Stanislaus County is advancing development of the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park with a $12 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), part of broader efforts to create a regional employment center and boost economic growth in western Stanislaus County.
At its May 20 meeting, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors accepted an update on the county’s ARPA investments, which also include funding for infrastructure improvements in unincorporated communities. Since acquiring the former military airfield in 1999, the county has pursued plans to transform the 1,528-acre site into a major business park, reducing long commutes for local workers and providing sustainable-wage jobs.
Originally commissioned as a Naval Air Station in 1942, the airfield was later identified for closure under the Department of Defense’s Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) in the 1990s. Congress passed Public Law 106-82 in 1999 to transfer ownership to Stanislaus County, setting the stage for redevelopment.
The county prepared and adopted the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park Specific Plan in 2018, outlining a multi-phase development expected to span 30 to 40 years. At full buildout, the site will feature more than 14 million square feet of building space, a 370-acre public-use airport, and infrastructure designed to support business expansion and job creation.
The county has committed $20 million from general fund reserves to the project, including $4.2 million for design and engineering of Phase 1A. An additional $3.5 million in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) program has been earmarked for potable water infrastructure. The latest $12 million in ARPA funds moves the project closer to completing its backbone infrastructure, which includes water and wastewater facilities, drainage, utilities, and road improvements.
The first phase, expected to cost between $36 million and $42 million, will include construction of a dual 12-inch water transmission main, a 1.6-million-gallon water storage tank, a new pump station, and other key infrastructure projects.
County officials envision Crows Landing as a regional economic driver, leveraging its proximity to Interstate 5, Silicon Valley, and major ports to attract private investment. Public forums will invite community participation in shaping the business park’s development.
