March 29, 2022
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein The Honorable Alex Padilla
United States Senate United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building 112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
RE: Support for the SBD International Airport and Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) regional Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending request for the 3rd Street Rehabilitation Project
Dear Senators Feinstein and Padilla:
On behalf of Inland Action, Inc. (a non-partisan, non-profit organization created in 1962 at Norton AFB), I am pleased to write this letter of support for the SBD International Airport and Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) Congressionally Directed Spending request for the 3rd Street Rehabilitation Project at the airport. This project provides a local but immediate solution enhancing mobility and transportation improvements along the 3rd Street corridor north of SBD International Airport. This truly regional project was envisioned many years ago by the IVDA and numerous community and business stakeholders across the region. This vital regional arterial connection to State Route-210 is located in the heart of a growing but still disadvantaged area, and we know that the IVDA along with its partners at the Cities of Highland and San Bernardino are up to the challenge to deliver this important project with this critical Federal funding. Since 1962, Inland Action, Inc. has ardently supported the strength of our Norton Air Force Base operations, then retention, and reuse of this regional asset which consistently supported aeronautical operations for the safety, security, and economic advancement of our communities. The 3rd and 5th Street corridor was and still is important to our residents, businesses, and the employees and service providers living, working and traversing these streets every day.
Regrettably, Norton Air Force Base was listed for closure under the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission Act and officially closed in 1994, but Inland Action’s support has never stopped amidst years of economic deterioration across the largest County in the United States. In fact, Inland Action’s support and alignment grows even stronger with the many, many developments that IVDA and SBD International Airport have successfully accomplished over time working with many, many organizations.
As business, industry, and community leaders across sectors, we have all seen and want to continue to see the power of the progress of economic development brought by key programs such as this IVDA RAISE funding request. Since its foundation in 1990, we have seen the IVDA and now the airport pragmatically and responsibly implement, evaluate, and adapt an established program for grant management, execution, implementation and performance.
Through our years of collaboration with SBD and IVDA, we know that creating an open and accessible transportation option for our greater Southern California region isn’t just about rebuilding roads and infrastructure, it’s also about doing it timely, efficiently and responsibly for those that live, work, and travel to and from these vital transportation corridors. With project design completed across two municipalities along with National Environment Quality Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) entitlements, we’re excited to see this project advance our region onward through much needed funding. Inland Action, Inc. has always supported advancements in transportation from the days of Norton AFB and now IVDA and SBD.
Thank you for your serious consideration of SBD and IVDA’s application as well as their economic development efforts. We all continue to work to see agencies and organizations like this work the work to move this area and airport forward for the overall benefit of the region.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at cbeswick@inlandaction.com
Sincerely,
Carole Beswick, CEO