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 four core partners, each contributing complementary expertise:
- California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) – backbone organization helping convene partners and coordinate statewide collaboration.
- National Small Business Advocacy Council (NSBAC) – policy and advocacy leadership focused on elevating small-business voices.
- National Immigration Law Center (NILC) – legal and policy expertise supporting education, guidance, and technical assistance.
- Insight Center for Community Economic Development – providing research, strategy, and cross-sector collaboration support.
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 bowar at kip@cceda.com and Mike Browning at mikebrowning@alumni.usc.edu