Manteca Mayor Gary Singh is leading an effort to install as many as four welcome signs at city entrances.

The first will be placed in the raised landscaped median on East Yosemite Avenue on the west side of the Highway 99 interchange.

The plan is for others to be placed on West Yosemite greeting motorists as they enter from Lathrop.

The other two are proposed to go on Main Street near the freeway entrance from the 120 Bypass and Highway 99.

“Welcome signs are often the first impression people have of a city,” Singh said. “They signal pride, identity, and a sense of belonging.”

“Highlighting our service clubs on these signs is especially meaningful because these organizations represent the heart of Manteca volunteers who give their time to support youth programs, community events, and residents in need. Recognizing their contributions at our city’s entrances is a way of saying thank you while also showing visitors what Manteca is truly about: service and community.”

The project is being completed through private donations and community business partnerships.

Local businesses, residents, and service clubs have stepped forward to support the effort.

Singh said that demonstrates “strong community ownership of the project.”

The mayor noted the idea grew out of conversations with community members about the welcome signs that were placed around Manteca before 1980 by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.

The signs that read “Welcome to Manteca” were fashioned by Manteca High woodshop students. They had emblems of various service clubs.

They stood for years on East Highway 99 by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District headquarters, on Moffat Boulevard by where the Spreckels BMX track is today, and on West Yosemite Avenue across from where Kaiser Hospital is today.

Singh said the welcome signs are something that he wanted to see Manteca have again.

He took the lead of what will be a collaborative effort involving community members, and service organizations who wanted to see the signs return.

Any service club, business, or individuals that would like to contribute can contact Singh.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com