Rep. Aguilar Delivers $1 Million for Hope Through Housing Foundation to Drive AI Workforce and Economic Development

The grant funding will enable the Hope Through Housing Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab to purchase new virtual reality equipment, drones, cameras and powerful servers for AI and software development.

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured $1,031,000 in community project funding for the Hope Through Housing Foundation's (HTHF) Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab. This grant funding will drive workforce and economic development in the Inland Empire by expanding community access to HTHF's laboratory space, helping purchase cutting-edge computing technology and AI tools, and providing training tailored to workforce development for students in the region. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.

"As the Inland Empire grows, so should the opportunities for its residents," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "That's why I'm proud to deliver over $1 million in community project funding for the Hope Through Housing Foundation's Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab. This lab will enable people in our region to build successful lives and contribute to our economy by giving them the chance to get jobs and apprenticeships in emerging and evolving technological fields like AI. I'll keep fighting to deliver resources and ensure that the Inland Empire can become an innovation hub in all different areas, from manufacturing to transportation and beyond."

"We welcome our partnership with Congressman Aguilar to invest in the future of our community," said Jeff Burum, Chairman of the Board, Hope Through Housing Foundation. "For more than 30 years, National CORE and Hope through Housing have worked together to bring new opportunities to families across our region."

"At Hope through Housing, we help our residents build a pathway to a stronger, more financially stable future," said Alyssa Cotter, Executive Director, Hope Through Housing Foundation. "This grant will supercharge that effort, offering expanded options for instruction in high-tech tools for a vast number of growing industries. We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Aguilar for his support."

"The timing is perfect for this program," said Heather Parsons, Vice President of Philanthropy, Hope Through Housing Foundation. "The rapid changes coming for our economy require a training program that is resilient and responsive. Our Innovation Lab can serve as a catalyst for a new model of training programs. This is a big moment for Hope through Housing and the Inland Empire."

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.