Community Infrastructure Fund

RESOURCES

The San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors are pleased to announce the third year of our Community Infrastructure Fund, which supports and empowers local communities through grants for regional projects and initiatives. This year, our Board of Directors approved a $1,040,000 budget for the program — our largest annual allocation yet.

Each year, the Exchange Contractors dedicate a portion of the proceeds from our Conservation Water Transfer Program to reinvest in Central Valley communities. We were extremely pleased with the response over the program’s first two years, which together provided more than $1.1 million in grants for local projects.

Who Can Apply

We invite proposals from community-based organizations, non-profits, and local government entities with projects poised to make a significant impact in the following areas:

  • Water resource development and conservation
  • Renewable energy and electric power infrastructure
  • Recreational facility development in conjunction with water works and facilities
  • Sewage treatment and public health-related infrastructure

Priority will be given to projects within the service areas of our four Member Entities: Central California Irrigation District, San Luis Canal Company, Firebaugh Canal Water District, and Columbia Canal Company. However, proposals benefiting the broader community beyond these boundaries but directly impacting our service regions will also be considered.

Applications

Applications for this year have now closed and are being thoroughly reviewed by our Community Infrastructure Committee, with final funding decisions made by the Board of Directors. Applicants can expect to receive notification in early September.

Past Grant Recipients

2025 Grant Recipients

In the program’s second year, six projects were awarded more than $600,000 in total grants:

  1. City of Firebaugh — $190,000 for pedestrian and bike trail improvements along the San Joaquin River, including a concrete walkway, rest area with shade structures, picnic table, drinking fountain, and landscaping.
  2. City of Los Banos — $100,000 to resurface the H.G. Fawcett Canalside Trail between Pioneer Road and I Street, improving walkability and ADA accessibility.
  3. City of Gustine — $67,500 to replace five severely degraded brick-lined sewer manholes with modern, corrosion-resistant precast concrete units.
  4. Milliken Museum Society — $55,725 for the Historical Newspaper Digitization Project, digitizing two community newspapers and preserving more than one hundred years of regional history.
  5. Milliken Museum Society — $10,000 for the restoration and preservation of a large vintage 1900 Miller and Lux San Joaquin Valley ownership map.
  6. Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District — $204,000 to help create 120 new parking stalls at Firebaugh High School, with improved driveways and fencing.

2024 Grant Recipients

In the program’s inaugural year, five organizations received over $500,000 in grants:

  1. City of Firebaugh — $180,000 for rehabilitation of the pedestrian and bike trail along the San Joaquin River.
  2. City of Newman — $150,000 for a Community Conservation Area with an educational plaza and pollinator garden.
  3. City of Los Banos — $125,000 for solar lighting along the H.G. Fawcett Canalside Trail.
  4. City of Gustine — $30,000 for the Schmidt Park Pond aeration project.
  5. City of Gustine — $95,000 for a recharge basin groundwater development project.
RESOURCES