{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-ruiz-celebrates-lithium-valley-being-among-one-22-finalists", "Congressman Ruiz Celebrates Lithium Valley Being Among One of 22 Finalists for the EDA\u2019s Distressed Area Recompete Grant", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", "ruiz", "https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Imperial Valley, CA \u2013 Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), released the following statement after the Economic Development Agency (EDA) announced their finalists for the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program.\n\n\u201cBeing one of 22 finalists out of 225 applications nationwide is a testament to the regional collaborative approach and hard work of everyone involved, and we are very motivated and committed to carrying this across the finish line,\u201d said Dr. Ruiz. \u201cI look forward to continuing to work with our Lithium Valley partners in developing transformative initiatives that will make the biggest difference for the community.\u201d\n\nBackground on the Project:\n\nCurrently, Imperial County\u2019s economy is dire, with 45% of its populace out of the workforce and an unemployment rate hovering at 20%. The Lithium Valley Recompete Project is not an option; it\u2019s a necessity. The project is a pivotal response to Imperial\u2019s economic plight, aiming to leverage its lithium reserves while addressing the urgent need for employment and economic stability. The comprehensive initiative outlined in the proposal integrates education, training, infrastructure development, and community support to successfully assist a region in responding to immediate shifting industry demands and ensure rapid job creation.\n\nThe Lithium Valley Recompete Project promises rapid linkages to quality jobs and the establishment of stable, long-term employment pathways that the residents of Imperial Valley desperately need. The Policy and Innovation Center (PIC) is spearheading this collaborative effort of Imperial Valley stakeholders, including San Diego State University Imperial Valley (SDSU), Imperial Valley College (IVC), the Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) the Imperial County Workforce Development Board (ICWDB), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Gafcon and many others.\n\nThis collaborative group aims to tackle the region's substantial challenges through research and policy analysis supported by PIC\u2019s partner agency the Brookings Institution, and by fostering partnerships that facilitate solutions across sectors and jurisdictions.\n\nBackground on the Grant:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-ruiz-celebrates-lithium-valley-being-among-one-22-finalists"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9566994160413742, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}