The San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors are thrilled to announce the second cohort of grantees for our Community Infrastructure Fund, which supports and empowers local communities through grants for regional projects. This year, five organizations were awarded more than $600,000 in total grants under the program.

Each year, the Exchange Contractors contribute up to 2% of their annual Net Transfer Revenue to give back to the community, providing support to organizations making a positive impact in the region and equipping them with the resources they need to succeed.

These grants aim to uplift the Central Valley by supporting projects around safeguarding and enhancing water resources, renewable energy, electric power infrastructure, and critical infrastructure.

The list of recipients include:  

• The City of Firebaugh will receive $190,000 for improvements to the existing pedestrian and bike trail along the San Joaquin River. The project includes the creation of a concrete walkway to a new rest area which will offer shade to residents, a picnic table, drinking fountain, garbage cans, lighting, and landscaping services to enhance this recreational facility.
• The City of Los Banos’ H.G. Fawcett Canalside Trail Improvement Project will receive $100,000 to resurface the trail between Pioneer Road and I Street. The project will provide a smoother, more durable walking surface, improve ADA accessibility.
• The City of Gustine’s Sewer Manhole Replacement Project will receive $67,500 to replace five severely degraded brick-lined manholes with modern, corrosion-resistant precast concrete manholes. This critical infrastructure improvement will enhance the reliability of essential wastewater services and protect environmental resources.
• The Milliken Museum Society’s Historical Newspaper Digitization Project will receive $55,725 to digitize two community newspapers, preserving the history of the region for more than one hundred years. This project will make historical archives spanning from 1890 to 2026 accessible online, allowing residents to research local water developments, historical events, and community history—including that of the Exchange Contractors’ member agencies.
• The Milliken Museum Society’s Historical Map Preservation Project will receive $10,000 for the restoration and preservation of a large vintage 1900 M&L San Joaquin Valley ownership map, helping to preserve important regional historical documents for future generations.
• The Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District’s Parking Expansion Project will receive $204,000 to create 120 new parking stalls at Firebaugh High School. The project includes asphalt paving, improved driveways and new fencing. The new parking will provide much-needed capacity during sporting events and school activities while improving traffic flow and safety.

In July, SJRECWA invited proposals from community organizations, non-profits, and local government bodies for projects working to make a significant impact in areas such as water resource development, renewable energy, and electric power infrastructure. All applications were reviewed by the Community Infrastructure Committee, with final decisions made by the Board of Directors.

The grant recipients were approved by the Board of Directors of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority on October 3^rd, 2025.