County breaks ground on new communications center

First responders, elected officials and government staff participated in a groundbreaking ceremony this week to celebrate contractors beginning work on the new San Bernardino County Valley Communications Center.

The $125 million project will house sheriff’s officials, fire officials, the county Office of Emergency Services, the county Innovation and Technology Department, Confire emergency dispatchers, administrators and the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency.

“This facility will allow our most critical and public safety departments to respond to emergency events and natural disasters with confidence and coordination,” San Bernardino County Director of Emergency Management Crisanta Gonzalez.

The three-story, 75,000-square-foot facility will be located on 6.9 acres on the corner of Rialto Avenue and Lena Road in San Bernardino.

Once completed, the Valley Communications Center will act as a standalone facility, offering its own self-support and self-sufficiency in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

The building will be fitted with base isolation to prevent earthquake damage, backup water systems, redundant technology systems, electrical generators, and a 700 kVA solar system, ensuring operations continue 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The project was paid for through American Rescue Plan Act funds and is expected to be complete in October 2025.