Small Business Administration office coming to Coachella Valley

Serving chile rellenos, chimichangas and tamales, it’s the smell of success at Pueblo Viejo Grill in Palm Desert.

“It’s a family owned business. The food is great and we’re just proud to serve the Coachella Valley,” said owner Alba Cruz.

Cruz said her family opened their third restaurant in the Coachella Valley this year with help from Small Business Administration loans.

“With the first SBA loan we were able to acquire the first location in Indio that we opened 10 and a half years ago. From that one we went ahead acquired a second location at Cook and Gerald Ford. Now we opened this location here, the old TGI Friday’s,” said Cruz.

To offer more local support, Rep. Raul Ruiz joined the SBA at Pueblo Viejo Grill Tuesday as it announced it will open a resource office in the desert.

“This will be the only Small Business Administration office in the entire Inland Empire, prior to this small business owners had to drive all of the way to LA, Orange County or San Diego,” said Ruiz.

The office will provide help to business owners to create new, sustainable and good paying jobs locally.

As for where the new office will be located in the valley, that’s still to be determined. The SBA hopes more businesses will get involved and take advantage of the resources.

“We hope to continue to grow and generate more jobs for the community. I encourage everybody to look into the SBA. They have a great loan program,” said Cruz.