IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Hilda Kennedy, founder and president of AmPac Business Capital in Ontario, is grateful for the Spirit of Entrepreneur awards.
AmPac, which arranges start-up loans for small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration, is one of the Inland Empire businesses nominated this year in the Service-Based Entrepreneur category.
Kennedy believes the awards – which are presented every November by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino – gives Riverside and San Bernardino counties some recognition within the Southern California business community.
“It’s a milestone for our business, but I think it’s just as important for the Inland Empire,” said Kennedy, whose company was nominated for a Spirit award seven years ago but did not win. “A lot of people consider the Inland Empire a stepchild to Los Angeles County and Orange County, but we still have to compete with them.
“The Spirit awards let people know there are successful businesses in the Inland Empire. They bring some recognition to the region.”
Kennedy founded AmPac Business Capital in 2005. She estimates that company, which employs 25 people, has arranged for more than $750 million in SBA loans.
The company is set to move into new headquarters at 3110 Inland Empire Blvd. where it will conduct a training center for would-be entrepreneurs.
Other nominees in the Service-Based Entrepreneur category are:
- In-Roads Creative Programs Inc., Ontario
- Murrish Maintenance Construction Services LLC, Ontario
- Pacific Capital Wealth Management, Corona
- Quality Marble & Granite, Ontario
- Social Catfish LLC, Murrieta
Nonprofits are included in the General Entrepreneur category. A Best-of-the-Best Award is also given out, and Cal State San Bernardino business students deliver 90-second pitches for businesses that are judged by the audience.
All six categories, and the Best-of-the-Best winner, are judged by former Spirit of the Entrepreneur winners.
This year’s black tie awards ceremony will be held Nov. 10 at the Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., in Riverside. For more information visit https://spiritawardsie.com/ or call (909) 329-4515.
