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Imperial County returns from Washington with momentum for —Lithium Valley— push; county plans rapid-response services after Spreckels closure
Summary
Supervisors said meetings with federal agencies and private firms reinforced interest in Imperial County's Lithium Valley project; board and workforce staff described outreach and rapid-response planning to assist workers affected by the closure of the Spreckels sugar plant.
Imperial County supervisors and staff returned from a week of meetings in Washington, D.C., reporting broad federal and private-sector attention to the county's Lithium Valley project and related infrastructure needs, while also describing near-term workforce supports after the closure of the Spreckels sugar plant.
Supervisor Kelly, who led part of the delegation, said the group met with officials at the White House, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and that the county's Lithium Valley strategic plan and programmatic EIR for roughly 51,000 acres drew interest. Kelly told the board the Department of Energy committed to interagency coordination and that the White House offered to facilitate interagency connections with USDA. "We got to meet with Fortune 500 companies," county staff said in a related update.
Supervisor Escobar said federal advisers and congressional staff expressed recognition of the county's resource potential but warned of state-level permitting and regulatory challenges in California. Board members repeatedly cited CEQA, litigation from environmental-justice groups, and complex permitting as obstacles to rapid deployment of projects.
The trip also focused on the economic fallout from the closure of the Spreckels sugar plant. Priscilla Lopez, from the county's Workforce and Economic Development office, described a rapid-response plan: an informational packet and an online flyer for displaced workers, partnerships with Imperial Valley College and IID, and an on-site rapid-response event planned for July with outreach to HR leadership at Spreckels. "We are developing an online flyer that we will be putting out directing all employees of Spreckels and small businesses indirectly affected to go to the business development center," Lopez said.
County staff and supervisors said they raised airport compliance issues with the Federal Aviation Administration and discussed New River pollution with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; staff reported FAA follow-up and EPA commitments to technical assistance and site visits. Board members asked for continued federal engagement while stressing a need to streamline state-level processes to attract investment.
Ending: Supervisors urged regional cooperation and pledged to continue federal outreach; workforce staff said rapid-response services and pop-up information sessions will be deployed in coming weeks to assist workers and affected businesses.
