Local community radio station Radio Bilingüe on Sept. 19 announced an ambitious plan to build a plaza, “a beautiful, sustainably designed community space where we can train more Fresno youth and volunteers, host community forums and performances, and celebrate our culture,” as stated on the station’s Facebook page. Eventually, Radio Bilingüe will relocate to that space, located at 450 E. Belmont Ave.
The announcement was made during a press conference.
Producers Dairy announced its intent to donate the property to Radio Bilingüe and make a monetary contribution toward the station’s proposed new headquarters.
“At Producers Dairy, our commitment to the community goes beyond providing quality products,” said Scott Shehadey, Producers Dairy owner and CEO. “We care deeply about the well-being of residents and the future of the South Tower community.
“We wholeheartedly support Radio Bilingüe’s proposed project, recognizing it as a vital initiative to enrich the community. Working together, we are excited to see this project move forward for the benefit of the community.”
Fresno City Council Member Miguel Arias attended the press conference and expressed his support for the station’s project. And in November 2023, Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula (D–Fresno) presented Radio Bilingüe with a $2 million check, a grant from the State General Fund that will help with the proposed plaza.
“Radio Bilingüe is deeply grateful to Producers Dairy for this generous offer and innovative opportunity, and to Council Member Arias for bringing us together,” says Hugo Morales, Radio Bilingüe co-founder and co-executive director.
“We will do everything in our power to work with Producers, the Cheese property neighbors and the City of Fresno to position ourselves to accept this offer—including identifying the funds needed to make this dream a reality.
“Returning to a neighborhood that feels like home, we want to ensure we can be the best neighbor possible, including offering youth and volunteer radio training, cultural programs and community forums.”
“Everything happened very fast,” added Morales, “perhaps three months in total.” The station was looking for a place to move but couldn’t find the right place until now.
The project is ambitious. “The proposed budget is around $10 million; we have $3 million to start, [and] we are going to build the plaza in stages,” explains Morales. He wants to keep part of the old cheese factory. “It would be easier to tear down the entire building and start from scratch, however, the building is a landmark of the neighborhood.”
The project has an innovative development: the collaboration of a corporation with a nonprofit entity—with the support of the local government. “I think this is new in the Central Valley, a private business cooperating with a Latino nonprofit,” said Morales. “This could be a model; it would be great if more companies work to support organizations in the Valley.”
Finally, Morales hopes the new plaza could improve the landscape of the Tower District, an area he calls home. “It’s a neighborhood of working families, I hope they feel pride in this effort.”
Radio Bilingüe was created in 1976 in Fresno, and its programming can currently be heard in California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico.
