GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As West Michigan’s Hispanic population continues to boom, Latino business owners are facing obstacles to expansion.
For more than a decade, Jeri Romero has run her Grand Rapids-based marketing company, Acceso VIP, where she has represented organizations such as Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. and Bethany Christian Services.
But getting there wasn’t easy: Spanish is her native language, and most of the training for future business owners, such as accounting and business management, is conducted exclusively in English, she said.
“As a business owner, I’ve struggled with learning the finances of a business,” she told News 8 through a translator.
Neighbors help out during construction on Cesar E. Chavez Street
The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is trying to break down that barrier. This year, the chamber began offering accounting training in Spanish at its headquarters on S. Division Avenue in Grand Rapids.
“When you try to explain processes, calculations and cash flows, it can be hard to understand, even in your own language,” says Guillermo Cisneros, president and CEO of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Imagine what it would be like if it was in another language. We want to be able to provide this knowledge to Latino businesses in their own language.”
The chamber plans to expand Spanish-language training to human resources, strategic planning and financing once it opens its new headquarters, which will cost about $10 million. Construction on the new headquarters is scheduled to begin early next year on an old factory site on Godfrey Street. The facility is expected to open within the next 10 to 12 months. Interior features will include meeting rooms, classrooms and space for chamber staff.
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Romero hopes the new center and the training it will provide will help boost business for Latinos.
“The biggest impact for any business owner is knowing what’s going on in their business,” Romero said. “And from there, as everyone says, information is power.”
The chamber holds accounting education classes the second Tuesday of each month from January through October. The next workshop, discussing W-9s and contractors, will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at the chamber’s headquarters, 2007 S. Division Ave. near Barton Street. Cost for the class is $25 for members and $40 for nonmembers.
“I think this is a great opportunity because it’s really helped me grow both personally and professionally,” Romero said.
To support local Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs, the Chamber hosts free business workshops called “Talleres Empresariales. These sessions are held at 9 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month from January through October.
The Chamber also hosts a free monthly networking event for business owners, “Conectas,” which takes place on the third Thursday of each month from January through November at 8:30 a.m.
More information about the Chamber’s business and workforce development efforts can be found on the Chamber’s website.
