Fiona Ma to headline Inland Prosperity Conference 2026 in Riverside

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma will keynote the Inland Prosperity Conference 2026 on Aug. 21 at Marriott Riverside at the Convention Center. The regional small-business event will focus on capital access, growth, contracting and women-owned business leadership across the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley.

Why it matters: - The Inland Prosperity Conference is aimed at helping small businesses move from launch to stability to growth. - The event brings together lenders, funders, public agencies and business owners in one place, which can speed up access to capital, contracts and support. - The conference also spotlights women entrepreneurs, a group that often faces added barriers to financing and scale.

What happened: - The Inland Empire Women’s Business Center and the Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center will host Inland Prosperity Conference 2026. - California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, will deliver the keynote speech. - The conference is set for Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marriott Riverside at the Convention Center in Riverside, California. - Ma’s keynote is titled "Main Street Momentum: How Capital Access Builds Regional Prosperity." - The event theme is "United for Business: Get Ready to Open, Grow and Lead."

The details: - The conference will include expert panels, breakout sessions, resource tables, networking and action-oriented sessions. - Topics will include capital readiness, contracting, customer growth, communications, AI, succession planning and women-owned business leadership. - A featured Women-Owned Business Track will focus on leadership, visibility, financial readiness, wealth-building and long-term business value. - Sonali Fiske will lead "Power on the Red Dot: A TEDx-Inspired Masterclass for Women Entrepreneurs." - Dr. Christiane Schroeter will lead "Ready to Be Seen, Own Your Growth: The Small Steps That Build Big Momentum." - Other scheduled sessions include "Opening Doors to Capital," "What Women Are Building Across the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley," "Contracts, Certifications, & Bigger Customers," "Communications and AI for Growing Businesses" and "Legacy by Design: Plan Your Exit Strategy or Succession Plan." - The conference is open to small business owners, entrepreneurs, startups, microbusinesses, main street businesses, contractors, service providers, makers, employers, growth-stage companies, funders, lenders, CDFIs, sponsors and economic development partners.

Between the lines: - The conference reflects a regional push to connect businesses with practical resources, not just inspiration. - The emphasis on capital access, procurement and succession planning suggests organizers are targeting both near-term growth and long-term business survival. - The women-owned business programming signals a broader economic development strategy centered on inclusion and ownership.

What's next: - Registration details were not included in the announcement. - The Inland Empire and Coachella Valley Women’s Business Centers will use the event to strengthen ties among entrepreneurs, lenders and public-sector partners. - More information is available from the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley Women’s Business Centers at their websites and cvwbc.org. - The Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship says it has served more than 217,000 entrepreneurs and generated more than $1 billion in regional economic impact. - More information about the RLCE and its initiatives is available at the center’s website.