Business
New Analysis Finds Small Businesses Are Powering Establishment Growth, But Medium and Large Firms Contribute More To Job Gains
Self-Employed Workers In The Inland Empire Growing Nearly as Fast as Wage and Salary Workers
August 22, 2019— RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) — A new study that looks at the size of businesses in the Inland Empire is shedding light on growth trends occurring in small businesses and among self-employed workers in the region. The analysis, released today by the UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development, examines establishments of all sizes and evaluates which contribute the most to local economic growth, with some surprising results.
The study reveals that although Very Small (1-4 employees) and Small (5-19 employees) businesses account for over 86% of all establishment growth in the region, these businesses are responsible for just 17.7% of job gains. The analysis looks at growth from 2011 through 2016, the most recent data available.
“While small businesses are vital, they’re often perceived as major contributors to overall economic expansion,” said Robert Kleinhenz Executive Director of Research at the Center for Economic Forecasting. “In the Inland Empire, they largely drive establishment growth but they don’t contribute to employment nearly as much as medium and larger sized businesses do.” Kleinhenz says this kind of granular understanding is critical in order to craft public policies and economic development strategies that work effectively with what’s happening on the ground in the local economy.
Overall, there were 71,807 business establishments in the Inland Empire in 2016, an 11.1% increase over 2011, which is a testament to the robustness of the regional economy’s recovery from the Great Recession. And although similar to the state as a whole, the mix of businesses in the Inland Empire differs somewhat with relatively lower concentrations of Very Small businesses but higher concentrations of Small and Medium (20-99 employees) sized businesses. This same pattern applies to the growth of establishments, with the number of Small and Medium sized businesses increasing more in the region than in the state and the number of Very Small Businesses lagging the state over the study period.
The analysis says these and other nuances are worth exploring – and factoring into local economic development programs – as they may reveal regional conditions that make these businesses more conducive to the Inland Empire.
Other key findings that may inform future growth and development strategies include:
- Small But Numerous: Nearly 85% of all business establishments in the Inland Empire are Very Small or Small.
- Industry (also) Matters: Five industries account for 57% of all Very Small and Small businesses in the Inland Empire: Retail Trade, Health Care, Construction, Professional/Scientific/Technical Services, Real Estate Rental/Leasing, and Transportation/Warehousing.
- How Many Self-Employed?: There were 308,401 self-employed workers in the Inland Empire in 2016, equivalent to slightly less than one-quarter of all wage and salary workers in the region.
- Self-Employed Numbers Keeping Up: The number of self-employed workers in the Inland Empire jumped 9% from 2011 to 2016, only slightly behind the growth rate of businesses with wage and salary workers (11.1%).
- Uber/Lyft Type Services Partially Driving Self-Employed Numbers: The Transportation and Warehousing industry experienced a whopping 70% jump in the number of self-employed workers from 2011 to 2016 – partly due to increases in the region’s goods movement industries but also driven in part by on-demand shared ride services such as Uber and Lyft.
- Small Works Better: In general, industries that experienced the largest increases in small business establishments and self-employed workers tend to favor smaller firm size due to low entry costs, making it easier to start up a business, or because the type of business itself is difficult to operate at a large scale.
The complete analysis, Small Businesses and the Self-Employed in the Inland Empire, is available here.
The UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development is the first major university forecasting center in Inland Southern California. The Center produces economic forecasting and policy research focused on the region, state, and nation. Learn more at UCREconomicForecast.org.
Riverside’s Phenix Technology Leads with Inclusion, Empowering the Disabled Community Through Workforce Training and Employer Education
Written by Logan Rosselli, IEBJ Content Contributor
In the heart of Riverside, off of Chicago Avenue, a small, but mighty team has been quietly manufacturing life-saving equipment for firefighters across the world for over 50 years. Phenix Technology Inc. is an internationally recognized fire helmet manufacturer who builds their products from start to finish right here in the Inland Empire. For their great products, they’ve received numerous awards such as the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, a 2016 “E” for Exports award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, a finalist position in the “Coolest Thing Made in California” competition and more. However, their most recent accolade doesn’t involve their products at all.
In 2024, Phenix founded the ground breaking “Opportunity for All” program to provide disabled community members with the opportunity to access career education, hands-on experience and employment opportunities through an 11 week training cohort. In this program, neurodivergent individuals wanting to find stable employment learn about standard hiring practices, writing a resume, effective interviewing and professional attire while getting on-the-job training with a partnered employer in the community. It has helped dozens of disabled community members to find a new sense of independence and achieve their full potential while helping local employers find dependable employees who bring a unique perspective to the workplace.
It’s for this program that the National Association of Workforce Development Boards (NAWB), a representative of over 570 workforce development boards across the United States, honored Phenix with the prestigious W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award in late March.
“While we take tremendous pride in the products we make, we also believe we have a mission to create a better world through developing opportunities,” said Angel Sanchez, CEO of Phenix Technology in a statement released in early April. “Opportunity for All has helped prove that individuals who have historically been excluded from the workforce don’t just contribute — they elevate organizations. We are honored to receive this national award and grateful to the partners who have helped us make this vision a reality.”
CEO Angel Sanchez Jr. accepts the NAWB Award
Though “Opportunity for All” is certainly the cornerstone program for the company, Phenix’s leadership team was not satisfied to leave their mission there. Thus, in 2024, the company founded its nonprofit arm, Phenix Gateway to offer more programs and advocacy to the community. Through Phenix Gateway, the company offers workforce development workshops for individuals who don’t need the full scale of the “Opportunity for All” program, but want to improve a specific skill like resume writing or workplace social skills.
However, Phenix knows that preparing disabled people for the workforce is only one end of the equation; the workforce also has to be prepared to accept the unique skills, perspectives and challenges of the disabled community. For this reason, Phenix Gateway offers employer training workshops as well as educational materials available to businesses and the community. Training programs cover a lot of ground, ranging from assistance with optimizing interviews for people with neurodevelopmental disorders to creating sensory-friendly environments in the workplace.
In Riverside, these programs have had a huge impact on the local community. As of March 2025, Phenix’s Opportunity for All program has had over two dozen participants and 44% found stable employment through or after the program. Their one-off workforce development workshops have seen over 200 participants learn new skills and help them find employment and the nonprofit currently partners with close to 90 businesses to assist them in their endeavor to create a more inclusive workforce.
Phenix Gateway staff helps a program participant with his skills
For businesses or community members interested in learning how they can support or participate in these programs, Phenix encourages them to reach out by email to info@phenixgateway.org and to attend their First Annual Gala: Rising Together, A Phenix Gateway Celebration, on Thursday, May 15th. Tickets for this event are available at phenixgateway.org.
Empowering Economic Growth: CALED Conference Set to Unite Industry Leaders in Ontario
CALED’s ‘Growing Local Economies from the Ground Up’ Conference is being held in Ontario at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport on May 7-9. This event is co-hosted by the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County, with Jennifer McLain Hiramoto, CALED’s Chair of the Board and Derek Armstrong respectively representing their city and county as Co-Chairs of the event.
With over 950 members and 45 years of empowering economic developers, CALED is the largest economic development association in the country and the annual conference is the number one place to meet and connect with the boots-on-the -ground, decision makers in our communities.
The conference will include a pre-conference teaching tour, ‘Building & Paying for Development Projects’ on May 6th and then begin in full on May 7th, with a welcome session and breakouts. Overall, there will be four general assembly sessions and 18 breakout sessions, which will delve into local economic development practices and innovative tools.
In addition to compelling content, the conference will have numerous opportunities to connect with community leaders and valued peers through networking receptions, the culinary crawl, and new this year, the Tournament of Champions, where conference attendees will navigate a gauntlet of games to win the grand prize on the evening of Thursday, May 8th.
To learn more about the conference and register, visit the CALED website at www.caled.org.
Business
Strengthening Community Connections: Our Exciting New Partnership with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL
Contributed Content | By Chris Venhoff, Senior Vice President and Inland Empire Market Leader for Consumer and Business Banking at U.S. Bank
As the Inland Empire market leader for U.S. Bank, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: we are proud to be the Official Bank Partner of Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center. This partnership represents a reflection of our deep commitment to the Inland Empire and our dedication to fostering a vibrant, thriving community.
At U.S. Bank, we believe that strong partnerships drive meaningful progress. Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center are at the heart of the region’s culture and economy, bringing people together for world-class entertainment, business conventions, and community events. By joining forces, we’re not only expanding our presence but also creating opportunities to engage with residents, businesses, and organizations in ways that make a lasting impact.
Through our sponsorship, we’ll support concerts, sporting events, and conventions that showcase the diversity and energy of the Inland Empire. But this is only the beginning. As our partnership evolves, we’ll work closely with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL to introduce community-focused programs, including financial literacy workshops and charitable giving initiatives.
This partnership is designed to bring added value to the people we serve. For our customers, we’re introducing the U.S. Bank Fast Pass Lanes, providing priority access at Toyota Arena events. Special offers, exclusive event experiences, and tailored financial solutions for businesses operating in the region are just a few of the many perks we’re excited to roll out.
Our employees are at the core of our success, and this partnership allows us to recognize their dedication. Through exclusive access to events, corporate hospitality opportunities, and community volunteer programs, our team will have new ways to engage with and celebrate the community they serve.
The Inland Empire is a dynamic, fast-growing region, and we’re committed to supporting its continued success. By investing in Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center, we’re helping to create and sustain jobs while driving local business growth. These venues bring in visitors, revenue, and visibility, strengthening the region’s economy.
This collaboration is about more than just sponsorship—it’s about making a difference. By working together, we can elevate not just these venues but the entire Inland Empire. At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to being a partner in progress, supporting our customers, businesses, and communities every step of the way.
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