Purpose, Mission & Vision

Purpose

The purpose of the Kutztown University Latino Business Resource Center is to utilize the Spanish language to better facilitate the learning process of bilingual Latino entrepreneurs. Delivering business development content in a recognizable format and language that bridges the gap between the demands of the fastest growing business and workforce segment in the Commonwealth with the supply of tools and resources offered by economic development organizations. Allowing the Center to more effectively fulfill its overall mission of growing the economy of Pennsylvania by providing entrepreneurs with the education, information and tools necessary to build successful businesses and allow workers to transfer skills (Accounting, Sales, Marketing and Planning) to their respective workplace.

Mission

The Kutztown University Latino Business Resource Center will help Latino entrepreneurs and the Latino workforce grow and flourish by building the capacity of economic development organizations to work more effectively with Latinos and will provide Latinos with business consulting, education, research and business tools.

Vision

The Kutztown University Latino Business Resource Center will strive to be the lead provider of entrepreneurial, small business development services and resources to the Latino-serving economic development organizations.

History

In June of 2006, Kutztown University responded to the growing Latino business community throughout Pennsylvania, by developing and translating two bilingual online business development courses. The project was a result of grant from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation and AT&T Foundation and collaborations between the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lehigh Valley. The grant and the project were the catalyst that led to Kutztown University and the Kutztown SBDC to establish the Latino Business Resource Center with the goal of helping Latino entrepreneurs start, grow and flourish by building the capacity of economic development organizations to work more effectively with Latino entrepreneurs and provide Latino entrepreneurs with business consulting, education, research and business tools that will help them develop thriving businesses.

The Center has been steadfast in its commitment to bridging that gap and meeting the challenges that have specific bearing on the status of Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the region. By working closely with Latino and Latino-serving organizations, as well as regional economic development organizations, the Center has been able to make a significant impact in the Latino business community and earned it the President's Award at the 27th Annual United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention and Business Expo.

Since its inception, the Center has:

• Created the largest bilingual online library of entrepreneurial workshops with a total of twenty-four (24) bilingual online business workshops;
• Translated and delivered four (4) 12-week "Business Skills for Success" seminars;
• Translated and developed a 3 hour First Step course;
• Trained over one hundred & forty two (142) Hispanic entrepreneurs;
• Consulted over one hundred & fourteen (114) Hispanic entrepreneurs;
• Become the only Latino Business Resource Center within the 1100 SBDCs nationwide;
• Partnered and enhanced capacity with local and regional Hispanic Chambers of Commerce;
• Served as trainer for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Conventions in Philadelphia, PA; San Juan, Puerto and in Sacramento, CA;
• Partnered with National Penn Bank to create a Pioneering Micro Business Financing Model.