Entrepreneurship Center reaches $1 billion in economic impact

The Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship (RLCE) at Cal State San Bernardino announced yesterday that they have officially surpassed $1 billion in economic impact. And ahead of schedule. The goal was to reach this milestone by 2028. Instead, it was achieved nearly three years early.

For more than two decades the RLCE has been supporting entrepreneurs across the Inland Empire, helping thousands of businesses grow, launch and create jobs throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

To date, the center has assisted 213,552 businesses, helped launch 2,839 startups, and supported the creation or retention of 62,459 jobs. The total economic impact generated through those efforts now stands at $1.013 billion. That impact includes entrepreneurs gaining access to startup and expansion capital, businesses increasing sales and profits, companies securing government contracts, and local firms expanding into international markets.

Entrepreneurs who connect with the center often begin by working with consultants through programs such as the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center, the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire Women’s Business Centers, or the Entrepreneurial Resource Centers. Through one-on-one advising, workshops and training, entrepreneurs can receive guidance at no cost on topics such as financing, marketing, operations and business growth, while consultants connect them with additional resources when specialized services are needed.

When asked about reaching the milestone, Mike Stull, director of the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship and the Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship at CSUSB said he was surprised.

“My first response was surprise,” Stull said. “We thought, okay, wow, it’s highly likely that by the end of 2026 we’re going to hit the goal … and then our team just had a phenomenal fourth quarter in 2025.

“We’ve got an incredibly talented, dedicated, professional team of business consultants that deliver services every day, working with our clients in the community.”

So what’s next for the Center?

The RLCE says they will begin to unveil the next chapter over the coming weeks. A bold next-phase initiative designed to expand their reach, deepen impact, and accelerate opportunity for entrepreneurs across the region.