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Norco College outlines plan for a Center for Entrepreneurship in Eastvale civic center
Summary
Norco College and Riverside County economic development presented a proposal to create a Center for Entrepreneurship in the new Eastvale civic center that would offer credit and noncredit classes, makerspace and pitch competitions; council members expressed support and encouraged partners to continue developing the plan.
Norco College representatives asked the Eastvale City Council for direction on a proposed Center for Entrepreneurship to be located on the second floor of the planned civic center.
President Green and Adam Martin of Norco College described the initiative as a partnership to provide noncredit and for‑credit programming, stackable certificates and an eventual pathway to an associate degree. Program elements cited included makerspace and prototyping capacity, pitch competitions, hackathons, mentorship and networking events intended to support small, locally based businesses and entrepreneurs.
Presenters said the pilot launch has initial grant funding (presentations referenced a $25,000 grant from the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship and other workforce grants) and that the college expects to pursue sustaining funding through state workforce grants and SBA/SBDC partnerships. Adam Martin said the college anticipates offering a mix of revenue‑generating for‑credit courses and free noncredit classes that create pathways into the credit program.
Kim Wright from the Riverside County Office of Economic Development described county support for the project, including technical assistance, access-to-capital resources and workforce development programs, and said county staff can provide on‑the‑ground services such as 1:1 consulting as the center comes online.
Council members thanked Norco College and the county, expressed support for locating programming in downtown Eastvale and signaled that no formal action was required at this meeting — staff sought feedback and the council answered positively to move the effort forward.
