The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $28.5 million construction and management package Tuesday, Oct. 14 aimed at advancing water infrastructure for the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park, a long-term economic development project on the site of a former naval airfield.

The action includes adopting plans and specifications for Phase 2022 and 2024 well improvements, Phase 1A water facility construction, and an offsite water project. The county awarded a $23.59 million construction contract to Mozingo Construction, Inc., and entered into a $2.49 million professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell to oversee construction management. The project is expected to begin in November 2025 and wrap up by fall 2027, weather permitting.

The water improvements are designed to support the first phases of the 1,528-acre business park, which is projected to deliver more than 14 million square feet of industrial space and over 14,000 living-wage jobs at full build-out. Water mains will be installed under Fink Road to connect the business park to Crows Landing community well sites, with new water storage, pumping, and treatment facilities planned near Bonita Avenue and 4th Street.

The county has invested heavily in the project since acquiring the former Crows Landing Air Facility in 1999, including $22.8 million in planning and infrastructure funds in 2019 and $12 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations in 2023. A $3.45 million EPA grant also supports the well improvement phases.

Tuesday’s vote authorized a 10% contingency for change orders and increase appropriations by $5.8 million in the county’s Crows Landing Industrial Business Project budget unit. Staff projects a temporary negative fund balance of $800,000, which could grow to $1.1 million once annual maintenance costs begin in 2027. A long-term funding strategy for those costs will be presented in a future budget cycle.