Millions in Federal Stimulus Funds to Be Directed to 215 Freeway Widening Project, Expected to Bring 8,000 Jobs to Inland Empire

More jobs are coming to the Inland Empire. In a statement issued by San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt, he says, “It was a victory for the Inland Empire region this week to hear the announcement that $49 million of California’s federal stimulus funds was awarded to continue construction of the I-215 Freeway Widening Project through the City of San Bernardino. This announcement came just two weeks after San Bernardino Associated Goverments (SANBAG) decided to invest $80.6 million of regional federal stimulus funds on the project. We are fortunate that a total of $129.6 milllion in federal stimulus funds will come to our region at a time when unemployment and foreclosure rates are both at an all-time high.” CalTrans District 8 advanced the 215 Freeway project, and as it was “shovel ready” it qualified for this federal funding. Chairman Ovitt, who also serves as president of SANBAG’s 29-member board, says that the economic benefits of the project, which is due for completion in 2013, will provide jobs for as many as 8,000. And, he adds, “We would not be celebrating this economic influx of funds today if it were not for the bi-partisan support we received at the federal, state, county and local levels.”