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Federal 'Thriving Communities' team, led by COMTO, begins technical assistance work in Pixley
Summary
The county and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) described a federal Thriving Communities grant pairing COMTO with Pixley; plans include an advisory council, data collection, grant pipeline development and an eventual 501(c)(3) community organization.
April Ry, president and CEO of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), and county staff presented the federal Thriving Communities technical-assistance program for Pixley during the March 17 Tulare County meeting.
RMA Associate Director Mike Wash said Pixley has received more than $7.8 million in county-led infrastructure investments in recent years and that the Thriving Communities award (a U.S. Department of Transportation program) paired Pixley with COMTO to strengthen planning, federal grant readiness and community voice. COMTO's team described a multidisciplinary assistance model that pairs national technical expertise (AECOM, Accelerator for America, Reconnect Rondo and others) with local stakeholders including Self-Help Enterprises and a newly formed Pixley Advisory Council.
April Ry said COMTO's work focuses on community storytelling, funding strategy, transportation-data improvements and building grant-ready project packages. She explained the program's competitive context, noting communities that present strong stakeholder support, readiness to implement and clear data tend to rank higher for federal awards. The Pixley Advisory Council, formed in November, includes longtime residents, students and county representatives; the long-term goal is to incorporate that council as a 501(c)(3) to sustain grant pursuits.
Board members praised the initiative, noting prior county investments in Pixley park and Main Street improvements and the importance of addressing wastewater and other infrastructure constraints that historically limited large-scale development. The board had no objection to the presentation; staff said they will continue working with COMTO and local partners to pursue federal grants and finalize recommended project lists.
