A business support hub in the heart of Greater Palm Springs is expanding its reach, helping hundreds of entrepreneurs launch companies, access capital, and create jobs throughout the region.
The Palm Desert Entrepreneurial Resource Center (ERC), operated through California State University, San Bernardino’s Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, reported significant growth in 2025 as it expanded services to strengthen the region’s small business ecosystem.
Located at 37023 Cook Street across from the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, the center offers business counseling, training programs, networking opportunities and access to financing resources for startups and established companies.
Dr. Ezekiel Bonillas, director of the Palm Desert ERC and assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, described the center as a hub for entrepreneurs across the desert region.
“The ERC is a community center for empowering the local entrepreneurial and business community and ecosystem,” Bonillas said during a recent presentation to the Palm Desert City Council.
Dr. Ezekiel Bonillas, director of the Palm Desert ERC (left), and some of his CSUSB Palm Desert Campus students.
A Growing Regional Partnership
The ERC operates through a partnership between the City of Palm Desert, Riverside County and CSUSB’s entrepreneurship programs. The center was previously known as the Palm Desert iHub before being rebranded in March 2025 to reflect its expanded mission.
CSUSB assumed management of the facility in 2024, a transition Bonillas said allowed the program to broaden its services and strengthen regional partnerships.
“We inherited the contract for the City of Palm Desert in 2024, and since then, we’ve done quite well,” Bonillas said. “Our year-to-date impact for 2025 eclipsed what we did in 2024.”
Through partnerships with organizations including the Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center, the Small Business Development Center and the Riverside County Office of Economic Development, the ERC is able to leverage funding and technical support from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“With those leveraged resources, we’re able to provide support for our business community through business counseling and training programs such as the Mini MBA and a program we call It’s Your Time,” Bonillas said.
The center also provides co-working offices and meeting space for entrepreneurs and seasonal residents who may operate businesses outside the region but spend part of the year in the desert.
Strong Growth in 2025
According to the ERC’s annual report, the center assisted 1,186 businesses in 2025, providing advisory services, training and mentoring to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Greater Palm Springs.
The center hosted 112 business events and workshops, attracting more than 2,200 attendees throughout the year.
Many of those events included networking mixers, technical workshops and educational programs designed to help business owners navigate financing, growth strategies and operational challenges.
Access to capital remains a major focus. Businesses supported through ERC programs secured more than $87 million in Small Business Administration-backed financing in 2025, along with additional loans and private investments.
The center’s work also supported 1,629 jobs across client companies, according to the report.
Entrepreneurship programs at the center also emphasize inclusion. In 2025, the ERC assisted 745 women-owned businesses and 784 minority-owned firms, expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs across diverse communities in the region.
Programs That Help Businesses Grow
Several flagship programs have become cornerstones of the ERC’s approach to supporting entrepreneurs.
One of the most popular offerings is the Mini MBA in Entrepreneurship, a six-week course led by faculty from CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The program focuses on practical skills, including financial planning, human resources, strategy and business growth.
Participants range from first-time founders to experienced business owners looking to adapt to changing markets and technologies.
Another initiative, “It’s Your Time,” is a cohort-based program designed to help women launch and grow their businesses. The program provides training, mentoring, and one-on-one advising to help participants develop business plans, strengthen financial skills, and develop marketing strategies.
The center has also expanded its programming through initiatives such as AI Coachella Valley, which introduces business owners to emerging technologies and how to apply them to small-business operations.
Bonillas said the goal is to create a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs can learn from experts, build relationships and connect with students from the Palm Desert campus.
Local Success Stories
Several businesses highlighted in the ERC report illustrate the impact of the center’s programs.
Palm Desert-based Urban Habitat, a landscape contracting firm founded by Brett and Theresa Brennan, has grown into one of California’s leading landscape companies since launching in 2016. The company now employs more than 170 workers.
Urban Habitat was recognized at the 2025 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards as a top construction firm and received the program’s “Best of the Best” recognition.
“They were the first Coachella Valley-based business that not only received an award in their category for entrepreneurial leadership but also received the Best of the Best recognition,” Bonillas said.
Another success story is Resort Carpet & Tile Care, a cleaning company founded by Matt McLeroy and Andrew Hernandez. With guidance from the Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center, the company improved its operations and expanded its commercial client base.
Today, the company generates more than $20,000 in monthly revenue and recently received the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce’s Best New Business Award.
A Billion-Dollar Milestone
Beyond Palm Desert, CSUSB’s entrepreneurship programs are also reaching a broader milestone.
Bonillas told city leaders that the university’s entrepreneurship initiatives recently surpassed $1 billion in economic impact across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
“That’s incredible news, knowing that our program and the support and the funds that we’re able to leverage from the city and other partners certainly go back into the community,” he said.
Looking Ahead
The ERC plans to continue expanding its programming in 2026 with new initiatives to help entrepreneurs navigate emerging technologies and evolving markets.
Upcoming efforts include an AI Launchpad workshop series, an Entrepreneur Meetup networking program and a regional pitch competition during Riverside County Innovation Month.
The center is also preparing a Cyber and AI Entrepreneurship Academy designed to help professionals turn technical expertise into new business ventures.
Bonillas said the center’s progress reflects strong collaboration between the university, local government and the regional business community.
“We want to thank the council for your support,” he said. “Every time we have a Mini MBA or a graduating cohort through the Women’s Business Center, the city has helped recognize the people investing in themselves and investing in their communities.”
As the ERC continues to grow, its mission remains focused on helping local entrepreneurs succeed while strengthening the Greater Palm Springs economy.
