UC Riverside’s Small Business Development Center has received a $25,000 donation from MUFG Union Bank Foundation in support of its programs aiding technology entrepreneurs.

The business center, which opened in downtown Riverside in April, is part of the Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept and Innovation Center, or Riverside EPIC, which provides resources for training, mentorship, and connections to investors and partners.

The Small Business Development Center, or SBDC, focuses on specialized consulting, training and workshops, and assistance in applying for federal small business grants and loans.

Since its launch, SBDC has mentored 82 clients, supported over $1.8 million in federal and equity funding, and has provided 1,100 hours of counseling to clients.

“With this new partnership with Union Bank, EPIC SBDC will be able to provide additional operational and programmatic support to expand our reach in the Inland Empire region,” said Jennifer Yturralde, programs and outreach specialist for UCR’s Office of Technology Partnerships.

Rossina Gallegos, Union Bank Foundation director, presented the check to the center on Jan. 11 during a visit to campus and the center. 

In a letter, the MUFG Union Bank Foundation said the donation was part of its more than 150-year history of supporting the communities it serves.

“We appreciate the work The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of its Riverside campus, is doing in our community,” the foundation stated.

EPIC SBDC is funded primarily by the federal Small Business Administration and the California Office of Business and Economic Development with matching funds from UCR’s Office of Technology Partnerships and facility support through the County of Riverside.