The California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) and its partners announce the launch of SECURE CA (Statewide Economic Continuity & Unified Response Effort), a statewide initiative to enhance California’s economic resilience to immigration-related disruptions affecting businesses, workers, and communities.

SECURE CA brings together economic development organizations, business networks, community partners, and policy leaders to coordinate solutions that protect local economies and support small businesses and workers. CCEDA called for the formation of this coalition in response to the growing economic impacts of immigration enforcement on businesses, workers, and community institutions.

The initiative is anchored by three core partners, each contributing complementary expertise:

• National Small Business Advocacy Council (NSBAC) – policy and advocacy leadership focused on elevating small-business voices.
• California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) – backbone organization helping convene partners and coordinate statewide collaboration.
• Insight Center for Community Economic Development – providing research, strategy, and cross-sector collaboration support.

In addition, the Alliance has received extensive training & technical assistance from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC).

These partners are building a statewide coalition to connect chambers of commerce, community development organizations, CDFIs, immigrant-serving organizations, worker groups, rural partners, and philanthropic organizations. The coalition will share resources, align messaging, and advance solutions to stabilize local economies.

One of the first deliverables will be to provide talking points for small businesses and CDCs adversely affected by mass deportations and adverse immigration actions. Nationwide 21% of small businesses were either started by or are currently run by immigrants and in California it exceeds 40% so this is an issue that touches millions of Californians.

The coalition aims to reach thousands of businesses and community stakeholders by leveraging existing networks and associations rather than creating new structures.

SECURE CA recently hosted its first informational webinar, which attracted over 70 participants from across California, including economic development leaders, nonprofit partners, business organizations, and policy advocates focused on economic resilience.

In the coming months, the coalition will expand its membership, launch resource tools and preparedness materials, coordinate funder roundtables, and develop a policy platform to support economic continuity for businesses and communities statewide.

CCEDA’s leadership in convening partners demonstrates its ongoing commitment to strengthening California’s community economic development ecosystem and ensuring businesses and communities have the support needed to thrive, even in times of uncertainty.

SECURE CA is actively recruiting coalition members and partners across California, including business networks, community development organizations, CDFIs, chambers of commerce, worker and farmworker groups, faith institutions, and policy leaders, to build a coordinated statewide response that protects small businesses, workers, and local economies. Organizations interested in joining the SECURE CA coalition are encouraged to contact CCEDA for information about membership and upcoming activities.

Contact Bob Zdenek at bob@cceda.com; Kip Bowmar at kip@cceda.com and Mike Browning at mikebrowning@alumni.usc.edu

During the last six months, the CCEDA board of directors has added five exciting new leaders representing diverse sectors in community economic development. We plan to expand the board this year by adding up to five more directors bringing us closer to the 15 mandated by our bylaws.

At its heart, CCEDA is a membership association and our members shape the direction of the organization along with the board. The board plans to hold at least four regional meetings throughout the state to share our plans and gain insights from current and prospective members. Our aim is “adding value” to our members through information, training, sharing lessons from others, as well as aggressively identifying new resources in the public and private sectors.

A strong membership will enable us to become a more dynamic voice of community economic development in California. The CCEDA board and staff are committed to making public policy one of the association’s top priorities this year. Community economic development has not had a strong unified voice in Sacramento. CCEDA plans change by establishing an active public policy committee to guide our work and by sponsoring a Public Policy Convening later this year in Sacramento. Plan to attend so that your voice will be heard as we work to build political support in California.

Another important issue that CCEDA plans to tackle in 2026 is immigration; specifically the disastrous impact of ICE on large and small businesses, especially immigrant-owned businesses, non-resident occupied affordable housing, and childcare operations. Most people and organizations are not aware of their rights and are easily intimidated. CCEDA is partnering with the National Immigration Law Center, National Small Business Advocacy Center, and Insight Center to initially sponsor a webinar on February 18th targeted at CDCs, CAAs, small businesses, and individuals. This is the first step of a growing number of initiatives to help our businesses and housing developers understand and protect their workers from illegal practices. This type of partnership is the core of our community economic development mission and values.

Please visit CCEDA.com on a regular basis. Thank you for your interest and involvement with CCEDA.

– Bob Zdenek, Interim Executive Director