Plans for a new Belmont Avenue headquarters for Radio Bilingue were announced Thursday, with the project anticipated to cost about $10 million. Image contributed

Nonprofit radio station Radio Bilingue will have a new headquarters thanks to help from Producers Dairy.

During a news conference at the former Central Valley Cheese property in the South Tower neighborhood Thursday, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias announced that Producers Dairy intends to donate the building to Radio Bilingue, as well as an undisclosed monetary donation to renovate the new headquarters, which will be called The Radio Bilingue Public Media and Culture Center.

The property, located at 450 E. Belmont Ave. in Fresno, covers 12,000 square feet on a 1-acre parcel that has been used to park Producers Dairy’s trucks.

Radio Bilingue was founded by Hugo Morales in 1980, and today owns and operates 26 non-commercial radio stations in California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, airing national Spanish news on health, immigration, worker rights, climate resilience, voting, racial justice and more.

Morales himself grew up in the Belmont Avenue neighborhood.

Arias thanked Morales for starting Radio Bilingue on Belmont Avenue — and now keeping it there.

“The project will transform South Tower, and will further cement Radio Bilingue’s presence in South Tower,” Arias said.

Arias said the building has been vacant for decades, and the renovation and preservation of the building will benefit the neighboring community.

He said that Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula secured a $2 million state allocation to support facility upgrades and relocation.

Arias said the renovation will alleviate conflict related to truck traffic in the residential neighborhood. He added that renovation would cost about $10 million.

Scott Shehadey, Producers owner and CEO, said the company’s commitment to the community extends beyond dairy products, and that they deeply care about the Central Valley’s residents and the South Tower community.

“We are excited to see the project move forward, and excited to see how it’s going to benefit the local community,” Shehadey said.

Radio Bilingue’s current location is located at 5005 E Belmont Ave, off of North Willow Avenue.

“Our goal is to be able to accept this rare opportunity made by Producers Dairy, and to be ready as soon as possible,” Morales said.

Morales said they are currently seeking support for the renovation, with Arias adding that the station has done well with its fundraising in the past.

The headquarters will create space for public forums and townhall meetings, said Radio Bilingue Project Manager Jose Moran, to give the community a chance to voice their concerns and engage with local leaders.

“This new center will be state-of-the-art, and environmentally friendly for Radio Bilingue to produce and broadcast our local, state and national programs that foster local talent, and storytelling, and reflect the rich tapestry of our audience,” Moran said.

Arias said that it will take about a year for the environmental review process and design work, with another year of construction to be completed.