Building Opportunity in Imperial Valley: How Good For Others Is Powering Inclusive Growth

The Imperial Valley is on the brink of extraordinary transformation. Known for its rich agricultural roots and resilient communities, this region is emerging as a center for innovation in clean energy, workforce development, and healthcare. Yet, real progress depends on ensuring that local people (especially those in historically disinvested communities) are included in the opportunities ahead.

At Good For Others Foundation, we believe in advancing equity by investing in people, not just projects. That belief is taking shape through our growing presence in the Imperial Valley, where we’re proud to help lead initiatives that are building a stronger, more connected regional economy.

emPower the Valley: A Coalition for Community Strength

emPower the Valley is a grassroots movement that unites nonprofits, government, education, and business partners with one shared goal—to improve the quality of life for all Imperial Valley residents. Guided by values of transparency, respect, and adaptability, this coalition builds on community strengths to create lasting change.

Good For Others Foundation helped launch this effort by hosting the 2025 kickoff convening, setting the stage for a year focused on collaboration and innovation. Recently, through a CA Jobs First Catalyst Pre-Development Fund grant, GFOF and its partners began implementing the emPower Lithium Valley Workforce Initiative, an exploratory project designed to prepare residents for the coming wave of opportunity in the clean energy economy.

The emPower Lithium Valley Workforce Initiative

This initiative was created to ensure Imperial Valley residents can access quality jobs tied to the region’s rapidly expanding lithium extraction and renewable energy industries. In partnership with the Imperial County Workforce Development Board (ICWDB), Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Imperial Valley College, and several industry and labor partners, Good For Others is helping build pathways that connect education and training directly to emerging jobs.

Key Goals of the Initiative:

• Create actionable workforce blueprints aligned with RAND Corporation’s forthcoming Lithium Valley Workforce and Economic Development Needs Assessment.

• Address equity barriers by incorporating childcare, transportation, translation, and stipends into workforce programs.

• Strengthen cross-sector collaboration through coalition governance, local hiring strategies, and shared data systems.

• Increase regional social capital by investing in leadership development and community participation.

  
  

As part of this work, Good For Others sponsored a delegation of nine local leaders to attend the California Economic Summit in Stockton. The group connected with statewide peers, shared Imperial Valley’s progress, and brought back best practices to enhance local strategies. The delegation included representatives from organizations such as the Imperial Valley EDC, Calipatria Foundation, Gafcon, and the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center—alongside GFOF’s own Cameron Weaver and Elena Lopez, a current participant in Good For Others, Certificate in Nonprofit Management program.

This kind of investment in social capital—the relationships and shared learning that drive long-term change—is central to the emPower model.

Nursing Careers for Community Impact (NCCI) Project

In addition to its clean energy work, Good For Others is supporting a High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) Healthcare Grant Program funded by the California Workforce Development Board. The Nursing Careers for Community Impact (NCCI) Project , led by the Imperial County Workforce Development Board, in partnership with Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program, Imperial Valley College, Teamsters Local 542, and Imperial County Behavioral and Public Health Departments, aims to create accessible, high-quality career pathways in nursing, with a focus on public sector healthcare roles within Imperial County.

Through this program, GFOF is helping connect underrepresented populations—including immigrants, youth, veterans, and justice-involved individuals—to well-paying healthcare careers such as:

• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to Registered Nurse (RN) bridge programs

• Peer Support Specialist and Substance Use Disorder Counselor training

• Community Health Worker certification

• Direct Care Worker programs

  
  

Each project under this grant emphasizes fair wages, safe working conditions, and career advancement, creating healthcare pathways that support both community well-being and economic resilience.

Why This Work Matters

Imperial Valley has long faced barriers to economic mobility, including high unemployment, limited transportation, and access to education. Through initiatives like emPower the Valley, the emPower Lithium Valley Workforce Initiative, and Nursing Careers for Community Impact (NCCI) Project, Good For Others Foundation is helping turn those challenges into opportunities.

Together, these efforts represent a model for inclusive economic development—one where collaboration, equity, and innovation meet to uplift an entire region.

Looking Ahead

Good For Others Foundation will continue working alongside Imperial Valley partners to ensure that as new industries grow, local residents are ready to lead and benefit from them. From healthcare to clean energy, from coalition-building to workforce development, our mission remains clear: to connect people, purpose, and possibility.

To learn more about emPower the Valley please visit the website at https://www.empowerthevalley.com/.