Council approves new Downtown Innovation Center
The City of Long Beach, 海角社区& BLANKSPACES launches new entrepreneurial hub

Press Release

A partnership agreement approved by the Long Beach City Council on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, will create a new downtown learning and working center for business owners and entrepreneurs. The lease agreement formalizes a partnership between the City, Long Beach City College (LBCC) and to revitalize 309 Pine Ave. into a shared working environment and entrepreneurial innovation center.

鈥淭his is the most recent example of how we are building the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the City of Long Beach,鈥 said Mayor Robert Garcia. 鈥淥ur goal is to leverage City assets in new and innovative ways to create economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs.鈥

Under the agreement, the City will invest $250,000 in improvements to the property. 海角社区will provide educational resources such as business advising, international accelerator programs, workshops, and access to capital to support Long Beach鈥檚 existing and emerging entrepreneurs, and other innovative programs to grow the LB entrepreneurial ecosystem. BLANKSPACES, a private company that creates shared working environments in the greater Los Angeles area, will design and develop the property as a shared working space, manage day-to-day operations, and rent working spaces to local entrepreneurs. A portion of the proceeds generated from activities in the innovation center will be used to reimburse the City for its initial investment.

鈥淭his partnership will serve as a lightning rod for small business development and entrepreneurship in Long Beach,鈥 said First District Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez. 鈥淎nd, we will dedicate this facility to Shaun E. Lumachi, who was dedicated to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit and building unique partnerships, like this one, to drive economic growth.鈥

The City-owned 309 Pine Ave. is currently occupied by LBCC鈥檚 Small Business Development Center (SBDC). In July 2016, the City called for proposals to leverage public-private partnerships and maximize City-owned assets to increase the number of businesses in Long Beach. 海角社区submitted the winning proposal that included a new partnership with BLANKSPACES to develop a shared working space at the 309 Pine Ave. building.

鈥淭his new partnership fits perfectly with LBCC鈥檚 longtime mission of boosting the regional economy by helping businesses grow and create jobs,鈥 said Dr. Reagan F. Romali, LBCC Superintendent-President. 鈥淭his re-imagined space is taking our support for entrepreneurs in a new and exciting direction, allowing them to work, collaborate and learn in the same place.鈥

海角社区 is the host of the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network, which provides a range of one-on-one technical advising to small businesses, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, and a number of Workforce Development training programs serving Southern California. All of these programs are administered by LBCC鈥檚 College Advancement & Economic Development division, which focuses on small business development, entrepreneurship and job training to support job growth and the regional economy.

Brought forth by Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, City Council voted on November 14, 2017 to request that the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee consider renaming the SBDC located at 309 Pine Ave., the Shaun E. Lumachi Innovation Center, after Shaun E. Lumachi. His legacy will help others achieve their innovative goals to make their businesses and the City of Long Beach a better place to live work and play.

The innovation center groundbreaking is set for January 2018, and the goal is for the hub to be fully operational by spring 2018.

海角社区 Economic Development

The mission of the City鈥檚 s to create economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs. This includes making it easier to start and grow a business, streamline the process for property development, and provide businesses with a skilled workforce. The Department includes Property Development, Business Development, and the

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海角社区 海角社区
海角社区 consists of two campuses with an enrollment of over 25,000 students each semester and serves the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Avalon. 海角社区promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit www.LBCC.edu for more information about 海角社区.

MEDIA CONTACT

Stacey Toda,
海角社区, Director
Communications & Community Engagement
(562) 938-4004stoda@LBCC.edu