Mega-region plan moves forward By ERIC GALVAN, Staff Writer
Friday, January 9, 2009 11:28 PM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
Christina Luhn, senior project manager of the mega-region, speaks at El Centro City Hall on Friday. Luhn seeks greater community involvement in the mega-region and is promoting its goals spanning the next five to 25 years.
When asked to simplify the “mega-region initiative,” Christina Luhn was succinct with her response.
“It’s about bringing good jobs to the region,” said Luhn, senior project manager for the mega- region. “It’s about bringing them to the San Diego, Imperial County and Baja regions.”
In April the United States Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded a $225,000 grant to the Imperial Valley and San Diego Regional economic development corporations.
The grant, which expires in February, was given for the use of studying economic strategies focusing on work force and infrastructure in the mega-region, which includes Imperial and San Diego Counties and northern Baja California.
On Friday, Luhn and others involved in the mega-region initiative presented a strategic action plan on how to proceed with the project.
Part of the next steps include the strategic action plan roll-out, a “call to action,” the development of action teams, creating a final report to go to the EDA, creating a template for replication, the securing of funding and the launching of branding and marketing of this mega-region.
“Our goal was to strengthen ourselves and to not be overshadowed by (another Southern California mega-region,” Luhn said. “And right now, we’re exceeding our expectations.”
Tim Kelley, executive director of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp., said what’s important about the mega-region is focusing on the positives that could be provided in the area.
“When you put us together the positives by far outweigh the negatives,” Kelley said. “And we’re selling the positives.”
Matthew Crow, the EDA’s deputy assistant secretary for external affairs and communications at the U.S. Department of Commerce, was present at the meeting and said this project is one the EDA would be supportive of.
“Immediately we thought this was a large-impact government grant project,” Crow said. “And what we’ve looked for the last five or six years are projects like this.”
Sen. Denise Moreno-Ducheny, who represents Imperial County in the state Legislature, said the opportunities in the mega-region are “just enormous” as this area provides “incredible diversity.”
“I think sometimes we struggle to understand that it’s one economy,” Moreno-Ducheny said. “And I believe if you really want to stimulate the economy you have to look along the border region.”
" Let me chime in on kayro14's comments. The future of this country, nay, the globe is green. That means recycling, that means limited and/or intelligent and efficient use of fossil fuels. Throw out the old paradigms of industry and business and especially "energy-creation." This county could rival Phoenix as the Sterling solar-engine capital of the country, but as usual the Supervisors and the IID (by definition) are asleep at the proverbial switch. I am including a site for info on Sterling solar powered engine. Amazing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dTt2s6YwJ8 "
mikegino wrote on Jan 10, 2009 10:58 AM:
" The real questin is when will the mega-region qualify for federal Bail-Out money? "
jarvis wrote on Jan 10, 2009 10:48 AM:
" Alot of sky miles to China and junkets. "
0207 wrote on Jan 10, 2009 9:18 AM:
" kayro14 hit it out of the park. Out of curiousity, what had the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. accomplished in 2007 and 2008? Who funds it and how much do its employees make? "
kayro14 wrote on Jan 10, 2009 8:26 AM:
" Where is the quantifiable output of the work done by the Mega-region team? From what I just read, the only results achieved seem to be how to get more grant money. There is no new airport, no new business park, no new solar project and no new windmill farm. There has been talk but to my knowledge, not a single shovel has been put into the ground by anyone representing the 27% of unemployed workers in Imperial County. In today's IV Press, we have an article about Imperial being the most illiterate county in the nation. I'm sure that the decision makers of companies looking to expand are not illiterate and know that while there is an abundant workforce here, they don't want to be in the business of teaching them to read and write. Potential businesses also have to deal with the NIMBY attitude of many here who think that any large company opening their doors will destroy the quality of life in the Valley not to mention the unfriendly and expensive business climate in California. The next time there is a story in the IV Press, I hope it contains more details. "
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socrates wrote on Jan 10, 2009 9:51 PM:
This county could rival Phoenix as the Sterling solar-engine capital of the country, but as usual the Supervisors and the IID (by definition) are asleep at the proverbial switch.
I am including a site for info on Sterling solar powered engine. Amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dTt2s6YwJ8 "