U.S. Bank unveils two new Business Access Hubs in California

The private-public partnership launched in Southern California in November

Best known for its annual Balloon & Wine Festival, Temecula, California is also the site of the first U.S. Bank Business Access Hub.

Launched in early November, this newly established collaboration is between U.S. Bank and the Entrepreneurial Resource Center (ERC), an extension of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University San Bernardino. 

Located inside the Temecula Valley Entrepreneur’s Exchange, the newly established collaboration is designed to cater to the needs of both startups and existing businesses, and offers comprehensive business and workforce development support.

Through a diverse array of programs and services, the ERC brings together various entrepreneurial support organizations to provide training, technical assistance and access to resources.

U.S. Bank will have an office at the ERC with Business Access Advisors (BAAs) regularly onsite to serve local business owners and to help them grow and develop their businesses. The BAA services are offered for free, and entrepreneurs don’t have to be a U.S. Bank customer to work with them. 

The ERC BAAs are fluent in English, Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin, and it is anticipated that they will be able to help up to 300 small businesses at the ERC in the first year alone.

The Temecula location is also accompanied by a San Bernardino location and the projects were overseen by Meleah DesLauriers, a lead project manager at U.S. Bank.

U.S. Bank Access Commitment® is a group of initiatives dedicated to supporting underserved communities, including communities of color, on their path to building generational wealth. Initially rolled out in 2021, the initiatives now include four pillars: Access Business, Access Capital, Access Home and Access Wealth. 

Business owners face numerous challenges and, in response, U.S. Bank created the BAA role. U.S. Bank BAAs can help guide entrepreneurs through the life cycle of their business – from when they simply have a business idea to when they are growing and expanding their operations.

BAAs offer coaching, educational resources, facilitation of networking opportunities with other businesses and experts, and connections to sources of capital to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

“According to the most recent Federal Reserve study, the typical white family has about six times as much wealth as the typical Black family and five times as much as the typical Hispanic family. And while we are here to support all businesses, we also acknowledge this gap,” said Cesar Hernandez, U.S. Bank BAA leader in California and Western states.

“Ultimately, U.S. bank recognizes that entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of our economy, and it is a business imperative for all of us at U.S. Bank to do everything we can to help power their potential,” he said.

“The playing field has not always been equitable for all business owners in this country. For example, female entrepreneurs were unable to secure a business credit card in their own name as recently as 1988,” said Devon Bray, the California Regional Small Business Banking leader for U.S. Bank.

“Before the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, women were required to have a male relative as a co-signer on their business loans,” she said. “That is why we are so grateful to connect with ERC partners like the Inland Empire Women's Business Center.”

Bray, along with several other U.S. Bank leaders and community partners, served on a judging panel for a fast pitch contest entitled Finish Line Finance, in partnership with the Inland Empire Women's Business Center (IEWBC) at the ERC launch party.

IEWBC director Jacqueline Scott was on hand to introduce the final three contestants, including first place winner Sonia Tapia of Sonia Tapia Photography, second place winner Nikishia Garrat of Samson 7Arts and Xiamoro Palma of Solvit HR, who took third.

U.S. Bank is also running a national contest that small businesses can enter until the end of March 2025 called “Small Business, Big Ambition.” By entering the contest, business owners will have a chance to win:

• A $2000 gift card to invest in their business and community,
• A marketing package consisting of video and photography for their business.
• Business consultation.
• A point-of-sale makeover.

To enter the contest visit mybigambition.com. To learn more about the ERC, watch the video below.