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Local entrepreneurs showcase food, manufacturing and creative services at Ontario event
Summary
Small business owners and nonprofit partners highlighted local entrepreneurship, workforce programs and free community resources like the Lightspeed MakerSpace, crediting municipal support for permitting, partnerships and community engagement.
Business owners, cultural contributors and service providers used the event to tell stories about long‑standing family businesses and new enterprises that say they are "proud to be made in Ontario." Speakers included cafe and bakery owners, restaurateurs, manufacturers and retail operators who credited the city for permitting and collaboration.
Maria Martinez, co‑owner of Mestiza Cake House and Cafe, said the cafe blends Mexican flavors with European techniques and that "Mestiza Cake House and Cafe is proud to be made in Ontario." The cafe owner said the downtown location and community reaction were important drivers of early success.
Other highlights: Darren Abbott, president of the Ontario Reign, described the team's community fundraisers and a partnership with the Lightspeed MakerSpace Academy; Mark Smith, vice president and general manager at Ontario Mills, emphasized the mall's role as a regional shopping destination; and Kostas Vitakas, founder and president of Vitco Foods, described a new 129,000‑square‑foot facility including a 42,000‑square‑foot refrigerated area that supports restaurants across Southern California.
The event also showcased free community resources. Veronica Cortez, supervising librarian for the Ovid Family Community Library, and John Encarnacion, an adult services librarian, summarized Lightspeed MakerSpace offerings — laser cutters, Prusa 3D printers and staff assistance — available free with an Ontario library card.
Why it matters: Attendees said the mix of legacy family businesses and newer manufacturing and tech firms illustrates Ontario's economic diversity, from long‑running restaurants to logistics and manufacturing firms that can scale production and create jobs.
The presentations closed with an emphasis on community partnerships: business representatives repeatedly thanked city staff for expedited permitting and collaboration, and downtown advocates described ambassador programs and maintenance work intended to make the area more attractive to visitors and customers.
Next steps: businesses encouraged residents to visit downtown shops, attend events and use library maker resources; several speakers said they plan to expand or increase hiring as projects and tourism continue to grow.
