FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Westmorland Awarded $2.73 Million USDA Grant and $1.1 Million Congressionally Directed Community Project Funding to Establish New Emergency Operations Center for Fire and Police
WESTMORLAND, CA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service has awarded the
City of Westmorland a $2,737,500 grant under the Community Facilities Loans and Grants program. Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz just announced that the City of Westmorland was awarded an additional $1.1 Million grant through Congressionally Directed Spending Community Project Funds.

The City will use the grant funds, totaling $3,837,500, to remodel an existing building and construct additional facilities to establish a new Emergency Operations Center that will house the city’s fire and police departments. The current fire department building is in extreme violation of current codes and standards. Fire Department personnel are currently housed in reused FEMA trailers, which serve as both housing and office space for the volunteer fire department and standby firefighters. The Police Department is currently operating out of a 500- square-foot single room at City Hall, where officer conduct bookings, briefings, and all other police operations.

After Tropical Storm Hilary in 2023, our fire department was damaged beyond repair. The city has an urgent need to upgrade our emergency response capabilities to protect the community from future disasters, said Westmorland Mayor Justina Tina Cruz. This is truly a life-changing amount of funding for our small city, and we are grateful to the USDA and Congressman Ruiz for recognizing our need and selecting us for these grants. According to Edgar O. Ortega, the grant manager for the Community Facilities Loans and Grants Program in Imperial County, USDA Rural Development chose this project because it reflects the heart of rural resilience: neighbors looking out for one another and investing in the spaces that keep everyone safe. This project is about more than repairing a building, it is about giving Westmorland’s families peace of mind. A new fire station means faster response times, safer working conditions and a stronger foundation for the community to face future emergencies together, said Ortega. By supporting Westmorland, we are helping ensure that the community has the tools it needs to protect lives, homes, and the future of this proud town. The recently authorized Congressionally Directed Community Project Funds from Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz secured an additional $1.1 Million that will allow the City of Westmorland to fund the project, which will expand and improve the Police Department facilities at the new Emergency Operations Center. The Emergency Operations Center will house both the Police and Fire Departments: The project site will leverage an existing commercial building at 198 E. 3rd Street. The additional Congressional funding will ensure improvements are made so that the police department can relocate to the new facility with safe and modern amenities. The project will add new construction on adjacent city-owned parcels, which will serve as the Fire Department’s living quarters and apparatus bays.

The project will also add parking and sidewalks to support the new function. The Institute for Local Government, a nonprofit organization that supports local government agencies throughout California, assisted Westmorland with writing the grant, as part of its BOOST Imperial Valley technical assistance program. BOOST is a public-private partnership between ILG, the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and community-based organizations to foster infrastructure and community investments in Imperial Valley. The ILG team has been phenomenal in bringing needed capacity and expertise to help the city secure and implement these grants, said Westmorland City Manager Laura Bryant. We value their close partnership, including leading the environmental review process and conducting outreach to secure match funding. The city anticipates moving the project forward soon and will provide updates to the public through reports during City Council meetings held the first and third Wednesday of every month. About the City of Westmorland The City of Westmorland was incorporated in 1934 and has a population of approximately 2,400 and is located in the Imperial Valley in Southeastern California, 12 miles south of the Salton Sea and 31 miles north of Mexicali, Mexico. It is a small residential community that sits along state Highway 86, a major highway and transportation corridor. Visit the City’s website at www.cityofwestmorland.net for more information.

355 South Center Street ▪ Westmorland, CA 92281 ▪ 760-344-3411 ▪ www.cityofwestmorland.net

February 9, 2026
Contact: Laura Bryant, 760-344-3411,
lbryant@CityOfWestmorland.net