County of Imperial

Imperial County proudly welcomed a diverse group of global leaders from countries such as Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, India, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Poland, and The People's Republic of China as part of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) administered by the U.S. Department of State. This program connects current and emerging leaders from around the world with their American counterparts to foster mutual understanding and establish professional networks. The opening remarks were delivered by Chairman Luis Plancarte from the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, Imperial County Executive Officer Miguel Figueroa, MPA, and Bari Bean, Deputy CEO - Natural Resources, who emphasized Imperial County’s strategic initiatives and commitment to fostering global collaboration. Supervisors Ryan Kelley and Jesus Eduardo Escobar enlightened the audience with presentations on Lithium Valley and the recovery of #lithium from #geothermal as well as the business development opportunities in Imperial County, aligning with global economic and environmental trends. Supervisor John Hawk gave an introduction to farming and agriculture in the region, setting the stage for further detailed presentations by Rachel Garewal, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, and local farmer Ronnie Leimgruber, on the richness of Imperial Valley's agricultural sector. Sean Wilcock, from the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation highlighted our State and local incentives. The delegation participated in a series of informative tours, starting with a visit to Golden Eagle Press where Jon Berker provided insights into hay production and exports. This was followed by a visit from Mike Pacheco and Jessica Humes, with the Imperial Irrigation District, who provided a marsh conservation tour and demonstrated innovative water techniques that are utilized locally and crucial for sustainable management in Imperial County. A highlight of the regional Imperial Valley tour was a driving tour showcasing geothermal operations in Imperial County, where the group learned about the cutting-edge geothermal energy production and the upcoming efforts surrounding #LithiumValley, positioning #ImperialCounty at the forefront of green energy initiatives. The delegates were fascinated by Gina Dockstader’s tour of Doc's Organics, where she showcased the operations of their fully certified organic packing facility, emphasizing the county’s commitment to sustainable agricultural practices. The program concluded with a refreshing stop at the famous Westmorland Date Shake, symbolizing the sweet success of the event and the fruitful discussions that took place across the day. Imperial County continues to embrace opportunities for #international cooperation and technology #onshoring in our region and is honored to have hosted such an enriching program, contributing to global dialogue and understanding. #leadership #development

Thank you Sumitomo Electric for hosting the County of Imperial, Imperial Irrigation District, and CalEthos today to learn more about Redox Flow battery storage and how its unique technology is helping to support energy needs in the San Diego area. As we transition towards a net zero future, we’re excited to continue to explore innovative energy solutions that support the needs of Imperial County and our resident’s! #netzero #batterystorage #Energy #innovation Bari Smith Bean, Joel Stone, Alex Cardenas Michael Campbell

Are you interested in working in the lithium industry in Imperial Valley? Check out the post below! #LithiumValley #EnergyJobs ⚡️

It was an action packed week at Fastmarkets BRM Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference! Our team presented on the tremendous business and economic development opportunities in Imperial County and shared the sustainable process of lithium recovery from geothermal brine with attendees from around the world. We took a deep dive into our Specific Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Report, which will create the foundation for a one-of-a-kind, vertically integrated lithium and energy ecosystem in Southern California. The event sessions were filled with innovative technologies, best practices, and fantastic new connections that will contribute to the growth of the County of Imperial. We enjoyed connecting with our local industry partners BHE Renewables, Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings, Inc., and EnergySource Minerals, who are collectively paving the way in Lithium Valley for a green, clean, renewable future! Ryan Kelley, Jesus Eduardo Escobar, John Hawk, Miguel Figueroa, MPA, Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter, Bari Smith Bean, Christina Fleming, Rod Colwell, Eric Spomer #FastmarketsLBRM #DreamBeyondToday #geothermal #AlwaysOn #lithium #ImperialCounty #LithiumValley #renewableEnergy

Congratulations to Fastmarkets for an outstanding event this year! It was a pleasure to join Ryan Kelley, Jesus Eduardo Escobar, Trelynd Bradley, and Justin Yang to discuss the vision for Lithium Valley. The County of Imperial has developed a world-class Specific Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Report which provides a clear pathway to build the world’s most sustainable clean energy hub.   This is the smartest and most comprehensive development model I’ve seen and I commend the County’s leadership.   Not only will this business-forward approach create thousands of quality jobs, it will spearhead battery supply chain independence in the United States. I encourage you to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gXgxw77w   #gettingitdone #FastmarketsLBRM #cleanenergy #cleanlithium #cleanjobs #cleanfuture #lithiumvalley

Ready to take the next step in your professional journey? Elevate your career with an exciting opportunity! The County of Imperial is looking for an Airport Manager to join the County’s team. For more details and to apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/gHKA_Wte

The EDA Lithium Valley Tech Hub Consortium and the University of California Riverside invite you to the EDA Lithium Valley Tech Hub Workshop with remarks from Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz, (CA-25). Join us for a discussion about workforce development, the environmental and health impacts of lithium battery development in the Salton Sea, the manufacturing needs of the industry, and the role of the university in supporting technology and infrastructure. These discussions will be used to produce the EDA Tech Hub Strategy Development Report. 📅 Date: Friday, June 21, 2024 ⏲ Time: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm (Check-in and Breakfast at 8:30 am) 🥗 Lunch: 12:30 pm - Light Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. 📍 Location: UC Riverside Palm Desert Campus - 75080 Frank Sinatra Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92211 Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gjPncNBB

It was a fantastic week in Washington, D.C. with our District 1 Supervisor, Jesus Eduardo Escobar, and Deputy CEO of Natural Resources, Bari Smith Bean, advocating for Lithium Valley and sharing the opportunities for industry, workforce, infrastructure and community growth in Imperial County! Benchmark Mineral Intelligence had an action filled agenda that included keynote messages from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, III, Congressman Bruce Westerman, and many other natural resource leaders, who discussed the importance of permitting reform that streamlines renewable energy, transmission, and lithium development in the United States. We were honored to have Supervisor Jesus Eduardo Escobar participate in the North American Lithium Congress, where he highlighted how Lithium Valley will be the national leader in sustainable lithium recovery. #lithium #LithiumValley #geothermal #renewableEnergy #NaturalResources

The soon-to-open Cambria Hotels in Imperial, California, has received an overwhelming response to its job openings, showcasing the community's eagerness to support new businesses. With positions ranging from front desk staff to management, the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center (IVSBDC) and the Imperial County Workforce and Economic Development Board (IVWEDO) reported a record number of applications. This strong interest underscores the local enthusiasm for economic growth and job creation. We extend our gratitude to IVSBDC and IVWEDO for their invaluable support in connecting this new business with the local talent pool. #ImperialCounty #BusinessDevelopmemt #hospitality Gafcon PM-CM LLC, Brick Hospitality, Paul Najar, Todd B.

A very productive day in Tokyo with Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings, Inc., visiting Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Fuji is the manufacturer of CTR’s geothermal turbine-generator system for its Stage 1 Hell’s Kitchen Lithium + Power project. The building of this complex equipment started back in January 2022 and is now in the final testing phase before being shipped to the US. The County of Imperial is thrilled to see major components being finalized for our local industry partners, which will expand sustainable, renewable energy in our region. The future of Lithium Valley is looking bright! #RenewableEnergy #LithiumValley #ImperialCounty #lithium #geothermal Ryan Kelley, Bari Smith Bean, Rod Colwell