AGENDA
ITEM
11 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 4, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY:
APPROVED BY:
SUBJECT: Ratify Letter to Governor Gavin Newsome in Support of San Diego State University's Expansion Plan for an Innovation District and STEM Programs on the Brawley Campus
================================================================== Recommendation:
It is recommended that the City Council ratify the enclosed letter to Governor Gavin Newsome in support of San Diego State University's Expansion Plan for an Innovation District and STEM Programs on the Brawley Campus.
Background:
San Diego State University (SDSU) has submitted a request for $80M for a STEM building to support workforce needs related to lithium extraction in the Lithium Valley Budget Package.
Due to Brawley's proximity to the Salton Sea and the lithium extraction operations it creates an ideal location for STEM research and curriculum. Educational programming that can support the alternative fuel industries interested in investing in the Imperial Valley would have a significant economic impact on the city and region. This type of project supports the vision outlined in the Imperial County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that calls for training and job opportunities that help bolster economic growth in the region.
Discussion and Analysis:
A dedicated pipeline for students to receive the training to fulfill the workforce needs would have a transformative effect. Expanding STEM capabilities at the Brawley campus would allow for students to complete 81211 .00 I 00\34500529.1
AGENDA
ITEM
11 their education without commuting to the San Diego campus and would also allow for additional student enrollment.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Attachment:
1. Letter to Governor Gavin Newsome.
812 l l.OOl 00\34500529. l
City of Calexico
608 HEBER AVENUE
The Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 0 Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Newsom,
• CALEXICO, CA 92231 • (760) 768-2102
April 21, 2022
I am pleased to provide this letter in support of San Diego State University's expansion plan for an Innovation District and STEM programs on the Brawley campus. I urge you to include SDSU's $80M request for a STEM building to suppmt workforce needs related to lithium extraction in the Lithium Valley Budget Package.
Brawley's proximity to the Salton Sea and the lithium extraction operations create an ideal location for STEM research and curriculum. Educational programming that can suppmt the alternative fuel industries interested in investing in the Imperial Valley would have a significant economic impact on the city and region. This type of project suppmts the vision outlined in the Imperial County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that calls for training and job oppmtunities that help bolster economic growth in the region. A dedicated pipeline for students to receive the training to fulfill the workforce needs would have a transformative effect. And expanding STEM capabilities at the Brawley campus would allow for students to complete their education without commuting to the San Diego campus and would also allow for additional student enrollment.
I want to share with you that we are dynamic border community that is the gateway from Mexico to the United States in the southeastern corner of California. Our city is a vibrant multicultural community that is implementing a fast-track economic development model that offers business development incentives that include, but are not limited to, having the designation for the Opportunity Zone program (a federal tax deferral program for new investments) in our city. Our city is home to 13,347 students that receive education through our three high schools, three junior high schools and nine elementary schools.
As the Mayor of Calexico who has been actively working to increase investment in educational resources, expand current businesses and attract new industry, I know that this project will be a catalyst for future growth and development in the region. I strongly support San Diego State University and look forward to strengthening our community partnership for the betterment of Imperial Valley.
If you have any questions, please contact me via email at [email protected], you can also contact Interim City Manager Diego Favila at (760) 768-2110 and via email at [email protected]. gov.
Sincerely,
CITY OF CALEXICO
Javier Moreno
Mayor
cc: Senator Ben Hueso
Senator Nancy Skinner
Senator Bob Wieckowski
Senator John Laird
Senator Nancy Skinner
Asm. Eduardo Garcia
Asm. Phil Ting
Asm. Kevin McCarty