New partnership to offer entrepreneurial support to minority community

Partnership with the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship presents new support services for local Black-owned startups

The Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) recently announced the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) has joined the Entrepreneurial Resource Center (ERC) in San Bernardino as a community service affiliate partnering organization. The new collaboration aims to reach and uplift micro-businesses within the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community, by providing essential resources and support to help those entrepreneurs thrive.

“Having the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce join us creates a very exciting time for the ERC. The Inland Empire region is richly diverse and we are honored to have new methods to help such a powerful segment of our community,” said IECE Director Dr. Michael Stull. “We look forward to seeing more BIPOC entrepreneurs launching their businesses in the months and years to come.”

The Chamber has launched ELEVATE, a 3-day workshop specifically designed to assist micro businesses that often operate below the traditional business radar.

“We are excited to partner with the Entrepreneurial Resource Center to launch the ELEVATE Program,” said Pepi Jackson, MSEI., CEO of the Riverside Black Chamber of Commerce. “This initiative is about more than just business development; it is about empowering individuals in economically disadvantaged communities to overcome barriers and achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Together, we look forward to creating a thriving ecosystem for BIPOC entrepreneurs in Riverside/San Bernardino Counties.”

The ELEVATE program will be offered at the ERC in downtown San Bernardino at Studio D, 330 N. D Street. The program kicks off November 12. Registration for the program is available now.