Lands of opportunity

Imperial County officials are trying to attract new businesses into the area by offering them tax breaks. It’s all part of the new economic development program. The county has picked seven areas that have low income and high poverty. If any businesses move to those areas they won’t have to pay taxes on the profits they make.

“Doing business in California is hard because of all the restrictions. And so having a new opportunity zone will be beneficial to those business to stay local, to stay in the county of Imperial, to stay in the cities,” said Esperanza Colio Warren, the community Economic Manger for Imperial County:

Realizing that it could better their economic situation, all the cities in the county worked together on getting this done.

Brawley Council Member Sam Couchman says, “and so it’s all important for the economic health on our region. Cause we are a region and we are an economic region. And so by working together we’re able to benefit the people of Imperial county and the city of Brawley.”

Council Member Couchman also says, everyone benefits from the economic development program. “There’s no downside to any of this. And I think that’s the important part. And I think if everybody’s gaining, then everybody reaps the benefits.”

No set date has been decided on when the program will be in effect.