Economic and
Workforce
Development
Imperial County faces a complex economic landscape, characterized by both significant challenges and unique opportunities. The region has long relied on agriculture, providing employment in farming, processing, and logistics, but many of these jobs are seasonal, low-wage, and often lack benefits—limiting economic mobility for residents.
Persistent poverty, low median household incomes, and limited access to higher education or technical training further constrain the workforce, while infrastructure gaps—including limited public transportation and broadband access—hinder participation in emerging industries.
At the same time, Imperial County is positioned to become a hub for clean energy, renewable power, and technology, with initiatives like Lithium Valley, solar and geothermal projects, and the development of electric vehicle infrastructure offering pathways to higher-paying, skilled jobs.
CCV is working to bridge these gaps by providing training, workforce development programs, and access to emerging sectors, ensuring that historically underserved populations—including youth, women, and farmworkers—can participate in the region’s economic growth. Balancing these opportunities with the county’s socio-economic and environmental challenges is essential for fostering sustainable, inclusive workforce development and ensuring that economic gains benefit the local community.
For questions or to learn more, please contact us at contact@ccvhealth.org.
California Workplace Outreach Project
The California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP), led by the California Department of Industrial Relations, is a statewide initiative that educates workers about their rights, workplace health and safety, and protections against wage theft and retaliation, with a focus on high-risk industries and language-accessible outreach in rural and underserved communities.
As the regional lead for CWOP in Imperial County, Comité Cívico del Valle conducts culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach—primarily in Spanish—educating workers on issues such as heat illness, paid sick leave, workers’ compensation, and retaliation protections.
CCV reaches workers where they are, including early-morning outreach to farmworkers at the U.S.–Mexico border, and creates trusted spaces for education and dialogue through “Cafecito por Salud” gatherings. By leveraging its role as a trusted community organization and building local CBO capacity, CCV strengthens worker health, safety, and economic justice in a region with extreme heat risk and a largely vulnerable workforce.
California Jobs First
California Jobs First is a statewide economic development initiative, evolved from the Community Economic Resilience Fund, that supports equitable, climate-resilient growth through regional Jobs First Collaboratives. In the Southern Border region, which includes Imperial County, the initiative is led by the Southern Border Coalition and focuses on priority sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics, workforce training, and community infrastructure.
With recent state and federal recognition opening access to significant new funding, Comité Cívico del Valle serves as one of eight co-convening organizations for the Southern Border Coalition—helping shape regional strategy, elevate community and environmental justice priorities, and influence which projects advance for Jobs First investment.
Through its role, CCV helps ensure that economic development efforts reflect grassroots needs, support high-road jobs, and align with local clean energy and workforce goals to build long-term opportunity and capacity in Imperial County.