College Chosen to Expand Small Business Development Center.

The United States Small Business Administration has selected Rio Hondo Community College District (RHCCD) to expand the Small Business Development Center (SBDO) headquartered in the City of Commerce. The initial award, contracted through the California Trade and Commerce Agency, totals $180,000 with additional funding amounts anticipated for 2001 and beyond. Operated by RHO, the expanded SBDC. will serve the southeast LA region with free business counseling, planning, marketing and training programs.

"By operating the Southeast Los Angeles SBDC Rio Hondo College will enhance and accelerate the speed with which small businesses are informed about available resources. This will increase their access to counseling, training and funding and thereby increase their probability of growth and success," explains Jean Petty RHC Dean. of Corporate and Community Development, who played a vital role in obtaining the grant.

The Southeast Los Angeles SBDC serves a total population of 1,017,880 people from 19 cities, including Whittier, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, La Mirada, Downey, Commerce, East Los Angeles, South Gate, Montebello, Bellflower, Paramount, Bell Gardens, Bell, Maywood and Cudahy.

Long before colleges were legislated in 1996 to implement economic and workforce development programs, RHC Superintendent/President Dr. Jesus "Jess" Carreon was actively involved In these activities. In fact, Carreon created an Economic and Community Development division at RI-IC to house business counseling and training, community outreach and enrichment programs.

Situated within the historic Citadel property along side Telegraph Road, north of the 5 freeway, the SBDC service area spans roughly from the 710 freeway to the Orange County line and from the 60 freeway to the 105 freeway.

"We have worked very hard for well over a year, partnering with Brian Dowling of the City of Commerce, as well as private and public entities to ensure that our SBDC proposal met the needs of our business community," said Carreon.

As one of 107 California community colleges, 20 of which have SBDC contracts, RHC can access the resources of the California Community College Economic Development Network which makes it ideally qualified to host and operate an established SBDC outreach center.

"It was like this was supposed to happen. If Rio Hondo hadn't come to work with us, and if we had not previously established an SBDC outreach center through Mt. San Antonio College, this opportunity for truly meaningful economic development might not have happened," said Brian Dowling, Redevelopment Agency Project and Housing Manager for the City of Commerce.

The City of Commerce, the Los Angeles Community Development Commission, Gas Company and Wells Fargo Bank are providing cash matches and in-kind office space to assure that small businesses have access to needed services.

"The new SBDC will be a partner with businesses and the transition to Rio Hondo College will be seamless," said Dowling. "By .uniting our Economic Development Office and the services available at Rio Hondo College we can affect the long term economic success of small and home based businesses and attract more good, high paying jobs to the area."

This article was provided by the City of Commerce.