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Bakersfield council approves $300,000 downtown infrastructure grant for Dolores Huerta cultural center after heated hearing
Summary
Council approved a $300,000 reimbursement grant to help pay right‑of‑way and off‑site improvements for the Dolores Huerta Peace and Justice Cultural Center in downtown Bakersfield after a lengthy public hearing that drew supporters and opponents.
The Bakersfield City Council on Aug. 13 approved a $300,000 downtown revitalization reimbursement grant to help pay for right‑of‑way and off‑site improvements tied to the planned Dolores Huerta Peace and Justice Cultural Center.
The decision followed a public hearing that lasted more than two hours and drew about two dozen speakers on both sides. Opponents objected to the use of taxpayer funds for a nonprofit they described as politically controversial; supporters said the project will revitalize a long‑vacant downtown parcel and bring jobs, visitors and community services.
Project and city staff summary: City staff and the project team told the council the development is a roughly $34 million, 30,000‑square‑foot infill project that developers say will create about 40 permanent jobs and roughly 150 construction jobs. The grant is structured as a reimbursement for off‑site work — sewer, storm…
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