Aguilar Announces Over $1.4 Million in Funding to Create Jobs for Loma Linda University Health
Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded Loma Linda University Health more than $1.4 million in grant funding for construction and infrastructure investments for the Loma Linda University Health—San Bernardino Campus. The grant will be facilitated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
“Loma Linda University Health is a top medical facility and plays an important role in our regional economy, so to see federal funds going toward such an important economic driver for the Inland Empire is great news,” said Rep. Aguilar. He added, “This grant will allow us to invest in our workforce, improve local infrastructure projects and create hundreds of new jobs in San Bernardino.”
Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda University Health, said the grant will be instrumental in building a new facility in downtown San Bernardino, which is scheduled to be completed in Spring of 2016. “We are tremendously grateful to Rep. Aguilar’s efforts and to the Commerce Department for this support of our initiative to bring health care and education to those in need in the San Bernardino area.”
The grant for Loma Linda University Health is for $1,437,132 and will create new jobs in San Bernardino. The new San Manuel Gateway College will offer local high school students and recent graduates the opportunity to train for immediate entry-level jobs in the health care industry, which is the fastest growing sector of the Inland Empire economy.
In addition to the San Manuel Gateway College (which takes its name from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians who made a $10 million gift toward its construction), LLUH-San Bernardino will house the expanded SAC Health Clinic. The clinic is already the largest provider of Medi-Cal services in San Bernardino.
Rep. Aguilar wrote a letter of support for the award earlier this year. In his Jobs Plan, released in April, Rep. Aguilar cited workforce training and investments in infrastructure projects as key elements to getting the Inland Empire economy back on track.
