Inland Empire Tesla owners by next year will have a dent repair shop closer at hand.
The EV automaker and ViaWest Group, a Phoenix-based real estate company, are building a Tesla Collision Service Center at 424 West Orange Show Lane near E Street in San Bernardino.
The city said the 30,000-square-foot center, taking the place of a shuttered furniture store, marks the first such repair site for Tesla in the Inland Empire. Other collision facilities are deep in Orange County in Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and all the way up in Santa Monica.
“Having Tesla in San Bernardino is a big win for the Inland Empire,” said Mayor Helen Tran in a statement. “There are more and more Teslas on the road every day, and not having to travel to L.A. or Orange counties is very appealing for local and potential owners.”
The center will employ up to 90 people and should be completed by 2025, the city said.
While the project was approved in February, Tesla just confirmed its involvement this week, Tran’s office said.
“We are excited to play a role in this project, which will bring advanced vehicle repair technology and employment opportunities to the Inland Empire,” said Rodney Boden, ViaWest Group’s vice president of investment and development.
Tesla will own and operate the facility, where owners can get structural repair and light collision work. Cosmetic repairs on bumpers, trunks, side mirrors, wheels and glass also will be available.
Tesla notes the collision center will not feature a sales office or showroom.
Work begins on Inland’s first master’s physician assistant program
Cal State San Bernardino is celebrating the launch of what will be the region’s first Master of Science in Physician Assistant program.
The university will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m., Friday, April 26 for the $16 million renovation and expansion of the Yasuda Center, which should help boost the region’s shortage of primary care providers.
The center, which should be complete by next spring, will be the home of the 27-month MSPA.
Work began in early February on the 15,600-square-foot building, as well as construction of a 2,500 square-foot addition. The project is adding a classroom, laboratory and clinical space for up to 50 students.
Funding for the expansion was pushed by State Sen. Richard Roth (D-Riverside). Part of the money is going toward hiring personnel and creating the new facility. The project also is using a $2 million federal Health Resources & Services Administration grant.
“As the first of its kind in the region, the program will fill a critical unmet need by preparing physician assistants who will increase equitable health care, advocate for patients, and ultimately, transform the health of all communities, including the rural and underserved, throughout the Inland Empire,” Tomás D. Morales, CSUSB president said in a statement.
The MSPA leads graduates to a career as primary care providers, also called PCPs. The university says the Inland Empire suffers from a shortage of PCPs, with just 41 per 100,000 patients. The federally recommended range is 60-80 per 100,000 patients. The Inland Empire has a shortfall of 1,500 PCPs, CSUSB said.
More federal funding for Riverside County projects
The money continues to flow toward infrastructure projects in the Inland Empire, this time nearly $13 million for the 39th Congressional District in Riverside County.
Rep. Mark Takano’s office tells us the congressman scored some key federal dollars for 14 projects. The grand total: $12,818,287.
Last week, we learned that Riverside County was getting $44.1 million for a bevy of infrastructure projects, thanks to the Consolidated Appropriations Act. That followed news that Rep Pete Aguilar’s 33rd district in San Bernardino County was getting $17 million for 14 local projects.
Here’s a rundown of the latest projects for the 39th:
—$5,166,279 for housing
—$2.5 million to renovate the historic armory building in Fairmont Park in Riverside
—$1.7 million to expand the senior center in Perris
—$1 million for a 26-home Veterans Buildproject by Habitat for Humanity in Jurupa Valley
—$850,0000 for public safety and transportation
—$200,000 for body cameras in Perris
—$150,000 for surveillance camera pilot program in Jurupa Valley aimed at illegal dumping
—$500,000 for Metrolink’s double track project from Moreno Valley to Perris
—$3 million for workforce development
—$1 million for new workforce development building and nonprofit business incubator in Moreno Valley
—$963,000 for the Inland Empire Quantum Initiative at UC Riverside
—$500,000 for UCR’s Agricultural Research, Education and Neighborhood Advancement Center
—$500,000 for the Inland Empire Technical Trade Center
—$3.9 million for water infrastructure
—$959,752 for Riverside Public Utilities PFAS treatment project
—$959,752 for Eastern Municipal Water District’s Cactus II feeder phase 2 project
—$959,752 for Eastern Municipal Water District’s purified water replenishment project
—$959,752 for Western Municipal Water District’s water infrastructure backflow upgrades to prevent water contamination
Klatch Coffee now available at Sprouts
Rancho Cucamong’s Klatch Coffee beans are now being sold at Sprouts Farmers Market.
The family-owned Klatch is known for its coffee and espresso, crafted from in-house roasted beans that are sourced from ethical and sustainable coffee farms.
Prices for Klatch at Sprouts run $19 to $20 for 11 ounces. Varieties include the company’s “Crazy Goat,” mocha java and espresso.
Klatch recently held a three-day national barista competition at its Rancho Cucamonga headquarters store. The event hosted 70 competitors and crowned three winners. Barista champion went to Frank La of Be Bright Coffee in Los Angeles. The second-place winner was Morgan Eckroth of Onyx Coffee Lab in Portland, and third place went to Jason Yeo of Saint Frank Coffee in San Francisco..
Desert Hot Springs retail property sells for $6.1 million
A 33,004-square-foot retail property within the Hacienda Palms shopping center in Desert Hot Springs recently traded hands for $6.1 million in an all-cash sale, according to Progressive Real Estate Partners.
The parcel at 13000-13160 Palm Drive includes a multi-tenant building and two pad buildings, one of which is occupied by Chase Bank. The property is part of the Hacienda Palms shopping center, which is anchored by Staters Bros.
Progressive represented the buyer and seller, identified only as based in Orange County. The buyer was based in Los Angeles County and owns other retail properties in the Coachella Valley.
The tenant mix includes Wingstop, an Indian restaurant, doughnut shop, ice cream parlor, dentist, hair salon, insurance agency, self-car wash and an auto repair shop.
The business briefs are compiled and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items to sgowen@scng.com. High-resolution images also can be submitted. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
This story has been updated to reflect that $1 million was going to new workforce development.
