ABOUT CPI : about us : vision & mission : our work : background : broader context : glossary

Background

Community leaders agree that the Coachella Valley must expand its economy beyond service level jobs in hospitality and agriculture. Leaders have identified an opportunity to grow new jobs in healthcare, arts media and entertainment and clean technology. Finally, valley leaders know that the future economic viability and healthy growth of the Coachella Valley will depend on resident intellectual capital.

The Coachella Valley faces critical education issues – 56-90% of valley students in poverty, high drop-out rate, low college going rates – overall a student population that will need extra support from outside their families to be successful in school.

Valley leadership understands that investment in education now means smart intellectual capital in the future.

So, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, in collaboration with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency and Workforce Development Board and The James Irvine Foundation launched the Career Pathways Initiative in 2005.

Three years later, the valley’s public and private education providers have partnered on this initiative – all three K-12 school districts, College of the Desert, CSUSB and UCR are on board. Further, every major healthcare industry employer, more than 100 additional industry partners, six major foundations (James Irvine Foundation, College Access Foundation, Desert Healthcare District, Ford Motor Company Fund, Verizon Foundation, Gannett Foundation) are fully engaged and the Career Pathways Initiative has impacted more than 2,000 area students and faculty with enriched programs.