SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northern California
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is proud to announce the
launch of ¡HolaSBDC!, a groundbreaking initiative designed to
empower the growing population of Hispanic entrepreneurs in
Northern California. This
innovative program provides a gateway to culturally customized
business advising, training, and live Q&A sessions on YouTube,
all delivered in Spanish, addressing a critical gap in support
services.
Hispanic Entrepreneurship: Driving Economic Growth in
Norcal
While Hispanics represent 39.4% of California's population, Latino entrepreneurs
own 85,000 employer businesses, constituting 11% of all employer
businesses in the state as of 2020. This proportion underscores a
significant underrepresentation in the business sector, considering
the size and growth of the Hispanic community, which has seen an
11% increase since the last census.
¡HolaSBDC! Bridging the Gap and Fostering Growth
¡HolaSBDC! directly addresses these challenges by providing
pathways to comprehensive support in Spanish:
- Live Q&A sessions: Biweekly, interactive sessions
hosted by experts address common challenges and provide real-time
guidance in a familiar language. The first livestream begins
Thursday, May 9 at 11 AM, with subsequent livestreams held every
other Thursday at 11 AM.
Entrepreneurs can submit questions for the livestreams by visiting
HolaSBDC.org. The livestreams can also be viewed on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/@HolaSBDC.
- One-on-one business advising: Experienced business
advisors fluent in Spanish offer guidance on business plan
development, marketing, finance, and more.
- Culturally relevant training workshops: Workshops
covering crucial business topics in Spanish equip participants with
the knowledge and resources needed to succeed in today's diverse
and competitive marketplace.
Developed in collaboration with the California Hispanic Chambers
of Commerce, a leading advocate for Hispanic businesses, ¡HolaSBDC!
ensures program alignment with the community's unique needs and
aspirations.
"¡HolaSBDC! reflects our continued commitment to fostering a
more inclusive business ecosystem where Hispanic entrepreneurs can
thrive," says Kristin Johnson,
Executive Director for Norcal SBDC. "By removing language barriers
and providing culturally relevant support, we will empower
entrepreneurs to build their dreams and contribute to the economic
prosperity of our communities."
"We're very proud to announce this exciting new program, which
builds upon our commitment to supporting our Hispanic entrepreneurs
throughout the region," says Oscar
Garcia, Program Director for ¡HolaSBDC!. "Our programs
provide the resources and support necessary to thrive in a
competitive business environment, especially important for the
Hispanic business community, which faces many obstacles to growth,
including language and cultural barriers. We firmly believe that
equipping small businesses with the right resources and guidance
will pave the way for their growth and prosperity."
Hispanic entrepreneurs seeking to start, grow, or expand their
businesses are encouraged to visit the ¡HolaSBDC! website at
https://holasbdc.org or contact Oscar
Garcia, Program Director for ¡HolaSBDC!, at
conectate@holasbdc.org for more information.
About Norcal SBDC
Norcal SBDC, a pivotal force in Northern California's economic development for
over three decades, serves diverse communities across 36 counties.
As part of America's SBDC network, we provide extensive, no-fee
support to existing and startup businesses across various sectors.
Over the last two years, our efforts have led to the creation of
over 14,000 jobs, the launch of 2,200 new businesses, and the
mobilization of over $2.4 billion in
small business capital, significantly contributing to our region's
sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
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SOURCE Northern California Small Business Development Center