Orange County/Inland Empire Regional SBDC Lead Center Announcement

The following is issued as an added service of Cal State Fullerton's Public Affairs Office on behalf of the Orange County/Inland Empire Regional SBDC Network.

The California State University, Fullerton-operated Orange County/Inland Empire Regional Small Business Development Center Network announces the upcoming release of its Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley Small Business Development centers. The lead center is seeking a host institution/partner that is fully committed to and invested in meeting the needs of small-business owners in the Inland Empire.

The competitive and open process will begin with the release of the Request for Proposal on Monday, Sept. 26.

The RFP is open to all nonprofit organizations, state/local city governments and educational institutions that serve Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Once released, copies of the RFP will be available online at http://www.leadsbdc.org. Interested organizations will have the opportunity to respond to the RFP, electronically, over a two-month period and once the responses have all been received and evaluated, it is anticipated that the selected organization will join the network in January 2012.

“The challenges today are plain to see,” said Priscilla Lopez, network regional director. “We are seeking a host that will build on past successes and bring the level of commitment that is required to help businesses in the region on a larger scale than ever before. This transparent RFP process is needed to allow for open competition among local institutions and help bring the small- business community and the people of the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley the level of assistance and service they need in today's economic climate.”

Lopez added that “the lead center is fully committed to the success of the program, and we need partners who will take on the challenge and work with us together to meet and exceed the performance goals set by the United States SBA. Over the past two decades, the Inland Empire SBDC has played a critical role to help small businesses grow in the region, but given the economic situation we face, we must expand our efforts and commitment in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley. We must help more businesses, touch more lives and help the economy grow.”

For additional information, contact Priscilla Lopez, regional director of the Orange County/Inland Empire Regional Small Business Development Center Network, at 657-278-5168 or plopez@fullerton.edu.