First grads of SBDC entrepreneurial program collect their diplomas
EL CENTRO — Eleven local entrepreneurs on Wednesday were recognized in the Imperial County Board Room as the first graduates of the Small Business Development Center of Imperial Valley’s Business Launch Academy.
SBDC partnered with the California Dream Fund to create an eight-week program to support entrepreneurs with business courses, one-on-one mentoring, and a microgrant up to $10,000 depending on the business industry.
The California Dream Fund Grant Program is a one-time $35 million grant program launched by the State of California to seed qualifying small business creation throughout California.
“It is great to see that entrepreneurs have gone through this process,” said Jaysel Mendoza, director at the Small Business Development Center of Imperial Valley. “It’s been long hours of hard work but it is all going to pay off in the end.”
According to Mendoza, participants who attended all their classes, completed assignments, acquired the correct license and permitting for their business type, opened a business account, and met other requirements are eligible for this grant.
On Wednesday, participants received a diploma and words of encouragement from El Centro City Council member Silvia Marroquin, Calexico Council members Rosie Fernandez and Raúl Ureña, and county Board of Supervisors Chairman Jesus Eduardo Escobar.
“It takes courage. It is not easy to have your own business,” said Escobar. “If you fail once, pick yourself back up. You will get another opportunity to be successful.”
During the initial stages of the pandemic, SBDC realized that many individuals shifted their careers to pursue entrepreneurship but had limited business, financial or marketing literacy.
“Some businesses managed to survive the pandemic, but there were a lot of questions and items when going through the program,” added Mendoza.
Gamalia Patton, a part-owner of Bama Que, opened the business with her husband during the pandemic.
“We wanted to bring that love and that soul of barbecue to the Imperial Valley,” said Patton. “During COVID, it was difficult; we didn’t know where to start.”
She learned about the program from her mother, who encouraged the couple to register. She said the program was an eye-opener experience.
“Everything helped us,” Patton said. “Being able to establish our business is so much more than just saying that we want to start something.”
The entrepreneurs who gathered Wednesday will serve mainly El Centro and Calexico areas with diverse services ranging from foods and beverages, soaps, embroidery, and agriculture.
Tomas Oliva, mayor of El Centro, sees this generation of small-business owners as an opportunity to improve the city’s quality of life.
“Their businesses will collect tax and come to the city and allows us to be able to provide better services for our communities,” he explained. “When people can take their passion and earn a profit is great; that economy that gets started will help the Imperial Valley.”