The heart and soul of the GPHCC, the SBDE is an umbrella program that addresses the needs of Latino business owners and corporations working to enhance the viability of emerging Hispanic markets.
Hispanic business markets are complex in that as emerging markets, the segment has much to learn regarding business systems in the United States. The segment is simply a U.S. small business, yet the systems themselves provide for diversified opportunities according to the level of understanding.
This is why the SBDE focuses on education specific to segments such as retail, restaurants and entrepreneurial ventures requiring more development including learning English and accounting systems. For more established small Latino businesses, the SBDE focuses on increasing minority participation by providing support with an array of certifications, contract acquisition and technical assistance education and services.
The SBDE program seeks to help Latino businesses access capital and has partnered with the Cooperative Business Assistance Corporation (CBAC) to provide a variety of lending products ranging from micro loans to real estate and traditional lending.
As part of its advocacy goals, the SBDE programs also hosts Latino Business on the Hill, an annual advocacy day in Pennsylvania, together with other Pennsylvania Latino chambers of commerce, for members to have an opportunity to meet with their respective legislators and to address issues affecting Latino businesses.
The GPHCC is committed to helping grow Latino business markets while ensuring a healthy future economy to the region.
About the Small Business Development & Education Program (SBDE)
-
Purpose: To connect members with new business opportunities to help them realize their local, regional, national and international growth opportunities; to provide education, research findings and useful information to help individuals adopt best business practices; to provide meaningful opportunities for Hispanic business leaders and employees to influence public policy by engaging elected and public officials.
-
Key to the development programs are a series of interactive seminars focused on five main areas of interest to our small-to-medium business owners:
- Taxes – Preparing for the tax season
- Finance – How to access working capital and business loans
- Procurement – How-to information on supplier programs and minority certification
- Marketing – Basic marketing techniques to help improve sales and distribution
- Operations – The basics of running a business and developing business plans
Seminar topics are reviewed and updated regularly, based on input from our membership.
For more information about this program, please contact Yocasta Lora, Small Business Development & Education Program Coordinator, at (215) 790-3852 or at ylora@greaterphilachamber.com.