New Federal THUD Bill Brings Over $13 Million to Fresno, Visalia Projects

More than $13 million in federal spending will flow to nearly a dozen San Joaquin Valley projects under Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations, with California’s 21st Congressional District receiving $19.8 million in project funding for the year when prior awards are included, Rep. Jim Costa announced. The money targets road improvements, water projects, airport and food bank support, and a federally backed clean-transportation partnership in Fresno.

The appropriations break down into nine Community Project Funding awards in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill totaling more than $11.2 million, plus two Community Project Funding awards in Interior and Environment legislation totaling over $2 million for San Joaquin Valley water projects. Adding four previously approved projects that total $6.5 million brings the CA-21 district total to $19.8 million for FY2026.

Several recipients are named among the Valley projects. Confirmed award examples include $500,000 for an Exeter Street Improvement and $250,000 for the Riggin Avenue widening in Visalia. The Riggin Avenue project will convert an undivided two-lane road to a four-lane divided corridor with a median, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, street lighting, and new traffic signals. The Riggin Avenue work is intended to improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and benefit thousands of workers who rely on the route to access Visalia’s Industrial Park.

A federal-funded partnership between the City of Fresno and the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce is also included in the awards. That project calls for building electric vehicle charging infrastructure, launching a fleet of affordable electric bikes and scooters, and offering community-based education on clean mobility to expand clean transportation access across parts of the city.

Other named beneficiaries in the appropriations include the Fresno Air Terminal, the Central California Food Bank, Reedley College, and the city of Woodlake. Exact award amounts for those recipients were identified in the appropriations summary but are not listed in the project excerpts available publicly; agencies and local officials will need to confirm line-item distributions and implementation timelines.

Local leaders framed the investments within a broader county conversation over long-term transportation funding. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said, “For nearly four decades, local transportation sales tax funds have delivered real results, but our work is far from over.” City of Clovis Councilmember and former Mayor Lynne Ashbeck said, “The more successful Fresno County is, the more successful all of our cities will be.” Joan Eaton, former board member of the Central Valley Community Foundation, added, “It reflects a commitment to transportation investments that are fair, practical, and benefit the entire region, not just one city or one interest group.” Veronica Garibay, co-director of the Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, said, “Over the last year, thousands of Fresno County residents came together to shape a vision for a better transportation future that aligns our tax dollars with how people actually move through their daily lives.” The plan, she added, “focuses on fixing local roads, improving transit, and creating jobs without raising taxes.”

Separately, a citizen-led local measure aims to raise $7.4 billion over 30 years for Fresno County streets, transit, congestion relief and zero-emission infrastructure, and would require 35,000 signatures to reach the ballot. For residents, the immediate effects will be targeted street and safety projects, expanded clean-transportation options in Fresno, and staged improvements such as the Riggin Avenue widening that are intended to ease commutes for thousands of Valley workers. Officials and agencies will need to publish line-item details and timelines as projects move from federal award to local implementation.