresno will receive half the $140 million dollar pot. Los Angeles and a third yet-to-be-named city will share the remainder.

The overall goal of the program is to improve the environment. There has been plenty of chatter about spending the money in and around the High-Speed Rail projects currently under construction in downtown Fresno.

Some at the meeting questioned that spending plan. “We need to make sure that the $70 million is going to where it needs to go and not to downtown revitalization and just the High-Speed Rail” said Taymah Jahsi of the group Faith in the Valley to applause in the room.

After a presentation from Daniela Simunovich of the Strategic Growth Council and some questions and answers, the attendees broke it into smaller panels to discuss various elements of the TCC.

Mayor Lee Brand, councilmen Oliver Baines and Steve Brandau were the only city elected officers seen at the meeting. Community advocates like Ashley Werner of Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Sandra Celedon-Castro of Building Healthy Communities and Andy Levine of Faith in Fresno attended as well.

This was the first of three workshops held by the Strategic Growth Council. Next week, they will hold meetings in Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

A final plan of how the state plans to spend the money is expected in April.

E-mail David Taub

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Killed in Head-On Collision Identified

DON'T MISS

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

DON'T MISS

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

DON'T MISS

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

DON'T MISS

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

DON'T MISS

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

DON'T MISS

Billy Joel Cancels Touring After Being Diagnosed With a Brain Disorder

DON'T MISS

Justice Department Reaches Deal to Allow Boeing to Avoid Prosecution Over 737 Max Crashes

UP NEXT

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

UP NEXT

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

UP NEXT

Clovis Church’s ‘Giving Truck’ Offers Free Coffee With a Twist

UP NEXT

Memorial Day Weekend Packed With Fresno Area Events. Which Will You Attend?

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Carl Raymond Lipsey

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Hand Out 53 Citations in Pedestrian, Bicycle Safety Crackdown

UP NEXT

Trump Re-Escalates Trade Threats, Takes Aim at European Union, Apple

UP NEXT

Fresno County Detectives Revive 2017 Drive-By Murder Case

UP NEXT

The Artist Tree Set to Open Second Fresno Cannabis Location

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

6 hours ago

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

6 hours ago

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

6 hours ago

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

7 hours ago

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

8 hours ago

Billy Joel Cancels Touring After Being Diagnosed With a Brain Disorder

8 hours ago

Justice Department Reaches Deal to Allow Boeing to Avoid Prosecution Over 737 Max Crashes

8 hours ago

Fresno County Wildland Fire Burns One Acre Before Being Contained

9 hours ago

Clovis Church’s ‘Giving Truck’ Offers Free Coffee With a Twist

9 hours ago

Should Fresno Make It Easier to Convert Office Buildings Into Housing?

10 hours ago

Fresno County Man Killed in Head-On Collision Identified

A 20-year-old Raisin City man was killed early Thursday morning in a head-on collision north of Huntsman Avenue, according to the California...

5 hours ago

fresno
5 hours ago

Fresno County Man Killed in Head-On Collision Identified

5 hours ago

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

5 hours ago

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

A Valley Crimes Stoppers tip and surveillance footage led Fresno police to arrest Andy Ramos on Thursday, May 22, 2025, who confessed to a May 11 shooting that left a man hospitalized in stable condition. (Fresno PD)
6 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

Police officers and forensic experts work at Hamburg's main train station, after several people were injured in a knife attack, in Hamburg, Germany, May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
6 hours ago

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

A view of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo
6 hours ago

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

Emergency personnel work at the crash scene on a street, after a small civilian aircraft went down in a military neighborhood in San Diego, California, U.S. May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
7 hours ago

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

8 hours ago

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend