Inland Empire Economic Partnership

Inland Empire Economic Partnership
Name	Inland Empire Economic Partnership
Formed	2010
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	San Bernardino County, Riverside County, California
Leader title	CEO
Leader name	Bill Rawlings
Region served	Inland Empire

Inland Empire Economic Partnership

The Inland Empire Economic Partnership is a nonpartisan regional trade association and economic development organization representing businesses, local governments, and educational institutions across Southern California's Inland Empire region, principally San Bernardino County and Riverside County. The Partnership convenes stakeholders from California State University, San Bernardino, University of California, Riverside, municipal mayors, and corporate leaders such as those from Amazon (company), BNSF Railway, and Southern California Edison to promote investment, workforce development, and infrastructure projects. It operates alongside entities like the Economic Development Administration (United States), California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, and regional chambers of commerce including the Riverside County Chamber of Commerce.

History

Founded through the merger of legacy organizations influenced by the growth of logistics hubs during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Partnership traces roots to efforts linked to Interstate 10 (California), Interstate 15, and expansion around Ontario International Airport. Early initiatives intersected with statewide policy debates involving the California Air Resources Board, debates over Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach cargo diversion, and planning tied to the Metrolink (California). The organization expanded during the aftermath of the Great Recession and amid shifts from manufacturing hubs to distribution centers paralleling trends seen at Logistics Park Chicago and Port of Savannah developments. Leadership transitions included executives formerly associated with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and advisory input from officials who served in the administrations of governors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown (California governor). The Partnership’s history features collaborations on projects aligning with federal programs from the U.S. Department of Transportation, grants related to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and regional plans coordinated with councils like the Southern California Association of Governments.

Organization and Governance

The Partnership is governed by a board comprising elected officials from cities including Riverside, California, San Bernardino, California, and Ontario, California, private-sector executives from firms like UPS, FedEx, and regional utilities such as Southern California Gas Company, plus academic representatives from Chaffey College and Mt. San Jacinto College. Executive leadership reports to committees modeled on best practices from organizations like Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Governance policies reflect compliance expectations under Internal Revenue Code sections applicable to nonprofit corporations and interaction with oversight entities such as the California Attorney General and county treasurers in Riverside County and San Bernardino County. The Partnership’s advisory councils incorporate voices from labor organizations including International Brotherhood of Teamsters and workforce stakeholders engaged with initiatives from California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

Programs and Initiatives

Key programs include workforce pipelines aligned with curricula at University of La Verne and certificates promoted through regional community colleges, apprenticeships coordinated with trade unions and private partners like Ryder System and Amazon Logistics. Infrastructure advocacy has targeted freight corridor upgrades intersecting with projects by California High-Speed Rail Authority and improvements to arterial corridors such as State Route 60 (California) and State Route 91 (California)]. The Partnership has launched initiatives focused on clean technology in cooperation with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and funding mechanisms championed by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. Small business and entrepreneurship programs draw on networks including Small Business Administration (United States), SCORE Association, and angel groups patterned after Tech Coast Angels.

Economic Impact and Partnerships

The organization quantifies regional outcomes through analyses linking employment shifts at distribution centers operated by Amazon (company), Walmart, and Target Corporation to labor trends tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and population changes reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Partnerships span public agencies like the California Department of Transportation and municipal redevelopment agencies, as well as private capital sources including institutional investors modeled on BlackRock and PGIM Real Estate. Cross-border collaborations reference supply chain connections to the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, while workforce projects coordinate with regional workforce boards aligned with the Workforce Development Board, San Bernardino County.

Funding and Financials

Funding streams combine membership dues from corporations such as Kaiser Permanente and Ralphs, sponsorships from banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America, grant awards from entities including the Economic Development Administration (United States) and fee-for-service contracts with counties and cities. Financial oversight is conducted via audits prepared according to standards from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and tax filings consistent with Internal Revenue Service rules for 501(c)(6) organizations. Annual reports benchmark program expenditures against metrics similar to those used by regional nonprofits like LAEDC and national associations such as International Economic Development Council.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have emerged regarding the Partnership's role in advocating for logistics expansion near communities proximate to San Bernardino and Rialto, California, echoing disputes involving California Environmental Quality Act reviews and air quality concerns raised by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Environmental justice groups, including local chapters linked to national networks like Sierra Club and Communities for a Better Environment, have contested impacts on neighborhoods and public health metrics reported by California Department of Public Health. Tensions also surfaced over incentive agreements with local governments modeled after redevelopment-era practices scrutinized in cases such as litigation related to Redevelopment agencies in California and debates over tax increment financing used by other regional development entities.