Imperial County Rural EC

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2003
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Funding Report

Benchmark Summary Report

State: California
County (Census Tracts): Imperial (0101, 0104, 0119, 0120, 0121)
Community Population: 25,155
Community Area: 327 square miles
Poverty Rate: 32 %
Per Capita Income: $8,606
Unemployment: 27%

Overview

This EC represents three non-contiguous communities (Brawley, Calexico, and Calipatria) in Imperial County, California. Brawley is the social and economic center of Imperial County.

The City of Calipatria is 180 feet below sea level and it is the lowest elevation community in the United States. Calexico is located along the U.S./Mexico border, across from the "maquiladora" manufacturing plants in Mexico. Imperial County also has several Colonias within 150 miles of the Mexican border, home large numbers of very low income families and individuals. Colonias are either subdivisions or incorporated communities which lack basic services such as adequate roads, electricity, and water and sewer systems.

The vision of the community is to empower people to develop strategies and find solutions to physical, social, economic, and environmental barriers in the Imperial Valley.

Key Activities


Economic Opportunity


Imperial Valley Capital Investment Program:

The program provides participation in capital investment and capital to new and existing businesses.

Imperial Valley Business Development Center (IVBDC):

The project proposes a One-Stop Capital Shop for business counseling, entrepreneurial training, and technical assistance through video conferencing and an electronic bulletin board. As a result, business and markets will take advantage of NAFTA for employment expansion in the new Port of entry, Brawley Central District and Calexico. About 4,500 public sector jobs, and 100 new businesses are expected to be created. The applicant will spend $470,000 ($170,000 local government sources and $300,000 Enterprise Community) .

Infrastructure Development:

develop utilities in Brawley and Haber communities and upgrade; extend streets and sewage systems in Calpatria to enable the communities to attract industry; enhance the movement of goods and services along the U.S./Mexico border

About $2,856,000 will be spent for the following programs:

Community Building:

one stop family centers; infrastructure development; education and job training; business support centers and environmental initiatives.

Sustainable Economic And Community Development-Imperial Valley Skills Bank:

The Skills Bank to be a consortium of job and youth training; training programs to match skills required by new and emerging industries; spend $150,000 EC funds and $10,000 from local sources for the development of new training programs and centralized operations.

Affordable Housing Program:

it will use existing resources to carry out a housing construction plan. About 2,000 affordable new homes are planned to be built by the year 2005. $120,000 in EC funds is budgeted for the enhancement of affordable homes.

Healthy Start Program:

The Healthy Start Program will deal with social issues, health care, mental health services, family support, academic and educational support, youth development services and counseling. $74,800 in EC funds is budgeted for the Healthy Start program.

Literacy Program:

Literacy Volunteers of America; expansion of the Healthy Start Program to promote private literacy programs for adults.

About $60,000 (including $10,000 from private sources and $50,000 of EC funds)to be spent to enhance literacy programs.

Environmental programs:

clean-up the New River and the Salton Sea with a budget of $1,524,524 from the following sources: New River clean-up - $1,297,524 local; $75,000 Enterprise Community funds ; Salton Sea clean-up - $100,000 local; $52,000 Enterprise Community funds.

Major Public Sector Commitments

coordinated state and local resources.

Major Private Sector Commitments

Letters of support from local Chambers of Commerce .

Contact:

Name: Ken Hollis
Address: 836 Main Street
El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: 760-337-7814
Fax: 760-337-8907
Email: kenhollis@imperialcounty.net

 

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