Local businesses granted funds during highway construction

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Imperial County Board of Supervisors awarded grant money to five local businesses affected by ongoing construction on Highway 98 in Calexico.

The District Pacific Grant Program was approved by the board of supervisors after Caltrans was not providing any help for local businesses being affected.

The grant program is for $100,000 with each individual business was granted up to $10,000.

One is a local family-owned air conditioning business that has been operating for 23 years.

One of the owners said construction on Highway 98 has affected them for a little over two years.

"The people sometimes can’t come to business. They come by and see the construction and see the streets are closed. So they're like, 'never mind I'll come later,'" stated J &S Air Conditioning Owner Sandra Gutierrez.

The Mayor of Calexico said construction on Highway 98 will be finished this December.