By Faughn Distribution • E-Commerce • Logistics • Uncategorized 0 Comments

MAJOR GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY ACQUIRES 1.1 MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY AT WONDERFUL LOGISTICS CENTER

Transaction expands buyer’s footprint at Wonderful Logistics Center to more than three million square feet

SHAFTER, CA, September 14, 2026 – The Wonderful Company has announced that its Wonderful Real Estate business has completed the sale of 5104 Express Avenue to a major global technology and e-commerce company. The newly constructed 1,088,047-square-foot, Class A industrial facility is located at the Wonderful Logistics Center in Shafter, Calif. and marks the buyer’s third location at the 2,000-acre, fully entitled, master-planned logistics and distribution campus, bringing its owned and leased footprint to more than 3 million square feet.

“Global operators continue to choose Wonderful Logistics Center because we are a model within the state and the country that offers something fundamentally different. Nowhere else is there a master-planned logistics hub that brings together large-scale distribution, workforce and community development, and the future of clean freight infrastructure,” said Joe Vargas, president of Wonderful Real Estate. “This buyer’s continued investment validates the strength of Wonderful Logistics Center as one of California’s leading models for responsible logistics and durable economic growth that benefits businesses, workers and communities alike.”

More than 17 million square feet of warehouses are in operation at Wonderful Logistics Center today, supporting 23 tenants, including multiple Fortune 100 companies, and approximately 13,000 jobs—more than half of Kern County’s logistics workforce. 5104 Express Avenue was developed on a speculative basis to accommodate large-scale distribution and manufacturing users. It features a 40-foot clear height, 216 dock-high doors, two grade-level doors, 455 automobile parking spaces and 939 trailer stalls. Cushman & Wakefield Executive Vice Chairman Phil Lombardo, Vice Chair Andrew Starnes and Senior Director Cruise Adams represented the seller, while KBC Advisors Partner Colin MacMillan represented the buyer during negotiations for 5104 Express Avenue.

Last year, the buyer also partnered with Bakersfield College and The Wonderful Company to launch a 12-week Mechatronics & Robotics Apprenticeship program for U.S. employees at the on-site Wonderful Career Center, providing hands-on, SACA-certified training to prepare employees for skilled technical roles and career advancement. To date, more than 100 student employees have graduated from the program and entered year-long apprenticeships before they transition into mid-level technical roles at the company.

Wonderful Logistics Center continues to advance a long-term vision for a fully integrated logistics and goods movement ecosystem. Reflecting more than 30 years of master-planning and coordinated development, Wonderful Logistics Center leverages its strategic location to reduce transportation costs, improve supply chain efficiency and lower emissions. The campus includes an operational inland container depot supporting major ocean carriers, with capacity for up to 34,000 containers at full buildout. Wonderful Logistics Center is also working with public- and private-sector partners to develop a zero-emission truck corridor connecting the ports to Shafter, and the center will introduce California’s first inland rail terminal in 2027, offering both domestic and international service. Together, these investments will help reduce roadway congestion and diesel emissions, delivering meaningful community benefits while strengthening Shafter’s role as a global trade gateway.

“California’s economic growth depends on a more efficient goods movement system,” Vargas added. “We continue to develop best-in-class facilities that leverage our scale, speed to market and transportation connectivity, while investing opportunities that help neighboring communities thrive in the long-term.”

About Wonderful Logistics Center

Wonderful Logistics Center is a 2,000-acre, fully entitled, master-planned logistics and distribution campus located in Shafter, California, approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles. With more than 17 million square feet completed and operating across 23 tenant companies, Wonderful Logistics Center accommodates facilities ranging from 100,000 square feet to more than 2 million square feet for leading companies across retail, e-commerce, food, manufacturing and logistics. Located near Highway 99, Interstate 5 and Highway 58, Wonderful Logistics Center’s advanced transportation network includes BNSF mainline connectivity, onsite rail infrastructure, an operational inland container depot, a developing zero-emission truck corridor and an inland rail terminal expected to begin domestic and international service in early 2027. Onsite resources include the Wonderful Career Center, La Cocina restaurant and shared event space, with a new health clinic expected to open in fall 2027. These amenities support employees, local residents and the broader Shafter community.

For more information, visit www.wonderfullogisticscenter.com.

About Wonderful Real Estate

Wonderful Real Estate is a professional real estate development and property management company owned by The Wonderful Company that develops, manages and invests in a diversified portfolio of real estate, with a particular focus on office and industrial properties. Leveraging over 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, Wonderful and its affiliates currently have over 10 million square feet of real estate holdings, consisting of owner-occupied industrial and commercial real estate for its operating businesses and approximately 7 million square feet of actively managed office and industrial properties occupied by third parties located mainly in Southern and Central California.

Wonderful Real Estate and its affiliates have invested almost $2 billion since 2008 in commercial real estate development, facility improvements, processing equipment and real estate acquisitions. Wonderful and its affiliates are also currently developing three business parks totaling over 1,865 acres for office and industrial use in California’s Central Valley, several parcels of which have already been sold or leased to Fortune 500 companies and other high-quality anchor tenants.

About The Wonderful Company 

The Wonderful Company is a privately held $6 billion company committed to offering high-quality, healthy brands and helping consumers make better choices, every day.

The company grows, harvests, bottles, packages, and markets a diverse range of products, including fruits, nuts, flowers, water, wines and juices. It is the world’s leading grower of tree nuts and America’s largest citrus grower. In addition to Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, Wonderful Citrus, and POM Wonderful, its brands include FIJI Water, the world’s largest flower delivery service Teleflora, and JUSTIN, Landmark and Lewis Cellars wines.

 

Media Contacts:

Erin Poulson Morris

Senior Director of Business Development, Wonderful Real Estate

erin.poulson.morris@wonderful.com

Alison Day

Manager of External Communications, The Wonderful Company

alison.day@wonderful.com

By Faughn Distribution • Logistics • Uncategorized 0 Comments

2 Major deals in one week

Sept 17, 2026

Bakersfield is having a major industrial moment.

Two announcements this week make the opportunity especially clear:

Amazon has acquired a newly constructed 1,088,047-square-foot Class A distribution facility at Wonderful Logistics Center in Shafter. The building includes 40-foot clear height, 216 dock-high doors, hundreds of trailer stalls and expandable 4,000-amp electrical service.

This is Amazon’s third location at the logistics center, bringing its total footprint there to more than 3 million square feet. The campus now exceeds 17 million square feet of operating warehouse space, with 23 tenants and approximately 13,000 jobs.

At the same time, Ross Stores selected Bakersfield for a new 1.75-million-square-foot processing and distribution center near East Belle Terrace and Mount Vernon Avenue. The project represents approximately $500 million in investment and is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs.

From a broker’s perspective, these announcements send a powerful message:

Bakersfield and Shafter are no longer simply competing for industrial users. We are competing successfully for major institutional capital, national logistics operators and long-term corporate commitments.

The fundamentals are compelling:

• Strategic access to Highways 99 and 58, I-5 and major California markets • Available land for large-scale industrial development • Lower occupancy and operating costs compared with many coastal markets • A growing labor force and substantial employment base • Proven infrastructure and an expanding logistics ecosystem • Local leadership willing to streamline development and collaborate with users

These projects will create demand far beyond the buildings themselves—including truck terminals, IOS yards, suppliers, packaging companies, maintenance operations, automation providers, cold storage, food-related users and smaller logistics facilities.

For developers, landowners and investors, the takeaway is simple:

The time to study Bakersfield is before the next wave of demand fully arrives—not after every major parcel has been absorbed.

Bakersfield is building momentum, and the market is increasingly proving that it can support large-scale industrial investment.

Exciting news for Bakersfield and the entire Central Valley.

Source: Eric Powers (7) 2 MAJOR DEALS IN 1 WEEK… BAKERSFIELD, CA. | LinkedIn

By Faughn Distribution • Logistics • New Location 0 Comments

AGCO Opens Advanced Parts Distribution Center in Visalia, Calif., Expanding Parts Availability for Western U.S. Farmers

The 115,000-square-foot facility more than doubles AGCO’s West Coast parts capacity, putting more critical parts within fast reach of dealers and farmers.

AGCO  will open a new, expanded Parts Distribution Center in Visalia, Calif., on September 1, 2026, significantly increasing the range of parts stocked for farmers and dealers across the western United States. Located in the heart of West Coast agriculture, the modern facility replaces AGCO’s existing Visalia location and is designed to improve parts availability, accelerate delivery times and strengthen service for farmers and dealers across the western United States. A grand opening of the facility is planned for the first quarter of 2027.

“We reimagined every step of how parts move, from receiving to shipping, and built the systems to match, including advanced automation, smarter forecasting and a deeper local inventory,” said Stefan Caspari, Senior Vice President, Customer Success and North American Ag, AGCO. “For our dealers and farmers, this means more of the parts they need are on the shelf and closer to home, giving them greater confidence that the right part will be there when it matters most.”

The new 115,000-square-foot distribution center, visible from the Golden State Highway, more than doubles the size of AGCO’s operation in the region. Expanded stocking capacity, advanced warehouse automation and improved forecasting will enable AGCO to stock a broader range of high-demand parts closer to customers. Strategically located in California’s Central Valley, the center will support dealers and farmers across the western United States and AGCO’s full brand portfolio, including Fendt™ and Massey Ferguson™.

AGCO dealers like Pat O’Neill, VP, Ag & Lift of Quinn Company are excited about the benefits the new center will bring their customers. “A parts center of this caliber in our backyard is a game changer,” said O’Neill. “AGCO stocking more parts closer to home means we can get farmers the parts they need the same day, a real win for growers across California and the entire West Coast.”

The facility reflects a long-term investment in AGCO’s Farmer-First strategy and its growth across North America. AGCO designed the operation from the ground up, leveraging advanced storage systems, specialized material handling equipment and digital infrastructure to support the region’s needs and AGCO’s e-commerce growth for more than 20 years. The facility features vertical lift modules; high-density, narrow-aisle racking; dedicated storage for oversized components; rooftop solar power; and electric vehicle charging stations.

The Visalia project took shape over four years of network analysis, design and collaboration across AGCO’s global organization, making it one of the most advanced parts facilities in the company. Its opening on September 1 lays the foundation for AGCO’s continued growth across the western United States.

https://investors.agcocorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/agco-opens-advanced-parts-distribution-center-visalia-calif?utm_source=chatgpt.com

By Faughn Distribution • New Location 0 Comments

Global Tenant Commits To 1.27 Million Square Feet At CapRock Partners’ Central Point III In Visalia

CapRock Partners (“CapRock”), a privately owned investor and developer of industrial real estate in the Western and Central U.S., today announced that Building 1 at CapRock Central Point III in Visalia, has been fully leased to an undisclosed global corporate tenant. The 1,270,750-square-foot commitment ranks among the largest industrial lease transactions completed in California’s Central Valley in recent years, as CapRock continues to provide best-in-class industrial facilities that serve modern logistics, distribution and manufacturing enterprises.

Building 1 is a Class A logistics and distribution facility spanning approximately 75 acres. It represents the first building within CapRock Central Point III, a four-building, 2.7-million-square-foot speculative industrial development. The project is part of CapRock’s larger 5-million-square-foot, LEED-certified Central Point masterplan, which has consistently attracted major occupiers seeking operational scale, efficiency and strategic access to the Western U.S.

“CapRock Central Point III is designed for the next generation of supply chain strategy,” said Monique Snowden, vice president of asset management at CapRock Partners. “Today’s occupiers are looking for strategic locations that can help them move faster, operate more efficiently and scale with confidence. Visalia delivers a rare combination of access, labor and capacity, and this Building 1 lease further validates the Central Valley’s emergence as a prime logistics hub serving the West Coast and beyond.”

Strategically positioned in the heart of California, Visalia has evolved into one of the state’s most compelling industrial markets. The region offers direct access to major transportation infrastructure, a growing labor force and a business-friendly environment, while providing the scale and cost efficiencies increasingly sought by large occupiers. Industry leaders including UPS, Amazon, Ace Hardware, Smucker’s, VF Corporation, FedEx and International Paper have established operations within Visalia’s expanding industrial corridor.

Located at 4001 N. Plaza Drive, Building 1 provides convenient access to State Route 99 and regional transportation networks connecting to Interstates 5 and 80. The property’s location enables tenants to reach more than 50 million consumers within a one-day ground shipping radius, making it one of the few locations in the United States capable of serving such a significant population base with next-day delivery.

The cross-dock facility features 40-foot clear heights, 274 dock-high doors, two ground-level doors and approximately 6,600 square feet of office space. Additional features include ESFR sprinklers, ample power, 890 automobile parking stalls, a fully secured and fenced yard, drive-around circulation, 185-foot truck court depths and 542 excess trailer parking stalls designed to support high-volume logistics operations.

“The Building 1 lease transaction represents a broader evolution taking place across the supply chain, as occupiers seek greater resiliency, speed to market and long-term operating advantages,” said Bob O’Neill, executive vice president at CapRock Partners. “The Central Valley is a compelling alternative for companies looking to optimize distribution networks while maintaining access to the West Coast’s largest consumer base. CapRock continue invest in facilities that not only meet the sophisticated needs of global tenants but also generate meaningful economic benefits and employment opportunities throughout the region.”

The lease was facilitated by Mike Fowler, executive managing director at JLL, and his partners, Mike McCrary and Mac Hewett. Terms of the lease transaction are undisclosed.

CapRock now owns approximately 3.5 million square feet in the Central Valley, with additional land for future phases of CapRock Central Point.

https://caprock-partners.com/global-tenant-commits-to-1-27-million-square-feet-at-caprock-partners-central-point-iii-in-visalia/

By Faughn Distribution • E-Commerce • New Developments 0 Comments

Amazon confirmed for Fresno’s $100M Westgate Industrial Center

Amazon has been confirmed as the first tenant at Fresno’s Westgate Industrial Center near Highway 99 and Marks Avenue.

Natalie Banke, an Amazon spokesperson, confirmed the company’s involvement to The Business Journal on Friday. In September, it was announced that Scannell, the Indiana-based developers of the project, had landed a tenant for a 248,786-square-foot industrial office and warehouse building.

It would be the fifth Amazon distribution facility in Fresno.

Scannell broke ground on the $100 million Westgate Industrial Center in July, which marked their first project in Fresno. At the time, Scannell moved forward without securing a tenant, a speculative investment that local leaders described as a strong vote of confidence in Fresno’s industrial market.

Scannell Managing Director Todd Berryhill previously said that the leased building is expected to be completed around June 2026. It remains unclear whether the building will be completed on its previously projected timeline

“This is more than a building,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said during the groundbreaking ceremony in July. “It creates jobs, stimulates our local economy, generates revenue for city services — and it says Fresno is open for business.”

City and county officials have praised the project as a major economic development effort expected to create hundreds of construction and warehouse jobs.

“Scannell’s Westgate Industrial Center, and the ensuing activity and interest, is a great validation of the Fresno market and the importance of having fully entitled, shovel-ready land,” Will Oliver wrote to The Business Journal in September after the tenant announcement. “Once projects like Scannell’s are entitled and built, interest quickly follows and companies commit. This is further proof of the region’s momentum in attracting investment and jobs.”

https://thebusinessjournal.com/amazon-confirmed-for-fresnos-100m-westgate-industrial-center/

By Faughn Distribution 0 Comments

Massive AutoZone Distribution Center opens in Madera County

 A massive AutoZone Distribution Center has opened in Madera County. Madera County Supervisor Jordan Wamhoff posted the center’s ribbon-cutting and grand opening in Chowchilla on Tuesday on social media. The building is 556k ft. and will serve 350 stores across Northern California.

https://kmph.com/news/local/massive-autozone-distribution-center-opens-in-madera-county-350-stores-across-northern-california-400-full-time-jobs-to-local-workers

By Faughn Distribution 0 Comments

Tejon Ranch Co. Congratulates Nestlé

Tejon Ranch Co. congratulates Nestlé on the completion of their new 700,000+ sq. ft. distribution center at Tejon Ranch Commerce Center. Strategically positioned to enhance distribution efficiency across the West Coast, this state-of-the-art facility reflects Nestlé’s commitment to operational excellence and growth.

The decision by the world’s largest food and beverage company to establish operations at TRCC reinforces the center’s reputation as a premier logistics and industrial hub in California. With more than 8 million sq. ft. of space absorbed to date and additional sites available for development, TRCC continues to drive regional economic growth and long-term business value.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tejon-ranch_tejon-ranch-co-congratulates-nestl%C3%A9-on-the-activity-7362174993562046467-LR2A/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADYwsM0BdKAiN5Go6lbktPnvGXMSxQCxGTk

By Faughn Distribution 0 Comments

Farm manufacturer announces Visalia expansion with new distribution center

A publicly traded manufacturer and distributor of farm equipment is expanding its Visalia parts distribution operation. Georgia-based AGCO announced a multimillion-dollar investment in its U.S. West Coast operations with a new, expanded parts distribution center. The new, 115,000 square-foot facility is located less than three miles from the current site at 9860 W. Ferguson Ave., according to a news release. The company relocated its parts and distribution center to Visalia from Stockton in 2016.

The new site at 30041 Bradham Drive will replace the current location, with an anticipated start to operations in late 2026. About 20 people will work at the new site — the same as current operations. The modern facility will support distribution of all AGCO leading brands, including farm machinery maker Fendt, in the U.S., and provide enhanced service to Western U.S. farmers, including California’s growers, according to the release.

“California’s high-value crop farmers rely on precision equipment that runs long hours, often logging over 2,000 hours per year in demanding conditions,” said Jena Holtberg-Benge, AGCO vice president of aftersales and parts. “By expanding our parts distribution capabilities in Visalia, we’re putting Farmers First – ensuring rapid access to critical components that keep machines running and on track during peak seasons.”

Visalia’s central location enables AGCO to reach any dealer or farmer in the region within a day. The new facility will reduce lead times and improve fill rates for high-demand parts across AGCO’s full brand portfolio, according to the release.

https://thebusinessjournal.com/farm-manufacturer-announces-visalia-expansion-with-new-distribution-center/?mc_cid=1a6ebe12b9&mc_eid=bd857719cb

By Faughn Distribution • Workforce 0 Comments

Massive distribution center to create 1,500 jobs in Stanislaus County

Patterson is now considering a 3.25 million-square-foot distribution center, which is almost three times larger than a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse on Sperry Avenue approved earlier this month. According to applications filed with the city, the huge distribution center at the southwest corner of Rogers and Zacharias roads would be “built to suit” for an e-commerce company to fulfill orders from customers. The company has not been identified. It would be the largest distribution center in the city, which has logistics facilities as large as 1.5 million square feet.

Simply called Project Zach, the center will have five floors and about 1,500 employees. A city use permit is required because the 107-foot height is twice the city standard of 45 feet. Other features include 59 loading docks, a proposed 983 parking spaces for passenger cars and 506 truck trailer stalls. Small products, less than 25 pounds, will be packaged on the ground floor and mezzanine and stored on the upper floors.

The project got a public hearing Thursday evening before the city Planning Commission. The panel was to review a number of issues because of Project Zach’s size and location near the foothills of western Stanislaus County. “The city’s primary concern with large buildings is the potential impacts on residences and views of the hills,” City spokesperson Victoria Castro said by email. “The municipal code includes requirements to ensure projects like this are located far from residences to protect the views.” Issues such as truck traffic and air quality are being addressed through conditions of approval for Project Zach, Castro said. A city report says the proposed facility is more than 2,000 feet from the nearest property inside the city zoned for residential development.

The 102-acre site is within the West Patterson Business Park Expansion planned for 13.5 million squares of feet of light industrial and commercial uses. The owner is NCP Patterson Holdings. A representative of Panattoni Development Co. did not return a message from The Modesto Bee. The city required an amendment to the 2012 environmental study on the business park expansion, but the adverse impacts of Project Zach are not more severe than impacts of the entire expansion, so there’s no need for major revisions, the addendum concluded. The city turned heads by landing distribution centers at a time when some California cities were desperate for any job creation. Patterson’s business park expansion, driven by Interstate 5 access, was capped by a 1 million-square-foot Amazon Fulfillment Center in 2014. But warehousing and distribution draw more complaints today regarding substandard wages, truck traffic and air emissions.

A city planning report says Project Zach is exempt from Assembly Bill 98, which was passed by the Legislature to restrict truck routes and impose more stringent requirements on logistics projects in California. Project Zach is part of the Arambel Business Park master plan, approved years ago. Initial standards of AB 98 went into effect Jan. 1. In 2012, the EIR found that the West Patterson Business Park expansion would eliminate 749 acres of prime farmland, 278 acres of unique farmland and 82 acres considered important by the state. The new distribution operation, including 652,000 square feet on each floor, is expected to exceed San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District emissions for volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. The center will generate 400 vehicle trips during the busiest morning hours and more than 900 trips in the worst hours after noon.

State regulations will require a five-minute limit on idling diesel-powered vehicles at the facility. Before building permits are issued, Project Zach is expected to comply with San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District rules to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by 33% and tiny particle emissions from diesel trucks by 50%. That can be done through onsite emission reductions or payment of mitigation fees. The environmental study on the entire West Patterson Business Park expansion anticipates 11,755 vehicle trips during morning hours and 15,319 after noon. Project Zach is expected to fund its share of road and intersection improvements before a final map is approved. As the business park continues to develop, the plan has called for improvements of the I-5 and Sperry Avenue interchange, signals where Rogers Road meets Highway 33, and other intersection improvements.

In addition, Project Zach will contribute fair-share fees for an I-5 and Zacharias Road interchange connected to the proposed South County Corridor expressway. The Planning Commission’s approval June 12 of a 1.2 million-square-foot logistics center on Sperry Avenue sparked some jeers on social media bemoaning another warehouse and that this one would eliminate a corn maze popular with families. Castro said the city is seeking diverse development and is reviewing multiple applications including nearly 2,000 housing units and commercial projects such as a new shopping center. It’s reviewing proposals for additional industrial buildings including manufacturing and medical facilities, she said.

Patterson part of primary logistics market an economic development whitepaper for the Modesto 2050 General Plan Update and EIR in 2022 analyzed the rapid expansion of the logistics industry in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. There was steady growth in e-commerce before the pandemic and then the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 spurred enormous global growth in online sales. San Joaquin County is a major hub for warehousing and distribution due to truck and rail transportation modes, relatively inexpensive land, labor supply and freeways like Interstates 580 and 205 connecting with the Bay Area and Port of Oakland, the whitepaper said. Tracy is a leader with regional warehouse and distribution businesses in a primary market taking in Lathrop, Manteca, Stockton and Patterson. The report noted that Patterson and Stockton are equal distance from the Port of Oakland. Although Patterson has a smaller labor supply, it has the least expensive land and fee costs, the whitepaper said.

Modesto lies southeast of the primary market area and is at a disadvantage for logistics development, with the greater mileage increasing costs for operators, the paper said. The city inhabits a secondary market with opportunities, but with supervisors earning around $25 an hour and robotics taking on much of the warehouse work, the 2022 paper said some communities question the desirability of logistics development.

https://www.modbee.com/news/politics-government/article309423915.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

By Faughn Distribution • Economy • Renewable Energy 0 Comments

Port of Stockton gets $110 million grant for zero-emissions operations

The Port of Stockton has been awarded a $110.5 million grant to reduce air pollution in what a local congressman called the largest federal investment in its history. U.S. Rep. Josh Harder (D-Tracy) said the funds will help make Stockton the first small port in the nation with zero-emissions terminal operations.

The grant is intended to be used for electric cargo handling equipment, solar power generation and battery storage and to provide shore power to ships when they tie up at wharfs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday. The grant also will go toward training workers in maintaining the new high-tech equipment.

“These funds will significantly decrease freight-related emissions in the Central Valley by transitioning more than 90% of our cargo-handling equipment to zero emissions,” Stockton Port Director Kirk DeJesus said in a statement.

The grant will help burnish the Port of Stockton’s environmental efforts, which sometimes draw the ire of conservationists. In September, for instance, several environmental groups sued the port alleging a planned project to produce hydrogen from fossil methane will create air pollution and greenhouse gases that lead to climate change.

Despite environmental concerns, the Port of Stockton, however, is a regional economic powerhouse. As the fourth busiest port in the state, the complex accounts for more than 10,000 jobs, officials say. Stockton’s grant is among 55 to be distributed at ports around the nation. The investments, totaling nearly $3 billion, were funded under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Harder said he worked hard to bring the grant to Stockton.

“This means jobs, cutting-edge technology and better air quality for our kids,” said Harder, a Stockton-based Democrat and member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Other California ports receiving grants included Redwood City, Oakland, San Francisco, Oxnard, Los Angeles and San Diego. One goal for the grants is to help reduce pollution at ports that have homes nearby, which is certainly the case in Stockton. Several neighborhoods are situated on the north side of the San Joaquin River across from Rough and Ready Island, home to the Port of Stockton.

“While ports, of course, serve an essential role for moving goods, the costs that they bring in terms of pollution and impacts on overburdened communities must be confronted,” EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said in a statement.

Replacing diesel-powered freight equipment with zero-emission technology will “reduce air pollution, improve health outcomes in nearby communities, and advance the campaign to tackle climate change,” Guzman said.