New resources for Latino owned businesses

MassMutual and the Hispanic National Bar Association come together to present “Su Negocio.”   The program is designed to help Latino-owned businesses by providing resources to either start or expand a commercial business and help them to have a successful future.

Arturo Gonzalez, one of the co-chairs for the Su Negocio event said participants receive legal advice as well as learn how to evaluate business finances. 

Transcript:

Jose Cardenas: Good evening, and welcome to "Horizonte." find out about a program designed to empower Latino small business owners and a play focused on the students and community who fought to save the Mexican-American studies program in Tucson.

There were all these things my parents showed me that I didn't get to see on television which was dignity. Latinos with dignity.

Jose Cardenas: A documentary on how news and entertainment portray Latinos. All this coming up next on “Horizonte."

"Horizonte" is made possible by contributions from the friends of Arizona PBS. Members of your PBS station. Thank you.

Jose Cardenas: A program designed to help Latino-owned small businesses with access to resources to start or expand a business. Here to talk about the program is Arturo Gonzalez, one of the co-chairs for an event here in phoenix. It is your business and you are focusing on business owners but you were were with the Hispanic bar association. What is the connection between that and business?

Arturo Gonzalez: Thank you for having us. This program is kind of a resent creation between the Hispanic National Bar association and mçs mutual. We realized Hispanic-owned businesses are growing at an unprecedented date rate. I saw a figure saying 15% faster. We want to capture and help.

Jose Cardenas: Are these people existing or potential clients?

Arturo Gonzalez: They could be. Absolutely. We thought it would be great for us to take our legal expertise and provide that to the community and this is one attempt to do so and focusing on Latino-owned small businesses particularly.

Jose Cardenas: As I understand it, this has been going on for several years. This is the eighth one that will be presented.

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. The first program was in Miami in January of 2016. They toured the country, finding hot spots where this program was the most-needed. Phoenix actually happens to be the eighth city where this program will take place.

Jose Cardenas: And the timing is being done in conjunction with the presentation of data in Arizona.

Jose Cardenas: Absolutely. That goes without saying one of our partners in the process has been the Arizona Hispanic chamber of commerce, which we want to thank for their cooperation. You are right. This will follow the dapos program, which has been hugely successful. We realize there is going to be a lot of business owners in one place and location at the same time and we thought it made sense to follow.

Jose Cardenas: So they will present at a breakfast this Friday at JW Marriott. How is this going to work? You don't have to attend the breakfast to participate in the program?

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. They are separate and apart. There is a separate link to register. Free admission free of charge. This is going to proceed the program. It is scheduled to Texas place from 10:30-12:00 after the breakfast.

Jose Cardenas: Tell us what the program will be.

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. We have a door program kind of. We have one segment which is going to be a keynote panel with three great panelists and we will talk about topics that are relevant to the Hispanic-owned business community. We have a couple topics on business evaluation, growing a business, on financing for your business and it is going to be talked about in this larger keynote panel.

Jose Cardenas: And you have real heavy-hitters.

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. We have three confirmed.

Jose Cardenas: And then there are breakout sessions?

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. After that we have breakout session and they are going to be grouped into two categories. One the growth category and that is geared for businesses that have been in business for some time. Topics are how to you continue to grow the business and protect it in the future. So that will be following kind of as you grow your business. Then the second portion is going to be a portion on growth and startups. We will have two local attorneys here from Stetsfield Johnson that are going to be talking about corporate structures and what corporate structures might be best for your business and they will be talking about new regulations that just came out, I believe, today as a matter of fact and ones employees use to keep track of their employees. Great important stuff.

Jose Cardenas: You mention immigration. I can't let you go without asking you this question. DACA, what are you guys doing right now?

Arturo Gonzalez: The HMBA and I think I can speak for the local affiliate of HMBA have both made statements in opposition of President Trump's decision of DACA. We urge congress to come forth with a solution. And locally we have had several efforts from members to put on DACA drives. The first one was actually this past Saturday. There is two more DACA drives coming up. The 23rd and 30th of September.

Jose Cardenas: And people can get information by going to the website?

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. I am sure they can put up the link.

Jose Cardenas: What we are talking about is those who have until October 5th to renew their DACA status?

Arturo Gonzalez: Absolutely. These are purely eligible for renewal. We are providing free counseling so no-charge help with filling out the appropriate DACA forms.

Jose Cardenas: Thank you for talking about that and of course about the program on Friday at the JW Marriott. Good to see you. You have watching "Horizonte" on Arizona PBS. Coming up, a play about the students and community who fought to save the Mexican-American studies program in Tucson.