Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation

Economic growth is like grass: It takes awhile to grow.

And for Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp., projects are in planning departments, new goals are being set for the next few years and the grass is about to spring up.

The group celebrated its 10th year of business at its fifth annual dinner and meeting Friday night, where it looked at the status of the organization and plans for the future.

It was a way to celebrate a decade of growth, said Timothy Kelley, president and chief executive officer of the organization. There’s been a lot of expansion in the last 10 years, and Imperial County is now known regionally, nationally and internationally.

It’s been a tough year, but the group has met its goal and people are watching this area, he said.

Many who took the stage or were in the crowd at Barcelona Event Center in El Centro raved about successes that the organization has accomplished, like beginning projects like the Mega Region and piquing interest from investors in China.

“China is aware of us, and the world is becoming interested in us,” said Tom DuBose. “That can only be positive in a world economy.”

The goals that IVEDC has met have surpassed expectations made 25 years ago by a different group of people with the same goal, he said. It’s wonderful that the area is on the verge of a lot of economic success, he said.

DuBose was one of the hundreds who filled the room. Some were new to the event, like Regina Villanueva of Time Warner Cable.

She said she thought the event was great, with a very supportive crowd.

There was also some representation from other economic groups in areas like San Diego and Coachella.

The Coachella Valley Economic Partnership shares the same problems as the Imperial Valley group, said Wesley Ahlgren, director of operations for the Coachella group. Economic development groups are an investment in the future.

Many of the different areas have joined together for projects through the economic organizations to work toward regional economic development, he said.

A lot of things are going on with the Imperial Valley group, said Marlene Best, its chairwoman. It is holding events, like Taste of the Valley and Aviation Day, and is working on framing the Valley in a positive light.

There are problems on the horizon, Best said. Few know what’s going on in Washington, D.C., and things are dicey in Sacramento.

“We can’t control that,” she said. “We can control what happens here.”

That is why it’s important for the group to change people’s perception of the area, participants said.

Keynote speaker Mary Ingersoll of TeamCalifornia, which promotes California as IVEDC promotes the Valley, agreed that marketing the area in the best light was necessary, she said. The local group is a big help in that area as it is out there letting people know about the opportunities in the Valley.

“We all know the economy is tough,” she said. “But if you’re not planting the seeds now, it’s going to get worse.”

>> Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.