SR 86 & SR 111, which provide regional and interstate access via Interstate 8.
SR 111 provides a direct connection to the International Border Crossing at Calexico, California, and Mexicali.
Interstate 8 is the primary east-west route through Imperial County between San Diego, California and Yuma, Arizona. Providing two travel lanes in each direction, I-8 has complete grade separations at all intersections.
SR 111 is considered to be the "backbone" route of Imperial County as it connects the three largest cities and acts as a major goods movement route, particularly for agricultural products and cross-border goods and services.
SR 86 is generally a north-south route and begins near the City of Heber as a two lane conventional highway, and ends at the Riverside County line as a four-lane expressway.
Airports
Imperial County Airport
Calexico International Airport
Brawley Municipal Airport
Clift Hatfield Memorial Airport
Holtville Airport
Railroads
The Union Pacific Railroad main line enters the eastern border near Winterhaven and then bears northwest and leaves the County just east of the Salton Seas.
The Union Pacific Railroad is freight only
Bus System
Imperial Valley Transit (IVT) is an inter-city fixed route bus system.
Industrial / Business Development Sites Available
Name
Acreage
Mesquite Lake Industrial Park
5,100
Gateway to the Americas
1,700
Imperial Business Park
60
Education
K-12 Education
62 schools in 16 school districts
24 K-6 elementary schools
8 K-8 elementary schools
9 middle schools
7 continuation high schools
8 high schools
Enrollment:
From1999-00 enrollment was at 33,004 students.
From 2004-05 enrollment was at 35,720 students.
Public School District:
Public school dirstricts range from rural single school districts to larger districts in urban areas.
Average Class Size:
In 2006, there was an average of 26.3 students.
The state average was 27.3 students.
Student Ethnicity:
2004-05: 86% Hispanic or Latino
9.3% White
California Academic Performance Index (API):
Most of the schools in Imperial County have met or exceeded their 2004-05 (API) growth targets.
More than 70% of the elementary schools met the target.
3/4 of the middle schools met the target.
All high schools met the APR growth.
Accredited Teachers:
Of the 1,743 teachers in 2004-05, more than 86% were fully credentialed, with 7% university interns and about 6% holding emergency credentials.
Graduation Rates:
Rates have risen in the past 3 years.
From 2003-04, the rate was nearly 94%, above California’s cumulative rate of 85.3%.
A two-year, upper division campus of San Diego State University serving the desert area of southeastern California.
It's accredited as an integral division of SDSU and operates under the same academic calendar.
Offers the last two years of undergraduate education, graduate programs, and fifth year credential programs for teacher preparation.
. Advantages:
Students have the advantages of smaller classes and individual contact with the faculty.
The campus faculty members are multinational in their classroom orientation and background.
Interactive television provides students in Calexico the opportunity to participate in various classes broadcast live from the main San Diego State University Campus in San Diego.
The campus schedules most of its classes to meet once a week in three-hour blocks so students who work full time can earn 9 to12 units a semester by attending classes once or twice a week.
With more than 800 students at the campus, students have the opportunity to be involved in a rich campus life.
Student clubs, student government, lectures, art exhibits, quad musical events, library and computer center special programs enhance the students’ education.
SDSU-IV also accepts freshmen into a small honors program for those intending to major in Liberal Studies, Psychology, and Criminal Justice.
SDSU- Imperial Valley Expansion of Two Sites:
In 2004, SDSU-Imperial Valley expanded to two sites.
Calexico:
The Calexico location provides the opportunity for involvement in a bicultural environment
Just across the border is Mexicali, a city of more than one million people.
Brawley:
The new Brawley location is 24 miles north of the Calexico site.
The site is surrounded by rich agricultural fields, the large industry in the Imperial Valley.
Academics- Courses:
49 courses offered
Degree Programs- Divisions:
Division of Arts & Science
Division of Education
Division of Professional Studies
Degree Programs- Undergraduate Degrees:
12 degrees for Bachelors
9 degrees for Minors
5 types of certificates
Degree Programs- Graduate Degrees:
5 degrees for Masters
teaching credentials
Imperial Valley College (IVC) and SDSU
SDSU-Imperial Valley Campus works closely with IVC.
Students can take their lower division courses at the community college and then transfer as juniors to SDSU-IV.
IVC and SDSU – Imperial Valley Campus are partnering in a Cooperative Title V grant to start 2+2 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees in computer science and in nursing.
IVC is now one of the fastest growing community colleges in the state.
7,000 students enrolled annually
It is where many of Imperial County’s healthcare clinical personnel are trained
Offers local high school students an ASPIRE Program that has been specially designed for college-ready new high school graduates.
Has a highly successful transfer program that annually sends several hundred local students into the University of California, the California State University system and other colleges and universities around the country.
Mission Statement "The mission of Imperial Valley College is to foster excellence in education that challenges students of every background to develop their intellect, character, and abilities; to assist students in achieving their educational and career goals; and to be responsive to the greater community."
$58.6 million Measure:
Includes a 67,000 square foot two-story Science Building.
Scheduled for completion in 2008.
Includes a 52,000 square ft. Technology Building.
Includes a 38,000 square ft. Career Technical Building.
Academic Divisions and Units:
10 instructional programs that offer a generous selection of courses.
Imperial Valley College Academic Programs:
Associate degrees and transfer to four-year institutions.
Certificate programs leading to job placement.
Basic skills courses such as mathematics, reading, writing, or english skills.
Community Education classes for the general interest of the community.
Provides free, practical hands-on training, career guidance, job placement assistance.
IVROP is 1 of 74 ROPs in California.
Joint powers between Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, Central, Holtville, Imperial and San Pasqual Valley Unified School Districts, along with the Imperial County Office of Education.
No fees or tuition for instruction.
Employers may participate in Program Advisory Committees and receive customized training.
Services provided:
Training to acquire entry-level jobs
Update/improve job skills
Prepare for advanced training and education
Prepare for a college major
Earn credits towards high school graduation
Earn a certificate of demonstrated competencies
Provides community and cooperative classroom training in local businesses and industries
Provides additional academic and supportive services to youth and adults
Major Events / Festivals
From early in January through the Christmas holiday season, the Imperial Valley plays host to scores of festivals and activities that keep things hopping. From the aerial displays of the Blue Angels to the Tomato Festival, there are events and festivals to celebrate. Opportunities to participate in community fun that are spelled out in the Imperial Valley Joint Chambers of Commerce’s brochure “Escape to Adventure,” include:
Snowbird Breakfast
Each January, winter visitors to Imperial County are welcomed with a free Breakfast sponsored by El Centro Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.
Breakfast is served by members of local service clubs. Local businesses and agencies set up displays.
Imperial County businesses come together annually each January at the Imperial Valley Expo for a four-hour business show, sponsored by the Imperial Valley Joint Chambers of Commerce.
In addition to several hundred business displays, the show also features samples of food from Valley restaurants.
The free show is open to the public.
For additional information, please click here or contact any Imperial County Chamber of Commerce.
Carnival on Main
This event is held annually at the Plaza Park in Brawley.
There are food booths and live entertainment as well as contests for all ages.
The theme is Mardi Gras, so don't forget to wear your masks and your beads and come on out for the event.
For more than six decades, the community of Niland hosts this festival in late January/early February to celebrate its heritage as a tomato growing area.
Events include a parade, a tomato-packing contest, a carnival, queen contests, food and other contests and events meant to bring the community and the Imperial County together.
It is sponsored by the Niland Chamber of Commerce.
Salton Sea International Bird Festival
Held each winter, usually around the Presidents Day weekend in February, this festival brings in several hundred bird watchers from throughout the country.
The festival consists of tours, lectures and exhibits.
For additional information, please click here or contact any Imperial County Chamber of Commerce.
Farmers Market
This outdoor market is held each winter in El Centro.
Sponsored by the El Centro Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau and the Downtown El Centro Association, this event includes live entertainment, farm equipment displays, fresh produce, arts & crafts and food vendors.
Local businesses and agencies also set up displays.
A celebration for children takes over El Centro’s Bucklin Park each Spring for the annual Children’s Fair, sponsored by the Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention Council.
The event offers booths, food, games, walk-around characters and information for families.
The purpose is to bring the community together and display resources available for families.
About 35,000 people turn out for the event each year.
For more information contact the Child Abuse Prevention Council at 760-353-8300.
Blue Angels Air Show
Held in March, the air show kicks off the air show season for the Blue Angels.
The Carrot Festival is the annual harvest of carrots celebration held in the city of Holtville.
To celebrate its status as "The Carrot Capital of the World", the Holtville Chamber of Commerce hosts a variety of events.
A golf tournament, week long carrot-cooking contest, and midway carnival follow the opening dinner banquet.
The festival hits its peek when downtown Holt Park comes alive with the annual 10K run, parade, arts and crafts fair, antique car and tractor show, student art exhibit, local entertainment and a variety of food booths.
Held annually in Holtville, complete with homemade ice cream.For more information, please contact the Holtville Chamber of Commerce at 760-356-2923.
California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta
Showcasing the talents, products and cultural wealth of Imperial County, the California Mid-winter Fair and Fiesta, is held annually in late February or early March.
It is a production of the 45th District Agricultural Association.
Carnival rides, games and booths abound on the 100-acre Imperial Valley Expo grounds.
The fair consists of more than 50,000 square feet of exhibit area in five buildings, grandstand and race track.
For additional information, please contact the Imperial Valley Expo at 760-355-1181.
Mariachi Festival Sin Fronteras
This festival, held each spring, annually attracts several thousand people to listen to some of the best Mariachi performers in the country.
Brawley helps the Imperial County recapture the pioneering spirit of its early residents each November with a rousing rodeo celebration that attracts some of the top professional cowboys in the nation.
The week-long Cattle Call includes events such as the Fiesta Cultura, Bluegrass Festival, Chili Cook-off, Cowbelles’ Beef Cookoff, Mariachi night and the Cattle Call Parade. Capping the celebration is the Cattle Call Rodeo, one of the largest professional rodeos in California.
Hosted by the Brawley Chamber of Commerce at Plaza Park each October, this event features many local arts & crafts vendors featuring a wide array of specialty items and gifts.
Santa Claus sneaks into Imperial each year, days before his “official visit” to help the City of Imperial celebrate Christmas in a Small Town.
In excess of 5,000 people participate in this day-long event which also features booths selling homemade Christmas crafts, carolers and plenty of food stalls.
The El Centro Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau kicks off the holiday season with its traditional Christmas parade on the first Saturday in December.
There are various marching bands, drill teams, color guards and floats to enjoy.
A licensed general acute care facility located in El Centro, California.
ECRMC is committed to providing the community with healthcare excellence as reflected in its mission statement: "To Provide Healthcare Excellence For The Imperial Valley.”
ECRMC has completed a recent $44 million dollar expansion providing the community with a state of the art facility. Included in this expansion is the only rooftop heliport in the County that will allow ECRMC to provide better trauma care to our patients.
The management and employees want to provide their patients with the highest quality healthcare experience.
Accredited by The Joint Commission (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), it is committed to providing state-of-the-art healthcare, complemented by the highest quality of community education.
A private, non-profit corporation providing an array of comprehensive primary care services to residents throughout Imperial County and Riverside County.
Established in 1970, Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo has expanded from two original clinics to seven clinics, two dental centers, one mobile dental unit, and three Women, Infant and Children centers.
All clinics have bilingual and bicultural staff to assist patients.
Clinicas de Salud is dedicated to providing excellent care, committed to contributing high level of customer's service and promises to uphold services with uncompromising adherence to the highest standard of moral and ethical conduct.
Incentives
Imperial Valley is one of the fastest growing counties in the State of California offering a vast number of business opportunities along with a large number of trade possibilities. There are several state and federal initiatives in the Imperial County that promote economic development through incentives to employers in the Imperial County. These incentives are available for qualifying existing and new businesses.
Enterprise Zones
An Enterprise Zone is a geographic area that is economically distressed and is targeted for economic revitalization. Enterprise Zones stimulate economic development by offering incentives to new and/or existing businesses that locate in these designated areas.
Imperial Valley currently has two (2) Enterprise Zones:
Enterprise Zones allow businesses located in these areas to save thousands of dollars through tax credits and other benefits. Tax credits and benefits to Imperial Valley’s two Enterprise Zones include:
Hiring tax credit
Sales or use tax credit
Net operating loss carryover
Business expense deductions
Lender interest income deduction
Imperial Valley Foreign Trade Zones
A foreign trade zone provides incentives for domestic manufactures that utilize imported raw materials and are located inside the designated areas of the foreign trade zone. These areas are considered outside the United States by U.S. Customs. Imported materials or merchandise imported into the zone are excluded from customs duty and excise taxes until they leave the foreign trade zone. Materials and goods exported outside the U.S. is excluded from being charged duty. Additional benefits include:
In order to stimulate job creation in underutilized business areas, The Small Business Administration introduced HUBZones. Small businesses operating within HUBZones receive federal contract preferences. The entire Imperial County qualifies as a HubZone.
Manufacturing Enhancement Area (MEA)
Manufacturing Enhancement Areas were created by the State of California to stimulate job creation in areas experiencing triple the State’s unemployment rate. The Cities of Calexico and Brawley are designated MEAs in California. MEAs benefits include:
Streamlined local regulatory controls
Reduced permitting fees
MEA companies are eligible to earn $30,000 or more in state hiring tax credit per qualified employee hired over a five-year period
New Markets Tax Credits
Program taxpayers who make equity investments in designated Community Development Entities (CDEs) may qualify for Federal income tax credits. These investments must then be used by the CDE to provide investments in low-income communities.
Utilities
Electricity
The Imperial Irrigation District is the local energy supplier in the Imperial County and is the sixth largest utility in the State of California. IID Energy works to meet customers’ demand at the best possible rates.
Nearly 60% of their power is supplied locally using hydroelectric facilities, a steam generating facility, several gas turbines and a diesel unit.
Natural Gas
Southern California Gas Company serves the Imperial County with natural gas and is headquartered in Los Angeles. Southern California Gas Company is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy and is the largest natural gas utility in the nation.
Southern California Gas Company delivers natural gas via twin ten-inch lines which generally run south through the county in Range 14 East.
Liquid petroleum products are delivered to and are transported through the County via the twenty-inch Santa Fe Pacific Pipe Line.
Telephone
AT&T (formerly SBC) provides telephone service to the Imperial County. It is the largest telecommunications company in the United States and one of the largest in the world.
High Speed Internet
High speed Internet access in Imperial County is offered by both AT&T and Time Warner. Time Warner high speed internet provides access directly over the existing cable network.
AT& T has one of the worlds most advanced and powerful global backbone networks, which offers up to 99.999% availability.
Water
The Imperial Irrigation District owns more than 3,000 miles of canals and drains and is the largest irrigation district in the nation.
IID supplies Imperial County with water for agricultural purposes, seven municipalities, one private water company, two community water systems, industrial, and rural homes and businesses.
The Imperial County Public Works provides water to the Gateways of Americas.
The water distribution lines included as part of the backbone infrastructure are sized at 18."
They consist of a network of 304 collection companies who provide collection services to approximately 10 million customers nationwide, including industrial and commercial customers.
Services include: providing customized non-hazardous solid waste disposal services for local, regional and national industrial and commercial customers across the country.
