‘Activate Imperial’ aims to give residents a voice amid green energy and data center boom
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - As a massive wave of interest in data centers and green energy projects sweeps through the Imperial Valley, local leaders and residents are uniting to ensure the community is not left behind by rapid industrialization.
The Latino Community Foundation (LCF), alongside a coalition of local grassroots organizations, has officially unveiled "Activate Imperial."
The community-led economic roadmap is designed to give rural and Latino residents a direct voice in the region's financial future before massive corporate developers break ground.
"The Imperial Valley is so important for the people that live here, and it's also important economically for California’s future and the future of the country," said Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. "The Latino Community Foundation is very proud to support this effort."
Organizers state that the primary goal of "Activate Imperial" is to flip the traditional script on corporate development. Rather than allowing outside corporations to dictate the terms of regional growth, the initiative establishes strict community-first benchmarks.
The roadmap was forged through a collaboration, gathering direct input from more than 80 local residents, advocates, and leaders.
Key local non-profits played a critical role in bringing these diverse community voices to the table, including Imperial Valley Equity & Justice, Comité Cívico del Valle, The Becoming Project, Unwind & Design, Ashley Contreras and Michael Morales.
"Over the last year, we've been meeting with other residents and convening different groups," explained Daniela Flores, co-founder and Executive Director of Imperial Valley Equity and Justice. "We got a chance to dream about what our economy can look like here in Imperial Valley, and how it centers our people along the way."
The collective findings of the roadmap highlight a clear shift toward holistic regional care. According to the initiative, residents identified three top tier investment priorities:
- Financial Stability: Keeping wealth and job opportunities local.
- Public Health and Safety: Protecting residents from industrial hazards.
- Infrastructure: Upgrading basic utility, road, and technology systems.
Closely following these top goals, community members also prioritized robust investments in lifelong learning, environmental stability, and arts and culture.
Organizers hope that developing diverse local career fields in green energy and tech will allow young people to build lives in the county where they were raised.
"I hope for an Imperial Valley where people don't have to leave in order to have opportunities," Flores said. "I think we hear so many times that all of us are raised to leave. How beautiful would our county be if young people are supported in diverse careers that are also available here?"
While the immediate focus remains on protecting Imperial County, organizers believe the success of "Activate Imperial" will reverberate far beyond the borders of Southern California.
They view the roadmap as a scalable blueprint for rural and agricultural regions nationwide currently facing sudden, massive industrial development.
"People all over California and all over the country are watching what happens here in the Imperial Valley," Castro emphasized. "What I like about this community vision is it says the future belongs to the people here.”
The Latino Community Foundation emphasizes that launching the roadmap is only the first step. Moving forward, organizers plan to present these specific community findings directly to local government officials and incoming developers.
The objective is clear: Ensure total compliance with community needs before any new projects are approved.
