Imperial Valley

SBDC Newsletter

June 2 - 6, 2025 Edition

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out."

Robert Collier

There’s something undeniably special about a treat made with love, and that’s exactly what defines Rincon Artesano. Founded by Iris Valdivia, this home-based bakery has spent the past year creating handcrafted pastries and buñuelos, each one prepared with care and intention. For Iris, baking is more than a skill; it’s a heartfelt expression of joy, comfort, and culture. Every batch she makes carries her story, her passion, and her dream. Operating Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, the business provides customers with freshly made pastries designed to brighten their day.

Rincon Artesano is a home-based artisanal pastry business specializing in handcrafted pastries and buñuelos. After immigrating from Mexico to the United States, Iris found baking to be a meaningful connection to her roots and a creative outlet during a time of transition. She launched her business with the intention of turning her passion for baking into a fulfilling path that could provide income, inspire growth, and bring joy to others. What began as a personal pursuit soon evolved into a small business built on resilience, community, and the simple joy of sharing something made by hand. 

Iris first learned about the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) through a friend who encouraged her to explore its services. At the time, she faced several barriers to launching her business, including limited knowledge about business operations, licensing, and registration. With guidance from the SBDC, she received one-on-one consulting, attended training sessions, and navigated the legal and administrative steps to officially register Rincon Artesano under her name.

For Iris, the most fulfilling part of running Rincon Artesano is doing what she loves every day. It’s a space where her passion for baking meets her entrepreneurial spirit. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the business and eventually create job opportunities for others in her community. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is straightforward: "Go to the SBDC.”

At the SBDC, we believe that every dream deserves the right support. Whether you’re just starting out or working through complex business decisions, the SBDC offers a strong foundation through personalized guidance, training, and resources. From legal and licensing advice to business planning and funding strategies, we’re here to help entrepreneurs turn vision into action. With the right tools and support, every challenge becomes a stepping stone and asking for help can be the first step toward building the future you imagine.

SBDC Open Hours & Tech Support/SBDC Horas Abiertas y Asistencia Técnica - Calexico

Wednesday, June 18

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

In Person

SBDC Open Hours & Tech Support is an interactive workshop designed to provide business owners with direct access to expert guidance. During this event, our team will be available to answer your questions, offer technical support, and assist with completing forms. This session aims to help you navigate common business challenges and streamline administrative tasks, ensuring your operations run smoothly.

Objectives:



• Provide personalized assistance and expert advice for business inquiries
• Offer technical support and guidance on form completion
• Clarify and address common administrative and operational challenges
• Empower business owners with practical solutions to enhance efficiency

SBDC Open Hours & Tech Support/SBDC Horas Abiertas y Asistencia Técnica - Calipatria

Wednesday, June 25

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

In Person

SBDC Open Hours & Tech Support is an interactive workshop designed to provide business owners with direct access to expert guidance. During this event, our team will be available to answer your questions, offer technical support, and assist with completing forms. This session aims to help you navigate common business challenges and streamline administrative tasks, ensuring your operations run smoothly.

Objectives:

• Provide personalized assistance and expert advice for business inquiries
• Offer technical support and guidance on form completion
• Clarify and address common administrative and operational challenges
• Empower business owners with practical solutions to enhance efficiency

Women in Business Network

Friday, June 27

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

In Person

This one-of-a-kind event is crafted to empower women in business by providing a dynamic platform to connect, collaborate, and grow together. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or taking your first steps in business, this event is packed with valuable insights, practical tips, and proven strategies to help you succeed in business while maintaining your personal well-being amidst the demands of entrepreneurship.

Each session will feature an inspiring special guest speaker, sharing their wealth of expertise and personal experiences in areas ranging from business growth to self-care. Additionally, the event offers exclusive networking opportunities, allowing attendees to engage with like-minded women, build meaningful connections, and expand their professional network in an uplifting and supportive environment.

Objectives:

1. Provide participants with practical business tips, tools, and strategies to achieve success in their entrepreneurial journey.
2. Equip attendees with strategies to maintain personal well-being while managing the demands of running a business.
3. Inspire through keynote sessions featuring accomplished women sharing their journeys and expertise.
4. Facilitate meaningful networking opportunities to foster collaborations and expand professional networks.
5. Build a supportive and empowering community of women in business.

Young Entrepreneurship Academy

Tuesday, July 8

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

In Person

See More Dates

Are you a young aspiring entrepreneur eager to turn your innovative ideas into reality? Join us for the Youth Business Start-Ups and Innovation Program, an immersive three-week journey designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge to kick-start your entrepreneurial venture. The Youth Business Start-Ups and Innovation Program is an intensive and interactive educational experience designed to equip young individuals with essential entrepreneurial skills, foster innovative thinking, and develop a deep understanding of fundamental business concepts. Throughout the program, participants will engage in a variety of hands-on activities, workshops, and mentorship opportunities aimed at cultivating their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. The program will culminate in a showcase event where students will present their business proposals to a panel of experts and potential investors.

What to Expect:

• Develop Entrepreneurial Mindset: Cultivate creativity, resilience, and risk-taking.
• Acquire Business Skills: Learn planning, market research, finance, and marketing.
• Understand Design Thinking: Apply user-centered problem-solving strategies.
• Foster Innovation: Create solutions to real-world challenges through creative thinking.
• Showcase Business Proposals: Present business ideas to experts and investors.
• Access Mentorship and Networking: Connect with mentors, professionals, and peers.
• Gain Confidence and Leadership: Build communication, confidence, and leadership skills.

*Events may be cancelled or rescheduled based on number of registrants.

Grant Opportunity

$500k Grant Funding Available from Verizon in Partnership with LISC

APPLY FOR $500K IN GRANT AWARDS

Grant funding these days is extremely limited but Verizon has done it again and is providing the opportunity to secure your part in $500k in small business grants available to help your business growth. Please read the details below for more information.

Important Note:

SBDC is not involved in the grant process. We simply have information to share with our community to make business owners aware of the opportunity

If you need additional information beyond registering for Verizon platform and completing the two courses, please use the contact information on the platform to contact the Verizon team.

Critical Steps & Requirements (DEADLINE: 11:59PM PST on 6/30/2025):

Register for the Verizon platform using this link: https://bit.ly/4fh4WL2 *click "register now" button in the middle of the page or uppper left corner

Enroll in and Complete 2 of the brief courses that are available on the platform *Courses must be completed between 1/1/25 - 6/30/25

Eligibility:

Must be a small business owner (non-profits are not eligible)

Must be a U.S.-based business

Must complete 2 courses/events on the Verizon platform 1/1/25 - 6/30/25

Must be 18 years of age or older

Must submit application for grant through portal by 11:59pm PST on 6/30/25 *Late applications will not be considered

Award:

$10,000 grant for small business growth

As always, we are grateful that you continue to allow the San Diego & Imperial SBDC support your business needs. Since 2022, we helped 13,000+ small businesses in the region by providing 57,000+ hours of 1:1 advising and 2300+ trainings - all free of charge. This work helped business secure $1.5B+ in business funding, open 750+ businesses, create 5,500+ jobs and secure $500+M in government contracts creating $2B+ overall economic impact in the region.

If you haven't seen an SBDC advisor in the last 6 months and want help and accountability growing your business and creating your success, you can register for a 30 min. needs assessment and be directed to one of our expert advising teams here:

https://calendly.com/sdivsbdc-intake/intake-partners

We support all business from tamale carts & construction companies to medical devices & engines for satellites and everything in between! We are here to help you grow your business and create your own success and achieve your dreams!

Community Events

Access resources and functions to build your business and support your community.

About us

Imperial Valley SBDC offers access to confidential, no cost one-on-one counseling sessions and workshops for startups and existing businesses.

For more information, contact us at (442) 265-7180 extension 3 or e-mail imperial.valley@sdivsbdc.org.