Rep. Costa Announces $2.1 Million In Federal Grant Funding To The City of San Joaquin

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that a total of $2.1 million has been awarded to the City of San Joaquin to help upgrade and expand the city’s wastewater treatment plant.  Funding was released through the US Department of Commerce made available through the Economic Development Administration.

“This is great news for the city of San Joaquin,” Costa said.  “We need to use all the water tools in our toolbox during this water crisis, and investments in wastewater treatment facilities are a wise use of federal dollars.”

“The Obama Administration is committed to creating jobs, encouraging innovation and improving our nation’s economic competitiveness,” US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “This grant will help diversify the San Joaquin region’s economy by upgrading and expanding the wastewater treatment facility to support business development plans and to serve future business needs.”

The city's current system is inadequate and prevents business expansion or creation in the historically agricultural area. An upgraded system will have almost twice the capacity, and will save threatened existing agricultural jobs and allow the development of new agri-businesses. The project is expected to create or save 1,000 jobs and generate $50 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.