Wave Staff Report
MONTEREY PARK — East Los Angeles College has announced the launch of the Susan Rubio Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center, a first-of-its-kind, community-rooted innovation ecosystem designed to expand access to entrepreneurship, accelerate venture development, and strengthen economic mobility across the Los Angeles region.
The center is intentionally designed as a regional hub serving entrepreneurs, small business owners, industry partners, investors and community stakeholders not limited to campus-based programs to serve a broad ecosystem of participants who are seeking to build, support, or invest in new ventures.
Built on an open innovation model, the center is a first-of-its-kind ecosystem anchored at a Southern California community college and extending beyond traditional campus-based programs.
“This center is a platform for opportunity, innovation and community impact,” said Monte Perez, president of East Los Angeles College. “By connecting individuals, entrepreneurs, and local businesses to practical programs, mentorship, and a strong ecosystem of partners, we are creating clear pathways for ideas to grow into ventures that strengthen our communities.”
The center is named for state Sen. Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, who attended East Los Angeles College.
Reyna Trujillo will serve as executive director of the center.
“At some point, access has to stop being a conversation and start becoming infrastructure,” Trujillo said. “Whether you’re building from the ground up, growing an existing business, or investing in what’s next, this center exists to create real pathways, so ideas don’t stall, they scale, and people don’t just participate in the economy, they own their place in it.”
The city of Monterey Park will partner with East Los Angeles College for the center.
City officials said the partnership is intended to strengthen economic development efforts.
“This partnership reflects the kind of practical, forward-looking collaboration that helps cities, colleges, businesses and entrepreneurs grow together,” Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang said in a statement. “By supporting ELAC’s Susan Rubio Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center, Monterey Park is helping create a stronger pipeline for new business ideas, local innovation, and long-term economic opportunity.”
The center is expected to serve as a regional hub for entrepreneurship, offering programs focused on workforce development, innovation and community engagement.
Officials encouraged residents and aspiring business owners to explore the resources available through the partnership, with additional information to be released about upcoming programs and services.
Through year-round programming including entrepreneurship workshops, industry mentorship, incubation and ecosystem partnerships the center creates a pipeline from exploration to launch, growth and scale. The model not only supports entrepreneurs at every stage but also opens pathways for strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and cross-sector collaboration.
Tina Dominguez, Katya Chavez and Thomas Torrez work under Trujillo as the management team of the center. The center’s development is further strengthened through its strategic partnership with Workforce Innovation Labs, whose expertise in ecosystem design and workforce alignment enhances the center’s ability to connect talent, opportunity and regional economic growth.
The center is intentionally community-rooted and equity-driven, designed to expand who gets to participate in entrepreneurship. By engaging individuals and organizations across the region, the center fosters inclusive pathways for local founders to access opportunity, build ventures, and contribute to long-term economic growth.
