IID, Housing Authority of Calexico join in planting “Trees for the Future”

CALEXICO — The Imperial Irrigation District donated more than a dozen trees to the Housing Authority of the City of Calexico, holding groundbreaking ceremony during their “Trees for the Future: Let’s plant trees and grow a better world” event, held Thursday, February 23, here at Heber Homes.

“We hope to plant three in this section because we have seven different development,” Teri Nava, executive director of the Housing Authority for the City of Calexico, said. “We expect to plant the other 11 trees throughout our developments in the Housing Authority of the City of Calexico.”

Nava said that Javier Gonzalez, IID Director Division 4, approached the Housing Authority regarding some properties in need of trees and how trees provide benefits in air quality and beautification of the area.

“Thanks to the IID for providing them,” Ismael Lopez, Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners from the Housing Authority of the City of Calexico, said. “We are committed to the City of Calexico and making it look better and beautiful.”

Sabrina Barber, Manager of Energy Business & Regulatory Compliance Programs at IID, said they have some programs related to trees such as IID’s “Tree for All,” a program which provides free shade trees for residential customers, and the “Green Grants.”

“We utilized the second program, called our Green Grants program, (which is) for nonprofits and educational institutions,” Barber said. “We wanted particularly this customer base to be able to participate and benefit from the programs.”

Barber said that multiple benefits come from trees such as air quality or energy efficiency.

“I want to thank the board of directors for approving these programs,” Gonzalez said.

Barber said the trees were carefully selected to be drought tolerant and to thrive in the Imperial County’s arid climate.

“On behalf of the housing authority, we want to thank the IID for their committed and continued assistance in making our City of Calexico a thriving community,” Nava said.

“We are working together makes our communities thrive,” she said.

CORPUS PHOTO ELIZABETH MAYORAL IID and Housing Authority of the City of Calexico authorities joined in a symbolic groundbreaking with shovels during their “Trees for the Future” event held on Thursday, February 23, at the Heber Homes in Calexico.

ELIZABETH MAYORAL CORPUS PHOTO Trees that are resistant and suitable for the region will be planted as part of the “Trees for the Future” event, a collaboration of the IID and the Housing Authority of the City of Calexico.