In acknowledgment of his dedication to fostering economic development and breaking down barriers for underrepresented entrepreneurs, Senator Josh Newman of California’s 29th District was honored with the Orange County Business Council’s Leadership in Public Service award. The recognition stems from Senator Newman’s instrumental role in securing $8.5 million in funding for RevHubOC’s NorthSTAR OC Collaborative. The collaborative, a beacon of support for underrepresented entrepreneurs, is making significant strides in Orange County’s business landscape.

Newman’s grant has empowered the NorthSTAR OC Collaborative, which includes the CSUF Center for Entrepreneurship and CSUF Startup Incubator, to illuminate pathways and eliminate barriers to entrepreneurship, particularly in underrepresented and under-resourced communities. RevHubOC, Orange County’s premier social enterprise incubator, is spearheading the NorthSTAR OC initiative, now in its second year of operation. The collaborative aims to build a scalable social enterprise ecosystem in North Orange County, and it has already made substantial progress thanks to the support it received.

One key partner in this collaborative effort is CSUF Entrepreneurship. CSUF Entrepreneurship has been actively involved in realizing NorthSTAR OC’s mission and has played a pivotal role in several initiatives aimed at empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs. Among these initiatives is the launch of the Social Entrepreneurship course From Idea to Impact.

For more details on Senator Newman’s award and the NorthSTAR OC Collaborative’s impact, please refer to the original press release here.