News

IEGO Updates

City of Temecula Celebrates Prestigious California Mayors Cyber Cup Victory

Temecula, CA – April 22, 2025 – The City of Temecula proudly hosted an enthusiastic ceremony at the City Council Chambers to celebrate Great Oak High School cyber team, The Real Christian Meglio’s, thrilling victory in the California Mayors Cyber Cup competition. Mayor Brenden Kalfus received the esteemed perpetual trophy from coach Christian Meglio, marking Temecula's third consecutive win in this prestigious regional event.

The California Mayors Cyber Cup, a dynamic cybersecurity skills competition, has quickly become an impactful initiative across the Inland Empire, uniting hundreds of students, educators, and local businesses in an exciting collaborative effort. This year, 564 students from across two counties sharpened their cybersecurity skills weekly, culminating in an electrifying competition where Great Oak High School's team clinched victory in a nail-biting finish.

"This competition is transformative," stated Matthew Mena, executive director of Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO), the key sponsor of the competition. "Students aren't just learning cybersecurity; they're gaining confidence and envisioning high wage careers they previously didn't think were possible." He emphasized IEGO’s dedication to fostering innovation, workforce development, and strategic industry partnerships through initiatives like the Mayors Cup.

Great Oak High School's triumph was especially remarkable, capturing the victory by securing a decisive "flag" in the competition's final moments, edging out local rivals Temecula Valley High School. "Our students have shown incredible dedication and talent," said Christian Meglio, Great Oak’s Cybersecurity Coach. "They've embraced challenges, developed key technical skills, and grown tremendously in their abilities."

This victory not only highlights the technical prowess of Temecula’s youth but underscores the competition’s broader impact—engaging 57% of students who experienced cybersecurity for the first time. As one student enthusiastically shared, "Before joining, I wouldn’t have spoken up in class. Now, I'm helping lead our practices."

Mayor Kalfus recognized the significance of the award, noting, "The Mayors Cup does more than showcase individual talent—it strengthens our entire community by building a future-ready workforce."

Alongside the perpetual trophy, Mayor Kalfus and council members were honored with commemorative challenge coins, symbolizing the city’s ongoing commitment to cybersecurity awareness and education.

About IEGO:

Proactive work is the focus of Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO). A regional cross-sector, bi-county collaborative network of community-based organizations, businesses and institutions, IEGO is committed to ensuring that the region’s accelerated growth is focused on the greatest opportunities to create inclusive economic development that will improve the quality of life for all.

04/29/2025

Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) Announces 2024 Priorities

Riverside, CA – The Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO), a collaborative organization dedicated to fostering economic growth, has announced its 2024 strategic priorities designed to create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable economy for Southern California’s Inland Empire. Among its immediate priorities include its role in Governor Newsom’s California Jobs First regional jobs strategy.

“As one of the California Jobs First statewide collaboratives, IEGO is committed to engaging a wide ranging and diverse group of stakeholders in our economic development focus so that we can improve the quality of life for all residents across the region,” said IEGO Executive Director Matthew Mena.

IEGO’s strategy is critical. While Inland Southern California remains one of California’s top job growth markets, it also ranks as having the lowest average weekly wages according to employment data for the nation’s 50 largest county job markets as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The IEGO 2024 priorities are designed to counter that trend and encourage greater business investment, including:

California Jobs First: IEGO will develop Inland Southern California’s regional jobs strategy to create quality jobs and a more accessible economy as part of Governor Newsom’s very intentional, inclusive approach to economic and workforce development to maximize state resources and investments by empowering communities to chart their own futures. Much of the funding will support career development projects from capacity building to industry-specific programs, and new job training.

Center of Excellence: As one of the state’s designated Center of Excellence, IEGO will support the region’s community colleges and their partners by providing research on the local labor market, including information on job growth, wages, demographics, top employers, education, and skill requirements, as well as education outcomes for industries and occupations critical to the Inland Empire’s economy. This data will help inform the development of new community college programs, curriculum, and partnerships that the colleges pursue in their efforts to prepare residents for high-paying, fast-growing jobs that Inland Empire businesses need today and in the future.  

Regional Marketing: IEGO will work to ensure that the region is well positioned to benefit from public and private investment and is fully recognized for its economic strength and opportunity. In this way, IEGO can enhance the delivery of public and private resources to the two-county region.

“There's real opportunity for the IEGO Center of Excellence to lead deeper economic and workforce research. One of the immediate areas is our Top 50 Jobs report. We want to better identify the best job opportunities and pathways for workers in struggling families to make ends meet and build wealth,” said Andy Hall, who is leading report development for the Center of Excellence.

About: IEGO is a collaborative organization dedicated to fostering economic growth, driving innovation, and promoting opportunity across Southern California’s Inland Empire. IEGO’s focus is to improve job opportunities, support higher wages, sustain workforce development, and enhance the delivery of public and private resources to the two-county region. IEGO’s approach is rooted in data-driven decision-making, evidence-based practices, and a deep understanding of the Inland Empire, its economy, strengths, and challenges. The collaborative non-profit empowers individuals and organizations to drive sustainable economic growth and improve the quality of life for residents across the region. To learn more, www.iegocollab.com.

04/25/2024

CSUSB News: CSUSB Entrepreneurship program recognized again as a global leader by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine for 2024

Cal State San Bernardino notches it 3rd straight year of Top 50 global ranking and continues to be the leading CSU academic program in entrepreneurship graduate studies

(November 2023) CSUSB has moved from 44th place overall to 38th in Top Graduate Schools for Entrepreneurship and continues as the #8 program in the West. CSUSB is the only California State University campus that is the highest ranking CSU campus recognized in the rankings (Fresno State is the other), and one of only five universities in California to make the list.

"Since we debuted this project nearly two decades ago, the number of colleges and universities offering courses or degrees in entrepreneurship has grown tremendously as has student interest in becoming entrepreneurs," said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor in chief. "We highly recommend the stellar schools that made our entrepreneurship studies ranking lists for 2024. Their faculties are outstanding. Their programs have robust experiential components. Their students have access to extraordinary tools, resources, and mentoring that will serve them well into their careers."

“Entrepreneurship studies at CSUSB continue to evolve and grow,” said Mike Stull, professor of entrepreneurship. “We have created an innovative approach to graduate education in both our Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the MBA program that excels at preparing students to be the future entrepreneurs of our region and beyond. Additionally, we have a robust ecosystem that supports and encourages experiential learning and startup activity. We think and dream big here in the IE.”

This ecosystem includes the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) – one of the largest university-based centers for entrepreneurship in the world – and the globally recognized CSUSB School of Entrepreneurship – the only school of its kind in California. Stull serves as the founding school director and the IECE’s program director.

"Entrepreneurs know that the best ideas often come from competition and pressure," says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. "Higher education is a great example of that. As more schools build out world-class entrepreneurship programs, their energy, excitement, and powerful resources only grow — making the schools on our list the best at helping young leaders develop into tomorrow's world-changers."

Stull said entrepreneurship is booming both on campus and in the Inland Empire. “If you are interested in studying entrepreneurship here in California, CSUSB is one of the leaders in preparing the next generation of innovators.”

04/25/2024

Brightline West News: Making History: Brightline West Breaks Ground on America’s FirstHigh Speed Rail Project Connecting Loas Vegas to Southern California

Officials Hammer the First Spike Commemorating the Groundbreaking for Brightline West

LAS VEGAS (April 22, 2024) – Brightline West officially broke ground on the nation's first true high-speed rail system which will connect Las Vegas to Southern California. The 218-mile system will be constructed in the middle of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. Hailed as the greenest form of transportation in the world, Brightline West will run zero emission, fully electric trains capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour. Brightline West is a watershed project for high-speed rail in America and will establish the foundation for the creation of a new industry and supply chain.
The project was recently awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The rest of the project will be privately funded and has received a total allocation of $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from USDOT.
The groundbreaking included remarks from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Brightline Founder Wes Edens, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Senior Advisor to President Biden Steve Benjamin and Vince Saavedra of the Southern Nevada Building Trades. In addition, Nevada Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steve Horsford and California Reps. Pete Aguilar and Norma Torres made remarks and joined the celebration. More than 600 people, including union representatives, project supporters and other state and local officials from California and Nevada, attended the event.
 “People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades – and now, with billions of dollars of support made possible by President Biden’s historic infrastructure law, it’s finally happening,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “Partnering with state leaders and Brightline West, we’re writing a new chapter in our country’s transportation story that includes thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air.”
 “This is a historic project and a proud moment where we break ground on America’s first high-speed rail system and lay the foundation for a new industry,” said Wes Edens, Brightline founder. “Today is long overdue, but the blueprint we’ve created with Brightline will allow us to repeat this model in other city pairs around the country.”
 

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIGHTLINE WEST
Brightline West's rail system will span 218 miles and reach speeds of 200 mph. The route, which has full environmental clearance, will run within the median of the I-15 highway with zero grade crossings. The system will have stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.  The privately led infrastructure project is one of the largest in the nation and will be constructed and operated by union labor. It will use 700,000 concrete rail ties, 2.2 million tons of ballast, and
63,000 tons of 100% American steel rail during construction. Upon completion, it will include 322 miles of overhead lines to power the trains and will include 3.4 million square feet of retaining walls. The project covers more than 160 structures including viaducts and bridges. Brightline West will be fully Buy America Compliant.

 STATIONS AND FACILITIES
Brightline West will connect Southern California and Las Vegas in two hours or almost half the time as driving. The Las Vegas Station will be located near the iconic Las Vegas Strip, on a 110- acre property north of Blue Diamond Road between I-15 and Las Vegas Boulevard. The site provides convenient access to the Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention
Center and the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. The station is approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.  The Victor Valley Station in Apple Valley will be located on a 300-acre parcel southeast of Dale Evans Parkway and the I-15 interchange. The station is intended to offer a future connection to the High Desert Corridor and California High Speed Rail. The Victor Valley Station is
approximately 20,000 square feet plus parking.  The Rancho Cucamonga Station will be located on a 5-acre property at the northwest corner of Milliken Avenue and Azusa Court near Ontario International Airport. The station will be co-located with existing multi-modal transportation options including California Metrolink, for seamless connectivity to Downtown Los Angeles and other locations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The Rancho Cucamonga Station is approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.  The Hesperia Station will be located within the I-15 median at the I-15/Joshua Street interchange and will function primarily as a local rail service for residents in the High Desert on select southbound morning and northbound evening weekday trains.
 The Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) is a 200,000-square-foot building located on 238 acres in Sloan, Nev., and will be the base for daily maintenance and staging of trains. This site will also serve as one of two hubs for the maintenance of way operations and the operations control center. More than 100 permanent employees will report on a daily basis once operations begin and will serve as train crews, corridor maintenance crews, or operations control center teammates. A second maintenance of way facility will be located adjacent to the Apple Valley station.
 

MARKET
The Las Vegas and Southern California travel market is one of the nation’s most attractive corridors with over 50 million trips between the region each year. Additionally, Las Vegas continues to attract visitors from around the world, with 4.7 million international travelers flying into the destination. The city dubs itself on being the world’s No. 1 meeting destination,
welcoming nearly 6 million people to the Las Vegas Convention Center last year.
 In California, approximately 17 million Southern California residents are within 25 miles of the Brightline West station sites. Studies show that one out of every three visits to Las Vegas come from Southern California.


 ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Brightline West's $12 billion infrastructure investment will create over $10 billion in economic impact for Nevada and California and will generate more than 35,000 jobs, including 10,000 direct union construction roles and 1,000 permanent operations and maintenance positions. The investment also includes over $800 million in improvements to the I-15 corridor and involve agreements with several unions for skilled labor. The project supports Nevada and California's climate goals by offering a no-emission mobility option that reduces greenhouse gasses by over 400,000 tons of CO2 annually – reducing vehicle miles traveled by more than 700 million each year and the equivalent of 16,000 short-haul flights. The company will also construct three
wildlife overpasses, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Caltrans for the safe passage of native species, primarily the bighorn sheep. 


ABOUT BRIGHTLINE WEST
Brightline is the only private provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity passenger rail service in America – offering a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road by connecting city pairs and congested corridors that are too short to fly and too long to drive. Brightline West will connect Las Vegas and Southern California with the first true high-
speed passenger rail system in the nation. The 218-mile, all-electric rail service will include a flagship station in Las Vegas, with additional stations in Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga.
At speeds up to 200 miles per hour, trains will take passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in about two hours, twice as fast as the normal drive time.  Brightline is currently operating its first passenger rail system connecting Central and South
Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, with future stations coming to Stuart and Cocoa. For more information, visit www.brightlinewest.com and follow on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook.

04/25/2024