"Anaheim is delighted to receive this federal grant which will allow us to to create a pedestrian walkway linking the Metrolink to businesses in the Canyon Business Center," said Mayor Pringle.  "It will help reduce traffic in our region by making our mass transit more user friendly."

The EDA grant check will be used to help stimulate the economy and create jobs in Anaheim’s Canyon Business Center by creating a pedestrian connection essentially linking the Canyon Metrolink Station to the new Kaiser Permanente medical campus and all future development in the Canyon Business Center.  The Canyon Business Center is the largest industrial area in Orange County and provides 25 percent of all manufacturing jobs in the County.  In addition to the $7.275 million from the EDA, Kaiser Permanente has contributed $2 million towards these improvements.

“Economic recovery and growth are top priorities for the Obama Administration,” said McGowan.  “This EDA grant will create jobs now, help ease access to the new Kaiser Permanente hospital complex and the PacifiCenter retail center, and will support the City’s goal of creating a viable transit-oriented mixed-use, business, and retail district in the Anaheim Canyon Corridor.” 

Anaheim is the only city in Orange County with two MetroLink stops:  The Canyon MetroLink Station and the Anaheim MetroLink Station (at Angel Stadium of Anaheim).  The Canyon MetroLink station is one of the most successful stations in the system and is heavily used by employees of Anaheim businesses.  The pedestrian connection will ultimately boost industrial, commercial and retail development in Anaheim.  Recognizing the importance for connection between transportation and business is a critical component to maintaining and expanding employment opportunities not only in Anaheim, but in all of Orange County. 

Mayor Pringle and McGowan were joined by Edward Ellison, MD, Area Medical Director for Kaiser Permanente, Kate Klimow, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs for the Orange County Business Council, and Todd Ament, President/CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, at today’s presentation, held in front of the PacifiCenter retail center in the Anaheim Canyon Business Center.

EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and its mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the global economy.

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ABOUT ANAHEIM - The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation's premier municipalities and is California's 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and more than 3,200 City employees. The municipal corporation's annual budget is $1.4 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, and the 2008 Olympic Silver Medal winning U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim, The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.