More than 80% of the people polled in an assessment last year of Chattanooga’s Latino population said they were interested in starting their own business.
(READ MORE: La Paz Chattanooga marks 20 years of serving the Scenic City’s Latino population)
Administered by La Paz, an organization serving the city’s growing Latino community, the 2023 survey gathered responses from more than 300 people and offered a snapshot of needs within that population.
About a quarter of the respondents said they speak English fluently, and about two-thirds of participants had a household income of $31,000 or less. Census data indicates about 8% of Chattanooga’s 184,000 residents are Hispanic.
“Overwhelmingly, we had a lot of respondents say that yes, they would like to learn more about how to formalize a business here in Chattanooga and what the process is,” Lily Sanchez, the organization’s communications and development manager, said in a phone call.
La Paz is rolling out a 12-week business class taught by Marco Perez of Prospera Strategies. He will teach the classes in Spanish. The free courses will consist of 10-15 people and cover finances, marketing, leadership and building a business plan. Funds from Hamilton County and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development are supporting the program.
People interested in participating should call La Paz at 423-624-8414 or text 423-401-0880 by Aug. 9. The first session will begin Aug. 22.
In a phone call, Perez said the course is targeted for people who have already started a company but need resources, knowledge or connections to boost their business.
“They’re not just in the idea stage,” Perez said. “They’re probably in practice already.”
Chattanooga’s Latino population contains many entrepreneurs, Sanchez said, and La Paz has previously tried to make resources and education more accessible. In 2018, the organization worked with the Company Lab to offer a Spanish-language curriculum for early stage entrepreneurs, she said. That program has since ended. Other nonprofits offer training to small business owners across different fields, she said, but there’s a need for programs specifically tailored to this group.
(READ MORE: How La Paz took root with Chattanooga and the Hispanic community)
“Latino-owned and Hispanic-owned businesses are a growing economic development opportunity — not only in Chattanooga but across the country,” Perez said. “Our goal is to help provide the support and the opportunity for their success.”
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.
