New Riverside County education conference center opens in Indio

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — A new Riverside County Office of Education facility officially opened its doors in Indio Wednesday, giving students, educators and community organizations in the Coachella Valley a new place for training, conferences and events closer to home.

The 33,000-square-foot Indio Administration Building and Conference Center celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house.

County education officials say the facility is designed to address a longstanding challenge for desert-area students and educators, who have traveled thousands of miles each year to attend trainings, competitions, meetings and conferences held more than 50 miles away in western Riverside County.

“We’re just excited to welcome our school districts, our educational community and the broader community to programs here,” said Elizabeth F. Romero of the Riverside County Board of Education. “So that they can have opportunities for childcare, for training, workforce development, career technical education.”

The center is located at 83625 Dr. Carreon Boulevard, adjacent to the existing Riverside County Office of Education facility in Indio.

For local school districts, the new space means educators and families can access more county resources without making the trip to Riverside. Educators say the investment could also send a broader message to students and families about the county’s commitment to the region.

“What families and students can take away by having a resource like this in their community, is that the county is investing in their community,” said Dr. Frances Esparza of Coachella Valley Unified School District.

The facility is also expected to provide space for community organizations that have struggled to find suitable places to gather.

Daisy Castaneda, co-founder and vice president of the United for Autism and Abilities Foundation, said the organization has often relied on public spaces such as coffee shops and libraries for gatherings.

“Opening this place up is such an amazing opportunity for us,” Castaneda said.

The conference center is expected to host teacher trainings, student recognition events, educational conferences, competitions and community programs. Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez said the facility is intended to be a resource for the entire region.