California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) empowers nonprofit organizations, such as Community Development Corporations and Community Action Agencies, to succeed in transforming their communities through policy advocacy and technical assistance
THE OPPORTUNITY
California businesses are absorbing a shock to their workforce and customer base with no coordinated system in place to respond. Small businesses across agriculture, construction, healthcare, and hospitality are losing workers and customers overnight. Chambers of Commerce, CDFIs, and local banks are left without aligned tools, messaging, or resources.
THE DATA
• LA County: $3.7M in business losses in 3 months; 82% of businesses negatively impacted in LA County (LAEDC, 2026)
• Orange County: $59M lost within 8 weeks of ICE enforcement (UC Irvine, 2026)
• Bay Area: up to $67B in economic output at risk under mass deportation scenarios (Bay Area Council Economic Institute, 2026)
• SBA Policy Change: Recent U.S. SBA policy now bars immigrant-owned businesses from SBA financial & technical assistance, a critical gap California must fill
WHAT SECURE CA DOES
Rather than building a new bureaucracy, SECURE CA leverages existing trusted
networks to move quickly by reaching thousands of businesses through intermediaries already
embedded in local economies.
• Rapid-response tools for businesses and CDOs facing enforcement-related disruption
• Shared messaging and talking points enabling leaders to speak with a unified economic voice
• Statewide coordination among chambers, CDFIs, worker advocates, rural partners, and
immigrant-serving organizations
• Funder roundtables to align resources with real-time community needs
• Policy platform development centered on economic resilience, workforce stability, and
small-business continuity
COMING NEXT – WHAT YOUR SUPPORT ENABLES
• Expand alliance membership & regional engagement statewide
• Launch economic preparedness and response toolkits for businesses
• Convene coordinated funder briefings and learning sessions
• Advance a policy platform: economic resilience & workforce stability
• Publish rapid-response talking points for chambers and CDCs statewide
• Formalize alliance governance and release a policy platform using live data
A BUSINESS OWNER’S REALITY
One owner, facing workplace enforcement, invested in surveillance cameras, GPS body cams, on-site signage, a secure workspace for workers, and mandatory subcontractor safety training, entirely without a coordinated support system. SECURE CA exists so no business faces this alone.
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:
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
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (CCEDA) serves as a clearinghouse for information and action that advances the field of community economic development through training and continuing education, technical assistance, and advocacy on public policy.
All CCEDA’s activities serve our membership — organizations actively engaged in revitalizing California’s neighborhoods, including resident driven community development corporations, local governments, community action agencies and faith based institutions. CCEDA members produce results through a full range of community building strategies including real estate development-housing, retail and commercial-business assistance and lending, social services, and job training and creation.
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Our journey has been marked by significant events that shaped our current path. From the inception of our mission to the groundbreaking initiatives we have launched, each moment contributes to the larger narrative. Stay informed and engaged with our story as we continue to evolve and inspire.
CCEDA promotes revitalization through community building and community safety.
CCEDA is trustworthy, transparent, and acts with the highest integrity in finance, governance, and grant management.
CCEDA seeks to advance members and communities through education, training, technical assistance, and leadership development.
CCEDA responds to changing needs by visibly advocating for effective public policy and actively collaborating with member organizations, government, and funders.
CCEDA empowers organizations to create economic opportunity in low to moderate income communities.
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