Inland Empire

Region Overview

The Inland Empire covers more than 27,000 square miles of both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with a population of approximately 4 million people. The region is growing rapidly with residents migrating in search of affordable housing in Southern California. It is an area full of opportunities for economic growth and innovation. The landscape consists of vast mountain ranges, large metropolitan areas, a handful of National Parks and Preserves, rural communities, several lakes and reservoirs – it is a true hidden gem. When joining forces, an equitable and sustainable plan for the future of the region can be created.

Inland Empire is the birthplace of . . .

Innovation

Carousel Mall Renovation Project

The Palm Desert iHub

Tunnel to Ontario International Airport

Innovation

Carousel Mall Renovation Project

The Carousel Mall is an inactive mixed-use two-story shopping mall located in downtown San Bernardino that closed in 2017. In an effort to revitalize the mall, the City of San Bernardino has partnered with a developer and began to negotiate the terms for the property alognside city officials and Lincoln representatives. It is a highly anticipated project. The agreement will solidify the sale and development plan for the site and is planned to go before the San Bernardino City Council as early as August 2023.

The Palm Desert iHub

The Palm Desert iHub is a collaboration between the City of Palm Desert, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) and Cal State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). It was established in 2021 to create a more diverse co-working space with opportunities for all. Along with CSUSB students, the Palm Desert iHub serves home-based businesses, remote workers, various business meetings, and businesses relocating to the Coachella Valley region which have not yet moved into a commercial space.

Tunnel to Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is located east of the city of Los Angeles in the heart of the San Bernardino Valley. It has been one of the fastest growing commercial airports in the country and is expected to grow by 15 to 30 million annual passengers by 2040. Operated by Omnitrans, the Tunnel to ONT will feature a bi-directional system where passengers traveling will be transported in autonomous, zero-emission vehicles on an ΓÇ£on-demandΓÇ¥ basis between the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink Station and ONT terminals.

Inspiration

Salton Sea North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Inland Southern California

Mission Heritage Plaza: Civil Rights Institute

Inspiration

Salton Sea North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project

The Salton Sea North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project is a $19.25M investment that promises to restore the natural habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as control dust and increase property values for nearby residents. The project is a collaboration of nearby communities, city municipalities near the Salton Sea and local Tribal governments, who are seeking to build an attractive and useful amenity for the region. It was officially unvieled in February 2022.

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Inland Southern California

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture joined the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) family in 2022. ‘The Cheech’ is public-private partnership between RAM, the City of Riverside, and comedian Cheech Marin, one of the world’s foremost collectors of Chicano art. The 61,420-square-foot center is home to hundreds of important Chicano art – including paintings, sculptures, photography, and video arts. The Cheech is located downtown in the City of Riverside adjacent to the historic, Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.

Mission Heritage Plaza: Civil Rights Institute

The Civil Rights Institute is opening to recognize the region’s civil rights leaders and their impacts on the community we share.The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California is part of a project that also includes 72 units of urban workforce housing and office spaces for the Fair Housing Council of Riverside. The Institute wil hold events and children’s programs focused on regional civil rights. The Institute will also be home to a library of regional civil rights audio, visual and media materials.

The Inland Empire is home to some of the most resilient communities within the state. I’m happy to serve our region and help to create equitable opportunities that we deserve.

Aaron Dill, Inland Empire RERC

Region By Numbers

Explore these numbers and additional key Inland Empire demographic, economic, and business data on the Community & Place-Based Data Tool. Uncover other data tools, regional plans, and resources on the Data & Knowledge Library Page.

KNOWLEDGE & DATA LIBRARY

COMMUNITY & PLACE-BASED DATA TOOL

Population

4,621,370

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Total Households

1,449,874

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Total Establishments

134,468

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Educational Attainment

Associate Degree	8%
Bachelor’s Degree	15%
Graduate Degree	8%

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Labor Force

2,158,908

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Regional Contacts

Explore other federal, state, and regional contacts on our community connection page.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Regional Economic Recovery Coordinator, Inland Empire

Alex Avila

About CPBS

HRTC Contacts

The Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) will support an inclusive High Road Training Collaborative (HRTC) in this region, in charge of creating economic development recovery and transition strategies. To be a part of this region’s processes to advance economic prosperity and equity, contact the HRTC conveners.

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California Community & Place-Based Solutions
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Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 877-345-4633
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Produced in Partnership with the U.S. Economic Development Administration