Old Gottschalks building in Downtown Fresno, file photo

The Golden State’s budget agreement on Tuesday means a historic win for the City of Fresno.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democrats have agreed on how to spend $310.8 billion over the next year, with $250 million earmarked for Downtown Fresno.

The $250 million will be used for improvements to Downtown Fresno’s infrastructure.

This afternoon, the city will host a news conference with speakers Mayor Jerry Dyer, Senator Anna Caballero, and Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula.

The Downtown Fresno Partnership will be present at the 3:30 p.m. press conference at Mariposa Plaza on Fulton Street with plans to gift a commemorative pin to mark the historic event to the first 100 attendees.

Newsom included this funding in his May Revision, in part because Fresno was poised with a plan to improve downtown infrastructure and had demonstrated significant community support.

The city has already started the groundwork, with improvement work set to start within the next year. The funds will be awarded in phases through the next three budget years: $50 million in 2023-2024, $100 million in 2025-2025, and $100 million in 2025-2026.

Caballero and Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria jointly worked to secure $20 million in funding to support the recovery and restoration of the Planada community, which was devastated by flooding earlier this year.

They also secured $100 million in collaboration with UC Merced and Merced College for a student housing project which will provide the opportunity for students to live on campus to continue their higher education at either college.

“I am grateful to the governor for prioritizing the needs of the Central Valley through the California State Budget this year,” Soria said. “I hope that our rural Central Valley communities continue to receive much-needed resources and funding.”