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This month, we welcomed Mayor Mario Saucedo and his wife Maria for a full tour of the BBOP Center, a visit that meant more than a walk-through. It was a moment of real connection between civic leadership and the entrepreneurs shaping the future of the Inland Empire.
When leaders take the time to step inside entrepreneurship hubs, meet founders, and ask what’s genuinely needed, it sends a powerful message: We see you. Your work matters. And your success strengthens our entire community.
During the tour, we brought them into the spaces where transformation happens every day: Co-working areas where local founders build, dream, and innovate. Conference rooms where partnerships form and deals get made. Programs like Beyond Ideation, Business Tune-Ups, Loan Packaging, and Government Procurement Assistance, each designed to reduce barriers for under-resourced entrepreneurs.
We also had honest conversations about the gaps: access to capital, opportunities to compete for government contracts, and greater visibility for minority-owned businesses across the region.
Because when small businesses thrive, our cities thrive with them: • More jobs • Stronger local economies • Healthier neighborhoods • Generational wealth creation
But small business success requires real, ongoing support, and that’s exactly what BBOP was built to provide for Black and Brown founders.
This visit opens the door to meaningful possibilities, including: • Stronger collaboration between BBOP and the City of Redlands • More founders entering city procurement pathways • Policies shaped by the lived realities of entrepreneurs
We’re grateful to Mayor Saucedo and Maria for taking the time to tour the BBOP Center, and we’re excited for the opportunities this connection could spark for our community.
Schedule a tour of the BBOP Center or explore our programs.
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