Fourth District Update_Feb 2020

 Sandy Santiago, SA Floral & Designs Startup; requested services - Funding, management, marketing, website, and permitting and licensing.

Coachella Valley Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC)

 CVSBDC attended Network Lead Center for professional development and SBDC Network Staff recognition for 2019 on January 17, 2020.  CVSBDC met with three local K-12 school districts to discuss Student Ambassador’s attending the 2020 Coachella Valley Business Conference and Forecast event on April 30, 2020 and propose CVSBDC entrepreneur training for business academy students. The three districts are interested in different specialty and basic business start programs.  CVSBDC met with Desert Arc staff on January 14, 2020 to discuss opportunities for training and consulting clients interested in starting their own business and venue opportunities for those clients starting business.  Arranged a meeting and tour between the principals of the Robledo Family Winery of Sonoma California and the Gonzalez Family owners of the Vallarta Grocery Company of Pasadena California. Discussed a business partnership with the 15 Vallarta Stores in California, and specifically the planned/repurposed now empty Marshall’s store in Indio, California. These two companies made plans to work together in all stores. Additional plans were made to have Robledo package their olive oil under the Vallarta brand for sales in all 15 store locations.  Facilitated a meeting and tour between Buzzbox International and the Vallarta Grocery Company. Plans are underway for Vallarta to carry the Buzzbox line in all 15 of their stores.  Held a meeting and tour between the owners of MarVest Construction and the owners of the Vallarta Grocery Company to finalize the RFP and begin the planned $5M tenant improvements for the closed Marshall’s store in North Indio. This keeps the project with a CV construction company which will employ local construction workers and involve the RC Workforce Development Staff.  Met with the Vallarta Grocery Company to discuss using the local CV Workforce Development Staff and services in preparation of the late fall 2020 opening of then planned North Indio Vallarta store location. This will ensure local jobs and possible OJT opportunities.  Facilitated a meeting with the Robledo Family Winery Principals and the Lua Family restaurant Soul of Mexico, and plans were finalized for the restaurant to begin purchasing and importing wines from the Sonoma winery.  Held a meeting with the Robledo Family Winery Principals and the wine buyers of Young’s Market (western states wine and liquor distributors). Future meetings are planned between the two companies in Sonoma. Young’s market has a large presence in the CV, RC 4 th District, and all of Riverside County.  Participated in the monthly CVEP Board of Director’s meeting in Palm Springs.  Conducted a second meeting with CARES in regards to upcoming legislative efforts in Sacramento for the renewable water transfer project planned for Eagle Mountain, and in regards to their technical and financial support of the upcoming 4 th Annual CV Business Forecast Conference to be held on April 30, 2019.  EDA staff attended the regular December meeting of the Joint Blythe Chamber of Commerce and the Palo Verde Valley Economic Alliance at the Blythe City Hall as a Member. (EDA/CV SBDC)  Attended the weekly Blythe Rotary meeting and presented on the efforts of Riverside County EDA, the Palo Verde Valley Economic Alliance, and the CV SBDC planed efforts for 2020 in the City of Blythe.  Attended the regular Growing Coachella Valley December BOD meeting in Thermal as an RC advisory Board Member. (EVC)  Met with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce to discuss the future technical and financial assistance for the CV SBDC Programs and the upcoming CV Business Forecast Conference in April 2020. (EVC/CV SBDC)

Coachella Valley Economic Development