The grant funding will allow CSUSB to strengthen its AI technology and workforce by upgrading its existing facility, purchasing advanced technology, creating an online portal for AI and VR training and expanding community outreach and events

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured $1,031,000 in community project funding for CSUSB's Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) Research and Retraining Center, which provides students with opportunities for training with AI and VR technology. This grant funding will expand the Inland Empire's AI and VR capabilities, strengthening the region's cybersecurity, supply chain and logistics workforce. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.

"When I'm in Washington, I'm always working on ways to bring home federal dollars that help empower students, create jobs, and make life better for people in the Inland Empire," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "That's why I am so proud to deliver $1 million in community project funding for CSUSB's Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Research and Retraining Center to help prepare our next generation for the new age of technology. This grant funding will strengthen our region's technology and workforce by providing CSUSB students with opportunities for training in AI and VR technology. This is just the beginning. I'll continue to fight for more funding to ensure our students in San Bernardino have the opportunities to succeed and build their lives right here in the Inland Empire."

"We are deeply grateful to Congressman Pete Aguilar for his leadership and steadfast support of Cal State San Bernardino and the Inland Empire," said Tomás D. Morales, President, California State University, San Bernardino. "This funding accelerates CSUSB's leadership in AI and virtual reality research while expanding workforce development opportunities that directly benefit the Inland Empire's growing technology and logistics sectors."

"It was about a decade ago that I met Congressman Aguilar, and I had the opportunity to describe what we were trying to do in the Center for Cybersecurity on a local and national scale," said Dr. Tony Coulson, Executive Director, Center for Cyber and AI, California State University, San Bernardino. "A lot of complexity there, a lot of different things. And he responded very plainly with me: 'How can I help?' That was it. How can I help? And what is amazing, having I've been around for a number of years, a lot of people say, 'How can I help?' and there's not necessarily a big follow-up with that. But that's not the case here. Rep. Pete Aguilar has done a lot in the area of cybersecurity workforce, and for our community, that cannot be understated."

"AI is changing everything, everywhere, all at once," said Dr. Vincent Nestler, Director, Center for Cyber and AI, California State University, San Bernardino. "Some people are going to make out like bandits, and some people are going to find themselves lost and confused. The purpose, really, of this grant is to try and figure out, what is that transition? What's on the horizon that's coming our way? How do we prepare the Inland Empire for that transition? If warehousing jobs go, where do those people go to work now? How do we transition them to make them successful Our effort is going to be to maximize this money with other things that we are ready to do, and to try and make sure that we're that shining city on the hill that helps folks have a place to go to say, okay, what do I do now? I am grateful that we have a wonderful champion in the federal government like Rep. Aguilar who helps us continue to be successful and to launch people into the future."

In January 2026, Rep. Aguilar helped pass the Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026, which included $7.4 million in federal community project funding grants for seven projects in California's 33rd Congressional District.