Torres Announces $678k Grant to Bolster Commerce in the Inland Empire

ONTARIO, CA – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced a $678,000 award in CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding for the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau. The federal grant, which is awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), will help fund a marketing plan to increase meeting and convention bookings, which are vital to the local economy.

Rep. Torres released the following statement:

"Commerce in Ontario and across the Inland Empire is driven by the fact that we are a community on the move," Rep. Torres said. "But as travel declined during the pandemic, economic opportunities dried up as well. This CARES Act award for the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau will allow them to fund new and creative ways to revitalize our local economy and draw business in from across the region."

Congresswoman Torres sits on the House Appropriation Committee, which oversees all discretionary spending by the federal government.

"With more than $517 million in COVID relief delivered to our community and counting, I will continue to fight for the resources our families, businesses and local governments need to get us through this pandemic," Torres added. "We are poised to make real progress towards rebuilding our lives and livelihoods in 2021, and I will do everything within my power to help that happen."

Congresswoman Torres played a key role in strengthening the Coronavirus Assistance, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act when the package was negotiated and passed by Congress in March, 2020. Provisions she called for helped protect independent contractors and gig economy workers, such as truck drivers, carshare drivers, construction workers, janitors, food delivery drivers.

To date, Rep. Torres has delivered more than $517 million in COVID relief for the Inland Empire. Residents can view an interactive map of how these funds support the community here.

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