City of Calexico

To provide quality service by becoming the premier binational hub for commerce, culture, and opportunity.

City of Calexico SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

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The City of Calexico SWOT analysis reveals a municipality at a critical inflection point. Its greatest asset—the strategic border location—is also a source of significant vulnerability due to economic dependence and infrastructure strain. The leadership's proven ability to secure major grants is a powerful strength that must be systemically applied to address the foundational weakness of aging infrastructure. The key priorities identified are surgically precise: revitalizing public works is not just a repair job, it's the bedrock for diversifying the economy. Streamlining city operations will lower the barrier to entry for new investment, directly capitalizing on the nearshoring opportunity. The path forward requires relentless execution on these interconnected priorities to transform Calexico from a pass-through point into a thriving binational destination.

El Centro, CA Brawley, CA Yuma, AZ Mexicali, B.C., Mexico San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To provide quality service by becoming the premier binational hub for commerce, culture, and opportunity.

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Strengths

LOCATION: Strategic border crossing drives 40-50% of sales tax revenue.
FUNDING: Secured $91M for New River, showing grant acquisition skill.
RETAIL: Strong retail base catering to cross-border consumer demand.
LEADERSHIP: Stable, experienced city management team in place for 2+ years.
COMMUNITY: Strong sense of local identity and cultural heritage events.

Weaknesses

INFRASTRUCTURE: Water treatment plant near capacity, roads need repair.
DEPENDENCE: High reliance on retail sales tax is vulnerable to downturns.
DOWNTOWN: Vacancy rates in downtown commercial properties remain at 15%.
PROCESSES: Permitting and business licensing can be slow and complex.
BUDGET: Limited discretionary funds constrain new initiatives/services.

Opportunities

NEARSHORING: Growth in Mexicali manufacturing creates logistics demand.
GRANTS: Billions in federal funds for border infrastructure available.
TOURISM: Develop cultural and eco-tourism around the New River project.
HOUSING: Opportunity to develop new housing stock for growing workforce.
BROADBAND: Expand high-speed internet to attract remote workers/tech.

Threats

BORDER WAIT: Long border wait times (2-3 hrs) deter casual shoppers.
COMPETITION: El Centro's new developments draw regional customers away.
INFLATION: Rising costs strain municipal budget and resident finances.
CURRENCY: A strong dollar can reduce purchasing power of MXN shoppers.
REGULATIONS: State environmental/zoning laws can increase project costs.

Key Priorities

REVITALIZE: Modernize critical infrastructure to enable future growth.
DIVERSIFY: Attract new industries beyond retail via targeted outreach.
STREAMLINE: Enhance city processes to become more business-friendly.
CAPITALIZE: Aggressively pursue federal grants for border projects.

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City of Calexico OKR

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The City of Calexico OKR plan is a focused and powerful blueprint for transformation. It rightly prioritizes foundational issues, translating the strategic conclusion to 'REVITALIZE' into the inspiring objective 'BUILD THE FUTURE.' The key results are strong; they are measurable, outcome-driven, and directly address the city's most critical infrastructure weaknesses. The plan's genius lies in its interconnectedness—modernizing infrastructure enables economic diversification ('CREATE OPPORTUNITY'), which in turn provides the tax base for better community services ('ENHANCE COMMUNITY'). This is not a list of tasks; it is a clear, aligned strategy for growth that the entire organization can rally behind.

El Centro, CA Brawley, CA Yuma, AZ Mexicali, B.C., Mexico San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To provide quality service by becoming the premier binational hub for commerce, culture, and opportunity.

BUILD THE FUTURE

Modernize infrastructure to unlock our city's potential.

SECURE: Obtain $25M in state/federal grants for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project this year.
PAVE: Repave 15 miles of arterial and residential streets, prioritizing the most deteriorated segments.
PLAN: Complete a comprehensive 10-year Capital Improvement Plan with community input and full council approval.
AUDIT: Launch a full audit of the water system to identify and reduce water loss from 18% to below 12%.

CREATE OPPORTUNITY

Diversify our economy and become the region's job hub.

ATTRACT: Recruit 3 new non-retail businesses in logistics or light manufacturing, creating 50 new jobs.
RETAIN: Conduct 40 retention visits with existing businesses to identify and solve critical challenges.
PARTNER: Establish a formal economic partnership with Mexicali's industrial development commission (INDEX).
MARKET: Launch a new economic development marketing campaign targeting site selectors in California/Arizona.

DELIVER EXCELLENCE

Provide world-class, business-friendly city services.

PERMITS: Reduce average commercial plan check and permit issuance time from 45 days to a maximum of 25 days.
DIGITIZE: Place 100% of all public-facing applications and permits online, eliminating paper submissions.
FEEDBACK: Implement a citizen/business feedback system (e.g., SeeClickFix) and achieve a 90% resolution rate.
CHATBOT: Deploy a bilingual AI chatbot on the city website to resolve 40% of inbound citizen inquiries.

WIN FUNDING

Aggressively capture our share of government grants.

SUBMIT: Apply for a minimum of 15 new federal and state grant opportunities totaling over $100 million.
LOBBY: Hold 10 strategic meetings with federal/state legislative representatives to champion city projects.
HIRE: Onboard a dedicated, full-time grant writer to professionalize the city's application process.
TRACK: Increase the city's overall grant application success rate from its current 15% to over 25%.

METRICS

Annual Sales Tax Revenue Growth
Median Household Income (MHI)
Citizen Satisfaction Score

VALUES

Service
Integrity
Collaboration
Innovation
Community

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City of Calexico Retrospective

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

City of Calexico Official Website (calexico.ca.gov) for budget and personnel.
U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and economic data.
Calexico Chronicle and Imperial Valley Press for recent news and events.
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (ivedc.com) reports.
Publicly available city council meeting minutes and strategic plans.

El Centro, CA Brawley, CA Yuma, AZ Mexicali, B.C., Mexico San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To provide quality service by becoming the premier binational hub for commerce, culture, and opportunity.

Toggle Theme

What Went Well

FINANCE: Sales tax revenue exceeded budget projections by 4% last quarter.
GRANTS: Successfully awarded major federal funding for New River project.
EVENTS: Increased attendance at recent city-sponsored cultural festivals.
SAFETY: Overall crime rates decreased by 2% year-over-year.
STAFFING: Filled key leadership positions in Public Works and Development.

Not So Well

INFRASTRUCTURE: Major water main break caused significant service disruption.
DOWNTOWN: Two long-term downtown businesses closed in the last six months.
HIRING: Difficulty filling technical and engineering positions in the city.
BORDER: No discernible reduction in peak commercial border wait times.
PERMITS: Average time to issue commercial building permits increased by 5%.

Learnings

INVESTMENT: Proactive grant seeking yields results; must be a core function.
MAINTENANCE: Deferred infrastructure maintenance creates significant risk.
ECONOMY: The retail economy is fragile; diversification is not optional.
COMPETITION: Regional cities are actively recruiting our businesses.
PROCESS: Our internal processes are a barrier to economic development.

Action Items

FINANCE: Allocate budget surplus to an infrastructure emergency reserve fund.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Commission an audit of the entire water distribution system.
DEVELOPMENT: Launch a business retention and support visit program.
HR: Partner with local colleges to create a municipal internship program.
SYSTEMS: Map the current commercial permitting process to identify bottlenecks.

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Organization	SWOT Analysis	OKR Plan	Top 6	Retrospective

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City of Calexico Market

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

City of Calexico Official Website (calexico.ca.gov) for budget and personnel.
U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and economic data.
Calexico Chronicle and Imperial Valley Press for recent news and events.
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (ivedc.com) reports.
Publicly available city council meeting minutes and strategic plans.

Founded: Incorporated in 1908
Market Share: 2nd largest city in Imperial County; ~22% of county population.
Customer Base: Approx. 38,000 residents, local businesses, and cross-border shoppers.
Category:
Municipal Government
SIC Code: 9199 Administration of General Economic Programs
NAICS Code: 921190 Other General Government Support
Location: Calexico, California
Zip Code: 92231
Congressional District: CA-25 HEMET
Employees: 230

Competitors

El Centro, CA Request Analysis

Brawley, CA Request Analysis

Yuma, AZ Request Analysis

Mexicali, B.C., Mexico Request Analysis

San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico Request Analysis

Products & Services

No products or services data available

Distribution Channels

City of Calexico Business Model Analysis

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

City of Calexico Official Website (calexico.ca.gov) for budget and personnel.
U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and economic data.
Calexico Chronicle and Imperial Valley Press for recent news and events.
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (ivedc.com) reports.
Publicly available city council meeting minutes and strategic plans.

Problem

Aging infrastructure limits quality of life.
Lack of diverse, high-wage job options.
Border friction slows economic activity.

Solution

Modernize public works via grants/bonds.
Attract new industries (logistics, energy).
Advocate for Port of Entry modernization.

Key Metrics

Sales tax revenue & business license growth
Citizen satisfaction survey scores
Median household income

Unique

Primary US gateway to Mexicali (1M+ pop).
Authentic, deeply integrated US-Mexico culture.

Advantage

Strategic Port of Entry location.
Established binational logistics ecosystem.
Federal/State focus on border regions.

Channels

Direct city services & public meetings
Economic development outreach programs
City website and official communications

Customer Segments

Residents (all demographics)
Local small & large businesses
Cross-border shoppers and tourists
Industrial & logistics companies

Costs

Employee salaries and benefits (~65% of budget)
Infrastructure maintenance and capital projects
Public safety equipment and facilities

City of Calexico Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 4, 2025

The City of Calexico offers businesses an unmatched strategic advantage by providing direct access to the massive Mexicali market. It's a pro-growth city investing heavily in infrastructure to create unique opportunities. This is all built on a vibrant, binational culture that creates a dynamic environment for businesses to thrive and for people to live and work.

ACCESS: Unparalleled access to the Mexicali consumer and labor market.

OPPORTUNITY: A pro-business city actively seeking investment and growth.

CULTURE: A unique, vibrant binational community experience for all.

Before State

Congested border crossings hinder commerce
Aging infrastructure limits growth potential
Limited local high-wage job opportunities

After State

Efficient, modern Port of Entry experience
Reliable, future-proof public utilities
Diverse economy with thriving new sectors

Negative Impacts

Economic leakage to other cities/online
High utility costs and service disruptions
Brain drain of talented local youth

Positive Outcomes

Increased sales tax revenue and investment
Attraction of new businesses and residents
Higher median household income for all

Key Metrics

Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results

65%

Business License Growth Rate

+3% YoY

Sales Tax Revenue Growth

+4.5% YoY

Public Safety Response Times

Requirements

Securing massive federal infrastructure grants
Public-private partnerships for development
Streamlined city processes for business

Why City of Calexico

Aggressive grant writing and lobbying team
Proactive economic development outreach
Investment in modern city management tech

City of Calexico Competitive Advantage

Unmatched proximity to Mexicali's market
Federal focus on border infrastructure funds
Authentic, vibrant binational culture

Proof Points

Recent $91M grant for New River cleanup
New businesses opening in downtown area
Growing wait times at Port of Entry show demand

City of Calexico Market Positioning

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

City of Calexico Official Website (calexico.ca.gov) for budget and personnel.
U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and economic data.
Calexico Chronicle and Imperial Valley Press for recent news and events.
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (ivedc.com) reports.
Publicly available city council meeting minutes and strategic plans.

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

Become the top choice for cross-border trade.

Modernize core public works.

Attract non-retail industries.

Enhance quality of life for residents.

What You Do

Provides essential public services and fosters economic opportunity.

Target Market

Residents, businesses, and visitors in the Calexico-Mexicali region.

Differentiation

Primary U.S. gateway city for Mexicali, a metro area of 1M+ people.
Unique cultural blend of American and Mexican heritage.

Revenue Streams

Sales Tax (45% of General Fund)
Property Tax
State/Federal Grants
Service Fees

City of Calexico Operations and Technology

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

City of Calexico Official Website (calexico.ca.gov) for budget and personnel.
U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and economic data.
Calexico Chronicle and Imperial Valley Press for recent news and events.
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (ivedc.com) reports.
Publicly available city council meeting minutes and strategic plans.

Company Operations

Organizational Structure: Council-Manager form of government with distinct departments.
Supply Chain: Partnerships with county, state, federal agencies, and private contractors.
Tech Patents: N/A
Website: https://www.calexico.ca.gov/

Top Clients

Board Members

City of Calexico Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

LOW: High barriers to creating a new city. However, unincorporated county areas can compete for new development projects with fewer regulations.

Supplier Power

HIGH: Municipal employee unions have significant bargaining power. Limited number of specialized contractors for major infrastructure projects.

Buyer Power

HIGH: Residents (voters) can change leadership and reject bond measures. Businesses can relocate to more favorable nearby cities.

Threat of Substitution

MODERATE: Residents can move to nearby Imperial Valley cities for similar costs of living. Shoppers can use other border crossings or shop online.

Competitive Rivalry

MODERATE: Competes with El Centro and Yuma for retail, residents, and business investment based on taxes, amenities, and quality of life.

Analysis of AI Strategy

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The City of Calexico AI SWOT analysis indicates that the most prudent path is to focus on pragmatic, high-ROI applications rather than moonshot projects. The city's primary AI strengths are its unique potential data sets and agile size, but these are constrained by significant weaknesses in digital infrastructure, budget, and local talent. Therefore, the strategic conclusion is sound: focus first on internal efficiencies. Using generative AI to enhance grant writing directly leverages a core strength to address a core weakness (budget constraints). Piloting smart traffic systems and service chatbots targets the most visible public pain points, building support for future initiatives. Establishing a data governance policy now is a crucial, low-cost move that will pay dividends, ensuring that as Calexico adopts more AI, it does so responsibly and effectively.

El Centro, CA Brawley, CA Yuma, AZ Mexicali, B.C., Mexico San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To provide quality service by becoming the premier binational hub for commerce, culture, and opportunity.

Strengths

DATA: Potential access to unique cross-border traffic & commerce data.
LEADERSHIP: A forward-thinking city manager open to innovative ideas.
SCALE: Small city size allows for agile piloting of new AI technologies.
NEED: Clear operational pain points in traffic, utilities, and services.

Weaknesses

INFRASTRUCTURE: Lack of city-wide fiber and modern sensor networks.
TALENT: Shortage of local data science and AI implementation expertise.
BUDGET: Limited funds for investing in expensive AI software and talent.
DATA SILOS: City department data is often fragmented and not integrated.
SECURITY: Insufficient cybersecurity resources to manage AI-related risks.

Opportunities

TRAFFIC: AI-powered traffic management to ease border-related congestion.
UTILITIES: Predictive maintenance for water/sewer systems to prevent breaks.
SERVICES: Chatbots for 24/7 citizen assistance on permits and questions.
GRANTS: Use generative AI to accelerate and improve grant applications.
SAFETY: Predictive policing models to optimize officer deployment patterns.

Threats

BIAS: AI models trained on flawed data could worsen inequities.
COST: High cost of implementation and maintenance could exceed benefits.
PRIVACY: Public concern over government use of AI for surveillance.
DEPENDENCE: Over-reliance on a single AI vendor creating lock-in.
OBSOLESCENCE: Rapidly changing AI tech makes long-term investment risky.

Key Priorities

EFFICIENCY: Pilot AI for internal processes like grant writing/permitting.
TRAFFIC: Seek grants for smart traffic signal systems at key intersections.
SERVICES: Deploy a bilingual citizen service chatbot on the city website.
DATA: Create a foundational data governance policy for future AI use.

Create professional SWOT analyses in minutes with our AI template. Get insights that drive real results.

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City of Calexico Financial Performance

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

City of Calexico Official Website (calexico.ca.gov) for budget and personnel.
U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and economic data.
Calexico Chronicle and Imperial Valley Press for recent news and events.
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (ivedc.com) reports.
Publicly available city council meeting minutes and strategic plans.

Profit: FY24 Projected Budget Surplus: $1.2M

Market Cap: N/A

Stock Performance

Annual Report: Comprehensive Annual Budget available on city website.

Debt: Approx. $45M in outstanding bonds and loans.

ROI Impact: Measured by economic growth, property values, and citizen satisfaction.

SWOT Index

Composite strategic assessment with 10-year outlook

/ 100

Challenger

ICM Index

STRATEGIC ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

Calexico's vision is ambitious (Societal-level), but achievability is constrained by significant infrastructure weaknesses and external threats, capping its North Star impact. The SWOT score is balanced, reflecting high-stakes opportunities offset by severe internal gaps. The OKRs are strong and category-shaping, but the city's potential is ultimately limited by its resource constraints. The resulting Iconic Index places it as a 'Challenger' with moderate growth potential if it executes flawlessly.

SWOT Factors

Upside: 72.0 Risk: 78.0

OKR Impact

AI Leverage

Top 3 Strategic Levers

Secure transformative infrastructure grants (W Solvability).

Diversify the economy to mitigate retail dependence (Threats).

Execute OKRs with relentless focus on key metrics.

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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