The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC) has opened new offices at the College of the Desert (COD) Indio Campus, marking a step toward stronger collaboration between local businesses and educational institutions. The event drew local leaders, education partners, and community stakeholders to highlight the partnership’s role in supporting workforce development across the region.
Speakers at the event included Neil Lingle from College of the Desert; Lindsay Grant, Regional Board Chair for GCVCC and representative of 379 Enterprise Management Corporation; and GCVCC CEO Brandon Marley. Each emphasized the significance of connecting business with education.
Local government officials from Cathedral City, Coachella, Indian Wells, Indio, and La Quinta presented certificates of recognition. Additional acknowledgments came from Congressman Ken Calvert’s office, Assemblymember Greg Wallis, Senator Alex Padilla, and Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.
“We are so incredibly proud to now call the College of the Desert Indio Campus our home,” Grant said. “Thank you to President Val Martinez Garcia and the entire College of the Desert administration for their vision and commitment to fostering a stronger connection between education and industry.This partnership places the heart of our business community right where the next generation of our workforce is being educated. It’s a physical manifestation of our shared belief that when business and education succeed together, our entire valley succeeds. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening economic opportunity throughout the valley.”
Marley spoke about what such events mean for local entrepreneurs: “Days like today remind me that amid the events, mixers, networking, advocacy, and everything else we do, it’s easy to overlook just how meaningful a ribbon cutting can be for our local businesses,” he said. “For a brief moment, a business gets to pause—set aside the bills, the marketing, and the daily pressures—and truly celebrate a milestone they’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
“These ribbon cuttings aren’t about the chamber, an agenda, or elected officials. They’re about honoring a special day for entrepreneurs who take risks and pour their hearts into their work every single day. We are genuinely privileged to share in these milestone moments, and we look forward to celebrating many more across our region.”
The new offices are intended to help connect students with area businesses as part of ongoing efforts in workforce development and regional economic growth.
