The City of Porterville will be receiving a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and public safety administrative offices, thanks to a $10 million appropriation from the state budget.

A special ceremonial check presentation by State Senator Melissa Hurtado will be held Oct. 11 at 2 p.m., at Fire Station 71 located on 40 W. Cleveland Ave.

The funding, approved as part of California Assembly Bill 178, was announced in July as part of the 2022-2023 Budget Act.

The EOC will be the area’s critical coordination hub for emergency situations and will serve as the central location for emergency response and recovery efforts in the Porterville and southeastern Tulare County area.

The EOC will be located at the location of the former Porterville Library and will include a memorial area to honor Porterville firefighters Captain Ramon “Ray” Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones, who were both killed in the fire that destroyed the building in 2020.

The city gave special thanks to Senator Hurtado for her support in acquiring the funding for the project.