The California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom have provided some $51.5 million in the 2021-2022 budget for various community repair, improvement or construction projects around San Bernardino County, including $33.5 million designated for use within the City of San Bernardino.
$12 million is being provided to construct a fire station in Yucca Valley. San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey said he hopes the new facility can be located to not only serve Yucca Valley, its residents and businesses, but enhance fire protection and emergency response into Landers as well.
The 2021-22 California Budget also frees up $37 million for use by the 20,000-student strong San Bernardino Community College District for major improvements to its two campuses.
By providing matching funds, the district will receive $31 million from the state to be used to construct a modern workforce training center at San Bernardino Valley College. The workforce training center is to serve as a learning facility for those students intent less on pursuing heavy academics and more interested in a blue collar trade, such as automotive repair, general engine repair, water systems maintenance and management, heavy truck technology, manufacturing, woodworking, machining, electrical heating and air conditioning and other practical and employable skills.
The cost of the workforce training center is estimated at “Roughly $74 million, ballpark,” said Angel Rodriguez, the San Bernardino Community College District’s senior director of marketing, public affairs & government relations.
In addition, the district is to receive $6 million to partially defray the cost of constructing a new arts education and performance venue at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, which is to replace the 43-year-old Finkelstein Performing Arts Center.
The new facility will feature a 270-seat main theater, a black box theater, a costume shop, theater scene shop, music recital room, recording studio and classrooms.
The State of California has also conferred $2.5 million upon the California Theatre, intended to rescue the downtown San Bernardino performing venue and home of the San Bernardino Symphony from a feared demise. The 1,700-seat historic facility, located in downtown San Bernardino, is owned by the City of San Bernardino. The money is to be used for refurbishing the performance house’s Wurlitzer organ, a historic music box that is in a state of dishabille, as well as replacing seating and carpeting, and making other upgrades.