The Los Angeles Post

CA Senator Susan Rubio Presents $2.5 Million to ELAC Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

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MONTEREY PARK, CA – California Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) joined administrators from East Los Angeles College (ELAC), East Los Angeles College Foundation, and Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to announce $2.5 million in funding secured for the ELAC Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

The ELAC Incubator at the ELAC Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation brings a comprehensive suite of professional business development programs to ELAC students and local entrepreneurs. This is the first incubator program of its kind for the East Los Angeles region. The Incubator’s mission is to accelerate startup and growth-phase minority, women, veterans, formerly incarcerated, and LGBTQIA-owned businesses in the communities of East Los Angeles.

The incubator works in three phases and is aligned with key California growth industry sectors such as logistics, advanced manufacturing, robotics, drone technology, alternative energy, digital media, engineering, hospitality, and small business enterprises.

  • Phase 1, Entrepreneur Boot Camp: The Boot Camp is designed to assist early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs vet their business ideas and learn how to think like an entrepreneur.
  • Phase 2, Advanced Business Curriculum: College coursework includes Small Business Administration and Principles of Marketing while the advanced entrepreneur workshops focus on topics such as Building Your Business Plan, Entity Formation, Fundamentals of Accounting, Business Contracts, Creative Problem Solving, Personal Branding, Communication & Interpersonal Skills, and Presentation Skills.
  • Phase 3, High Touch Mentorship: Selected enterprises participate in a 9-month high touch mentorship program customized to their individual business goals. Services include co-workspace, accounting services, legal roadmap, tech-based business platforms, networking opportunities, legal roadmap, business certification, and consultation with subject matter experts.

“We thank Senator Rubio for her leadership and authorship of the budget item that establishes the LACCD Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center at East Los Angeles College,” said LACCD Board President David Vela. “This Center will provide thousands of community college students and community members with an opportunity for high-quality post-secondary education focusing on small business and entrepreneurship.”

“The funding secured through the leadership of Senator Rubio will enable current and new students and business owners to achieve their educational goals while also strengthening the small business ecosystem in the East Los Angeles region that was disproportionately and negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said LACCD Board Vice President Nichelle Henderson.

“The unincorporated community of East Los Angeles presents one of the densest communities, with diverse small business commercial and retail corridors, growing consumer markets, and prime areas for investment opportunities,” said LACCD Chancellor Francisco, Ph.D. “The LACCD Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center at East Los Angeles College would create a small business and entrepreneurship hub to build and expand existing talent that drives economic growth, creates jobs in East Los Angeles, and impacts the entire Los Angeles County region.”

“We are so proud of our own ELAC Alumnus Senator Susan Rubio, for her continuing to stand as a beacon of hope and guardian angel for our communities. The $2.5 million will be a tremendous help to an incubator program dedicated to supporting women, minorities, formerly incarcerated, veterans, and LGBTQIA communities in East Los Angeles and surrounding communities. This program embodies the spirit of equal opportunity and reflects our collective commitment to nurturing innovation. Generations of ELAC Huskies will benefit from this historic initiative,” said Marissa Castro Salvati, President of the East Los Angeles College Foundation Board.