By Dianne Jacob

Taking flight: I recently joined East County business leaders for a special groundbreaking next to Gillespie Field.

We formally kicked off the first stage of construction for the Cajon Air Center, a planned, 70- acre hub of new hangers and other aviation-related businesses. The massive project is expected to create 1,200 jobs during construction and 440 permanent positions after that.

That’s a huge plus for our East County economy – jobs, jobs, jobs!

Major road improvements near Gillespie are also in the works. The Board of Supervisors last year jump-started funding to improve the Bradley Avenue and state Route 67 interchange.

Construction will be overseen by the state and could start as soon as next year.

Grand openings: Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are one of the best parts of my job. It’s great to see so many wonderful projects opening across our community.

I recently helped cut the ribbon at ceremonies marking the completion of a new track at Oak Grove Middle School in Jamul, an athletic field at STEAM Academy in Spring Valley and new memory care units at Noah Homes in Rancho San Diego, the first of their kind in the state. The county helped fund each project.

Tapped out: Help is now available through the county for property owners with dry wells due to drought.

Those who qualify can receive low-interest loans to replace individual water well systems and install temporary water tanks. The assistance is not for landscaping or agricultural needs.

For more information, email the County Office of Emergency Services at [email protected] or call 858-565-3490.

For more District 2 news, go to diannejacob.com or follow me on Facebook and Twitter. If I can assist with a county issue, please call my office at 619-531-5522 or email [email protected].

Have a great East County day!

—Dianne Jacobs is San Diego County Supervisor for District 2.