For Immediate Release

February 10, 2017

Media Contact

Daniel Fitzgerald, Associate Regional Director San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network, dfitzgerald@swccd.edu, (619) 216-6721

Sean Wilcock, Interim Imperial Valley SBDC Director, sean@ivedc.com, (760) 353-8332

Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center Finds New Home with Imperial Regional Alliance

El Centro, CA – Imperial Valley small business owners and entrepreneurs once again have a local organization hosting the Small Business Development Center in Imperial County. The San Diego and Imperial Small Business Development Center Network, hosted by Southwestern Community College District, earlier this year awarded a sub-recipient agreement to the Imperial Regional Alliance to be the host for the Imperial Valley SBDC.

“The Imperial Regional Alliance will be a great asset to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Imperial Valley as the host for the IVSBDC. Their knowledge and experience with economic development in Imperial County is vast. We are excited to have the IRA as part of the San Diego & Imperial SBDC team,” said Marquise Jackson, Regional Director

“Hosting the Imperial Valley SBDC will further our mission to help the economy of Imperial County,” said Tom DuBose, Chairman of the Imperial Regional Alliance. “Small businesses and entrepreneurs are what made the Imperial Valley and will help grow for years to come. We are excited to be an even greater part of that growth.”

The contract was approved by Southwestern Community College District’s Governing Board on January 10th. The Imperial Regional Alliance will receive $75,000 annually as a sub-recipient of the US Small Business Administration funding for the San Diego and Imperial SBDC Network.

About San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network

The San Diego and Imperial Regional SBDC Network is funded in part by the U. S. Small Business Administration. The Network is hosted by the Southwestern Community College District. Network services are provided by the South San Diego SBDC Center in National City, the North San Diego SBDC Center in Oceanside, and the Imperial Valley SBDC Center in El Centro. For more information please visit www.sdivsbdc.org.

About Imperial Regional Alliance

Imperial Regional Alliance is focused on improving economic opportunities for the residents of the region through economic development and business expansion efforts by implementing programs that align business education and workforce development with existing and emerging industries.