West Sacramento Receives $2.4 Million Grant for Job Creation

The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded the City of West Sacramento $2,488,625 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to provide public infrastructure in support of a new metals recycling facility proposed for the Port of West Sacramento. Mayor Christopher Cabaldon applauds the grant and explains its significance to the community, “the project represents a $25 million private investment that will provide employment for local contractors and vendors during the construction period and, when operational, will provide jobs for 65 local residents in administrative, operating and maintenance positions.” Grant funds will be used to construct a new Port entrance and intersection on Harbor Boulevard, in addition to a road for access to the facility.

“The Port of West Sacramento is quickly becoming one of the west coast's most environmentally responsible ports” notes Congressman Mike Thompson. “Its ongoing renaissance depends on a combination of private investment and public support. This grant funding will be a huge boon to the people of West Sacramento, who will benefit not only from good-paying jobs, but a dramatic increase in the volume of goods coming through the port. These are the kinds of smart, targeted investments that will make our community a leader in the emerging green economy.”

For every ton of steel that is recycled, more than 4,000 pounds of raw materials are conserved. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, using recycled iron and steel saves 74% of the energy that would be needed if virgin materials are used to make new steel. Nationwide, that is enough energy to provide electricity to 20 million households for an entire year.

David Gigerich, president and CEO of West Coast Recycling Group, LLC notes that his company is committed to making the project a reality, “We are moving forward with our investment in the West Sacramento community to construct our new state-of-the-art metal recycling facility at the Port of West Sacramento.”

The West Coast Recycling project will be presented to the West Sacramento Planning Commission at 6:00 p.m. on June 16, 2011.