About Us

Why Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport?

One of the Fastest Growing Counties in California

The Coachella Valley in Riverside County is one of the fastest growing regions in California. Riverside County’s population steadily increased between 2010 and present, with a growth rate of 12.4% between 2010 and 2022 driving the emergence of the county as the fastest-growing central county in California. In contrast, the average overall population growth rate in the U.S. during that same period was only .6%. This pre- and post-pandemic population growth in Riverside County reflects an expanding strong preference of individuals to live outside of crowded cities. The outcome of this steady population growth will be the need for more infrastructure, public services and job opportunities, and UFF designation at JCRA is one critical way to support those needs.

photo By United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Existing & Growing Business Opportunities

The Coachella Valley specifically is one of the fastest growing economies in Southern California. To date, the primary industries driving the valley’s economy have been tourism, agriculture, healthcare, and real estate development. World class events such as the Coachella Music & Arts Festival, Stagecoach and the BNP Paribas Open produce significant tourism in the area every year, including international arrivals. However, in addition to existing international tourism arrivals and departures each year, significant opportunity exists for international cargo arrivals and departures at JCRA as well.

Employment in the transportation and warehousing sector increased 67.5% in the Coachella Valley between 2017 and 2021, and exports of goods from Riverside County reached $4.12 billion in 2022, making this metropolitan statistical area (“MSA”) including San Bernardino County the 36th largest exporter among all U.S. metropolitan areas. Exports from the Riverside-San Bernardino MSA increased 30% between 2012 to 2022 (from $8 billion to $11.3 billion). Top export categories in 2022 were transportation equipment, miscellaneous manufactures, computer and electronic products, chemicals and processed food. Additionally, JCRA is adjacent to the Desert International Horse Park, which is one of the largest equestrian facilities in all of North America. The facility offers world-class competitive equestrian sports and is the destination for thousands of equestrians and their horses each year.

JCRA is committed to developing a large agriculture quarantine facility at the airport if this UFF application is approved, allowing imported horses and other livestock to be quarantined more efficiently and in closer proximity to their destination. This will alleviate traffic in and around Los Angeles International Airport, and itself provides a strong baseline from which to pursue customs services at JCRA.

Alleviation of Constraints and Congestion

Private Jet in front of Thermal Aviation Hanger

The seaports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were ranked as the #1 and #2 busiest ports of entry in the United States in 2024. Likewise, the Los Angeles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and was the 6th busiest cargo airport in the United States in 2024. The volume of passenger and cargo clearances processed by CBP at these and other ports of entry in Southern California are and will continue to be tremendous for years to come, which imposes burdens on CBP in those ports of entry.

UFF designation at JCRA can have a real and positive impact on CBP resourcing at its primary ports of entry in Southern California by alleviating the volume of CBP entry processing at those ports. International passenger clearances could be processed right at JCRA, facilitating—and likely expanding—the region’s significant tourism industry. Meanwhile, cargo clearances by CBP either via direct aircraft arrival/departure or via shipments moving in-bond to or from JCRA from the main seaports and airport will help both CBP and businesses in (or expanding into) the Coachella Valley.

Native American Business Opportunity Growth & Public Partnership

Riverside County is working in partnership with Twenty- Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians to support the establishment of the UFF at JCRA. This collaboration will serve to grow county and tribal interests that benefit the surrounding region including its residents and visitors, and also ensure that financing for the construction and ongoing administration of the UFF is never a concern.