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Temecula proclaims April Innovation Month and showcases TVE2 incubator, Entrepreneurial Resource Center
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Summary
City leaders declared April Innovation Month and heard a presentation on the Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs Exchange (TVE2) and the new Entrepreneurial Resource Center, which city staff said has supported dozens of startups with training, mentorship and free programming.
The Temecula City Council on April 8 officially proclaimed April 2025 as Innovation Month and received a presentation on the city-run Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs Exchange (TVE2) and its Entrepreneurial Resource Center (ERC).
The presentation, delivered by Mary Cervantes, TVE2 manager in the city’s Economic Development Department, outlined programs hosted at the TVE2 incubator, which offers low-cost workspace, professional mentorship and business services. Cervantes said TVE2 ‘‘provides low cost, scalable office space and flexible workstations’’ and noted the incubator accommodates private offices and open workstations while offering complimentary first-year Chamber memberships for new tenants.
The nut of the presentation: city staff and partners want to encourage entrepreneurship by pairing affordable workspace with no-cost mentoring and technical assistance. The ERC, launched in partnership with the Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center and Cal State San Bernardino, provides year-round training, technical assistance and an affiliate network of more than 10 partners that offer workshops on topics ranging from financial literacy to OSHA certifications.
Cervantes said the TVE2 incubator and ERC serve as a business incubator and entrepreneurial resource center in the city’s former city hall building on Business Park Drive. She told the council the incubator typically takes six to eight weeks to onboard a tenant and currently houses about 10 tenants. Vivian (no last name provided), a current tenant who works on AI automations for local businesses, described the space as providing ‘‘validity’’ and tangible support for her company.
Brene Hendricks, ERC program manager with Cal State San Bernardino, described free programming such as Ready, Set, Retail and SBDC Eats that help entrepreneurs prepare to sell at market. Hendricks said the ERC recently hosted a marketplace event that helped participants make their first sales and obtain necessary licenses.
Cervantes summarized key impact metrics the city tracks: in roughly 14 months the ERC reported mentoring or training nearly 10,000 business owners and entrepreneurs, supporting 4,500 jobs and helping 54 new businesses launch with nearly $3 million invested back into the region. The ERC was also named a 2025 Cal Ed Awards of Excellence award-of-merit recipient in the programs and promotions category.
Council members praised the TVE2 and ERC work and highlighted the city-hosted Southwest Region Quick Pitch event scheduled for April 10. Councilmember Schwenk called the incubator ‘‘not a nice-to-have amenity’’ but ‘‘a need’’ for the community.
The council did not take specific action or vote on funding at the April 8 meeting; staff said applicants may apply for tenancy at Temeculaca.gov/tvetwo and that program partners can help interested entrepreneurs access training and market opportunities.
Temecula officials said they will continue outreach and programming through the ERC and TVE2, including an upcoming marketplace on June 28 at Sam Hicks Monument Park.
