ONTARIO, Calif. – National CORE and the City of Ontario have secured $30 million in state funds to deliver affordable housing, safer streets, reliable transit and long-term opportunity for families along the Holt Boulevard corridor in downtown Ontario.
Leaders from National CORE and the City of Ontario said the award reflects the power of strong public-private partnerships to revitalize neighborhoods and address California’s critical affordable housing shortfall.
The funding, awarded by California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, builds on Ontario’s earlier Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) initiative, which laid the groundwork for integrated housing, infrastructure and community-driven investment.
“This award is about what becomes possible when we lead with intention and partner with organizations who share our commitment to community,” Ontario Mayor Paul S. Leon said. “National CORE has been an exceptional partner and, together, we’re delivering investments that improve daily life for residents – not just today, but for decades to come.”
The AHSC funding includes $20.9 million for a 144-home affordable housing community at 905 E. Holt Blvd. and $9.8 million for critically needed neighborhood improvements:
- Construction of the Grove Avenue Trail Connector, a protected Class I bicycle and pedestrian path linking neighborhoods from Fourth Street to Holt Boulevard and expanding on earlier TCC-funded improvements.
- New ADA-accessible walking paths through Grove Memorial Park, creating safe pedestrian routes where none previously existed.
- Sidewalk repairs, ADA upgrades, traffic calming and crosswalk enhancements along Allyn Avenue, supporting Safe Routes to School and neighborhood safety.
- Installation of 10 new bus shelters along key transit corridors.
- Expansion of Sunday service on Omnitrans’ sbX Green Line, providing seven-day-a-week access to transit.
Together, these improvements reduce reliance on cars, improve safety and make it easier for residents to get where they need to go – whether that’s school, work or recreation.
The AHSC funding also enables free transit passes, high-speed internet access and workforce and apprenticeship programs tied to the new housing community, connecting residents and neighbors to education and career pathways.
“This development reflects what we can accomplish when a city actively champions affordable housing as a cornerstone of community well-being,” said National CORE President Michael Ruane. “The City of Ontario has led with vision and consistency, working alongside us to align infrastructure, services and resident priorities for long-term success.”
With this investment, Ontario continues to demonstrate how thoughtful public leadership and trusted partnerships can drive equitable, climate-resilient growth – creating neighborhoods where families can stay, grow and succeed.
Construction on the new housing community and associated infrastructure improvements is expected to move forward in late 2026 following final approvals.
This award marks National CORE’s fifth AHSC grant. Previous awards have supported integrated housing and infrastructure improvements in San Bernardino, Santa Ana and East Los Angeles.
Recent Comments