Board enhances school facilities with discretionary funding
The Board of Supervisors approved a $250,000 allocation from Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.’s District Specific Priorities Program funding to support the completion of field improvements at Joe Baca Middle School in the Colton Joint Unified School District. These improvements include new field lighting, a walking track and a mini-soccer field, providing students and community members with enhanced recreational opportunities.
This project aligns with the Countywide Vision by investing in quality-of-life resources and enhancing opportunities for neighborhood and family engagement in shared spaces.
Drug trafficking enforcement grant award increase
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department received a $30,000 grant increase from the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the 2024 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program to fund the Emerging Threat Initiative, bringing the total grant award to over $1.13 million from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2025.
The HIDTA Program provides financial assistance to local law enforcement agencies operating in high-risk drug trafficking regions across the United States. The program aims to disrupt and reduce illicit drug manufacturing by enhancing intelligence-sharing, coordination and strategic multi-jurisdictional enforcement efforts.
Since 1997, the Sheriff’s Department has received HIDTA grant funding to support specialized narcotics enforcement teams, including the:
- Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team (IRNET): a multi-agency task force led by the Sheriff’s Department, working in coordination with local, state, and federal partners to investigate and prosecute major drug trafficking organizations.
- Regional Methamphetamine Task Force (RMTF): a collaborative effort between San Bernardino and Riverside counties, focuses on identifying and dismantling methamphetamine production and distribution networks.
- Vehicle Interdiction Pipeline Enforcement Resource (VIPER) Task Force: a regional task force involving the Sheriff’s Departments of San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, targets drug smuggling and trafficking along major transportation corridors.
- Emerging Threat Initiative: a new sharing initiative for overdose response and death investigations.
The funding to support the Sheriff’s Department narcotics enforcement teams aligns with the Countywide Vision by creating forums to facilitate the sharing of information across law enforcement agencies and fostering an environment that encourages shared resources and strategic planning for public safety programs.
Arrow Route Sewer Main Project in Fontana area update
The Board of Supervisors allocated approximately $11.4 million in discretionary general funding to fund the Arrow Route Sewer Main Project in the unincorporated area of Fontana. Arrow Route is a part of the county-maintained road system and supports the unincorporated community who relies on septic systems.
The aging septic systems will be replaced with modern sewer infrastructure, allowing approximately 270 parcels to connect to the city of Fontana’s existing sewer system in the future.
The project is a collaborative effort between the county and the city of Fontana. The city will fund and manage the environmental, acquisition and design/engineering of a sewer main with all required manholes, tie-ins and other associated components.
The county’s Department of Public Works – Special Districts will manage the construction of the project. Once completed, the city will assume responsibility for the sewer system’s operations and maintenance.
This investment aligns with the Countywide Vision to invest in infrastructure that promotes a sustainable and thriving community.
Strengthening fire response with new fire trucks
County Fire will purchase 10 fire engines to enhance its emergency response capabilities across the county. This $11 million investment includes $6 million from the county’s discretionary general fund and $5 million from County Fire’s reserves to replace aging fire engines that require frequent repairs, have reached the end of their service life and no longer comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District regulations.
The purchases help achieve the Countywide Vision by enhancing the county’s ability to protect residents through public safety investments.
Grant award for federally qualified health centers
The county’s Department of Public Health (DPH) was awarded an approximately $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Service Area Competition (SAC) program to support operations at the county’s federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Adelanto, Hesperia, San Bernardino and Ontario from Mar. 1, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2026. These centers provide primary care, maternal health, pediatric services, HIV treatment, reproductive health, radiology, and dental and nutrition services, serving more than 13,000 eligible residents annually.
Every three years, FQHCs must reapply for HRSA SAC funding, which provides operational support for essential healthcare services in underserved communities. DPH applied for and has been receiving funds for a three-year grant award from Mar. 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2027. By securing the grant funds, DPH is ensuring continued access to critical healthcare services for residents in need.
DPH’s continued support of local FQHCs aligns with the Countywide Vision by improving access to healthcare through collaboration among providers and community-based organizations.
Ensuring continuity of care for federally qualified health center patients at Montclair Hospital Medical Center
The board approved the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health’s (DPH) non-financial memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Montclair Hospital Medical Center to ensure continuity of care for patients served by the county’s federally qualified health centers (FQHC). The agreement, effective from Feb. 15, 2025, through Feb. 14, 2030, aligns with Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) regulations under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This MOU establishes standardized procedures for direct patient care, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and discharge planning between FQHCs and Montclair Hospital Medical Center. DPH has had an FQHC MOU with Montclair Medical Center since 2020.
By collaborating with regional hospitals to provide equitable high-quality health services to federally qualified health center patients, DPH is helping to fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Expanding workforce opportunities for justice-involved individuals
The California Workforce Development Board is providing an additional $2.3 million in grant funding to the county’s Workforce Development Board for the Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) Connect program from Feb. 11, 2025, through Mar. 31, 2026. The approximately $5.6 million in total grant funding will support the initiative, which will provide employment services to federally incarcerated individuals as they approach community reentry.
The PROWD Connect program will take a comprehensive approach to reentry services, addressing individual, family and community risk factors while helping clients build job skills, resiliency and self-sufficiency. By providing pre- and post-release services, the program aims to reduce recidivism and improve long-term employment outcomes. After its launch, PROWD Connect will serve 350 clients through a three-stage model that includes in-prison career services, residential reentry assistance and community-based job placement.
Pharmacy clinical training opportunities at ARMC
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) is entering into a non-financial agreement with the University of Southern California (USC) Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to provide clinical training opportunities for pharmacy students.
This partnership will allow students to gain comprehensive training experience in a diverse hospital pharmacy setting, enhancing their clinical skills while supporting patient care at one of the county’s leading healthcare facilities.
By offering onsite pharmaceutical training, ARMC is furthering its mission as a teaching hospital that prepares students for healthcare careers and aligning with the Countywide Vision to increase the number of healthcare professionals in the county.
Expanding preschool services internship opportunities for San Bernardino Community College District students
San Bernardino County’s Preschool Services Department is expanding its internship program by partnering with the San Bernardino Community College District to provide hands-on training and field experience for student interns. This partnership allows students from San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College to gain practical experience in early childhood education.
Interns will assist with hearing, vision and hemoglobin screenings for children enrolled in PSD’s Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool programs, as well as lead parent education classes on chronic health conditions and disease prevention.
The internship opportunity underscores the county’s commitment to the Countywide Vision2Succeed initiative by allowing students to gain hands-on training and skills in their fields, while maximizing PSD’s public resources and service to the community.
Development of water-wise garden at the County Museum in Redlands
The board approved a non-financial memorandum of understanding with the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District to fund the development of a water-wise garden at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands by Dec. 31, 2026.
To showcase the Redlands campus gardens and create engaging and impactful exhibits promoting water conservation, the water-wise garden will feature native plants and drought-resistant landscaping.
The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.
Additional County Update News – Feb. 13, 2025
- Residents urged to prepare as season’s strongest storm arrives
- County Public Works recognized with three awards for outstanding projects
- ARMC recognized by American Association of Critical Care Nurses with Gold Beacon Award for Excellence
- San Bernardino County Agriculture/Weights & Measures receives highest federal honor for efforts in eradicating invasive fruit flies
- San Bernardino County Museum honored as “Best of the Best” in the Inland Empire
- Supervisor Baca, Jr. named chair of the Continuum of Care Board
- Caregivers needed for county’s older adults and individuals with disabilities
- SBC Probation Super Bowl game plan: Conduct DUI compliance checks
- From struggle to success: Sandi McCabe’s inspiring journey
- San Bernardino County destinations: Oak Glen Preserve
- Call for submissions: Share your favorite San Bernardino County destinations
- San Bernardino County history: Town of Earp
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