Imperial Valley College Breaks Ground on Public Safety Center and Operations Warehouse

-Editorial 

Imperial Valley College held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on two major campus projects funded through the Measure B bond approved by local voters in 2022.

The projects include a new Public Safety Regional Training Center and a Maintenance and Operations Warehouse, both intended to expand the college’s instructional capacity and improve campus infrastructure, supporting students and the broader community.

The Public Safety Regional Training Center will consist of a 35,000-square-foot main facility and a 5,000-square-foot fire engine and storage building to be constructed on the northwest portion of the campus. The complex is designed to support training for first responders, with dedicated classrooms, laboratories, and specialized training areas focused on emergency response and public safety education.

The facility will allow Imperial Valley College to provide more comprehensive, local training opportunities for students pursuing careers in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services.

Currently, some components of public safety training programs require students to travel outside Imperial County, including to Riverside and San Bernardino counties, for courses such as driving instruction and other specialized training modules.

Imperial Valley College Superintendent/President Dr. Lennor M. Johnson said the new training center is expected to reduce those needs and keep more resources within the region.

“This is going to save so much money and resources,” Johnson said. “We’re thinking millions of dollars that will stay in the county.”

Johnson added that localizing training will allow students and public safety professionals to remain closer to home, reducing costs associated with travel, lodging, and time away from family obligations. He said those savings could be redirected to other needs, including equipment, vehicles, and program enhancements.

The new facility is also expected to allow students to complete their full course of training within Imperial Valley.

“Students will be able to go through the entire training process from start to finish without leaving the valley,” Johnson said.

The Maintenance and Operations Warehouse will serve as a centralized hub for campus maintenance, operations, and receiving services, which are currently housed in the college’s 1800 Building. Johnson said consolidating these functions into a modern facility is expected to improve efficiency in campus support services, including shipping and receiving operations.

Construction of the projects will take place in multiple phases. The first phase will focus on site preparation, including underground utilities, plumbing, and roadway infrastructure. The second phase will involve the construction of the Maintenance and Operations Warehouse, followed by the third and final phase, which will complete the Public Safety Regional Training Center.

Final project costs have not yet been determined, as the college is still in the process of establishing guaranteed maximum pricing for each phase. However, it is estimated that the total cost will range between $40 million and $50 million.

Johnson said the investment is expected to support significant growth in the college’s public safety programs.

“We’re anticipating almost doubling our enrollment in law enforcement,” he said, adding that the expanded capacity could help address workforce shortages in public safety agencies across Imperial County.

Programs that will benefit from the new training center include the college’s fire academy, police academy, and emergency medical technician training programs, among others.

Students attending the ceremony also highlighted the potential impact of the new facility. Anthony Gamboa, a student in the college’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program, said the project will improve access to training and create new opportunities for students in the region.

“There’s a lot of training that we have to do outside of the county,” Gamboa said. “I think it’s a positive impact on people in the community and will offer opportunities for others as well.”

Gamboa noted that some colleges do not offer full POST certification programs, requiring students to complete portions of their training elsewhere. He said the new center would allow students at Imperial Valley College to complete all required modules locally.

“I think it’s amazing that they’re going to be able to actually finish within the county,” he said.

Gamboa said his decision to pursue a career in law enforcement was influenced by his previous work and experiences in the community.

“I really liked helping and serving the community,” he said. “I felt like I was limited in what I could do, and one interaction with an officer made me want to pursue this career.”