Hispanic Entrepreneurship Program
The Hispanic Entrepreneurship Program is designed to provide one-on-one small business development counseling to low-income Hispanic/Latino families living in Northern Virginia as a means to contribute to asset building (e.g., savings accounts) and wealth creation (e.g., small business ownership). The program also offers weeknight and weekend workshops and courses to accommodate the work schedules of our clients.
The Entrepreneurship Program began as part of a collaborative effort with the Community Business Partnership and The Women's Business Center in October of 2001 and is supported today by grants from Capital One, Fairfax County and others. Since its inception, over 650 students have graduated and 118 have opened new businesses to the community, creating 143 new jobs. Course graduates often specialize in construction, cleaning, restaurants, child care, landscaping, bookkeeping and other service-based industries. Total estimated annual sales of the 118 businesses reach $3,178,000; ten loans were obtained; and $1,043,600 in equity was invested.
One-on-One Business Counseling
Bilingual/bicultural small business counselors are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Hispanic Committee of Virginia’s Falls Church headquarters. Counselors assist clients with the development of business concepts and business plans; business start-ups ( i.e. type of legal entity they need to select, type of insurance); credit and financing; recordkeeping and management; introduction to cash flow; and legal tax, and governmental compliance. Counseling sessions may occur as often and for as long as the client wishes.
Hispanic Entrepreneurial Program Course
The HEP course is designed for those just beginning to think about what it means to have a business in the United States. This initial four-week course is taught on Saturday mornings with a curriculum designed by the Hispanic Committee of Virginia staff in collaboration with the Community Business Partnership and The Women's Business Center.
NxLevel Business Start–Ups Course
NxLevel Business Start-Ups Course is a 10-session course designed for people who want to start a business and need the skills to test the feasibility of their business concept. Participants develop a business plan which acts as the blueprint for their start-up venture.
Course sessions are delivered by the Hispanic Committee of Virginia’s business counselors and by CPAs, attorneys, insurance representatives, business brokers and bank representatives on Saturday mornings.
Other Workshops/Seminars
Café y Cash Flow is a workshop that teaches how to create a cash flow projection and the importance of cash flow to a small business. A loan officer from Enterprise Development Group leads the workshop and reviews what he looks for in a cash flow statement before approving a loan. The workshop is given every other Tuesday morning from 9:30am-11am.
Mercadeo en la Medioteca is a workshop that introduces participants to the valuable business resources available for free at the public library. Start-ups and existing businesses alike can apply the information to improve their marketing plans, write better business plans, and identify opportunities for networking. The workshop is held twice per month.
Additional workshops on a variety of topics are available each month.
For more information, to schedule a one-on-one counseling session, to be added to our listserve or to register for seminars, contact:
Adrienne Kay Hispanic Entrepreneurial Coordinator at
akay@hcva.org or 703-671-5666 ext. 13
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