Mid-April, a small delegation from the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) attended a luncheon "Understanding California's Energy Market Supply & Demand & Our Energy" in the City of Carson. The invitation was extended by Chamber member Brissa Sotelo-Vargas, Director, of Community Relations & Government Affairs at Valero Energy Corporation who shared the importance of energy in the State of California. 

This informative session was led by Cathy Reheis-Boyd, President of Western States Petroleum Association who provided great insight into California Energy market. Did you know 1) California is the largest jet fuel consumer, 2) Diesel Fuel is the second largest fuel used in California and 3) California is the 3rd largest gasoline-consuming market on the planet. Insight on energy legislation was also discussed as well as the future of energy production in the state. Over 100 organizations and companies attended this session, representing thousands of jobs in the state.

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready (VSBDR) provides personalized content, coaching, community and more to help move your business forward. VSBDR includes courses designed to provide essential knowledge and tools, including topics such as developing a marketing strategy, marketing with influencers, creating a content calendar, and the basics of building your business website.

The free portal also includes access to mentorship, providing small business owners with the opportunity to obtain ongoing advice and support from experienced professionals who can help them overcome business challenges. Spanish language course offerings, coaching from experts and community events are also available.

Small businesses have the opportunity to apply for a $10K grant through May 12, 2023, by taking 2 courses which will then open the portal to the grant.  You can view the webinar HERE.

The FEMME Power CONFAB and Retreat 2023 was a powerful reminder of the groundbreaking contributions of successful women entrepreneurs, civic leaders, sports leaders, music and media artists from an assortment of backgrounds, experiences and industries. Many LALCC members attended and helped organize the event.

To the delight and cheers from the women in attendance, the FEMME retreat was “A call to action to bring 300 of the most amazing women together to be part of a two-day experience like no other in LA” said Anna Sauceda, Co-Chair of LALCC Corporate Advisory Board, during the motivational “T-Shirts & Sneakers Salute to CEOS Power Reception” program. “This is for you,” Anna Sauceda told the enthusiastic FEMME audience during her remarks.

The highlights of the two-day event, included electrifying speeches and performances by Dolores Huerta, civil rights advocate, musical icon Sheila E, appearances by Diana Flores, Flag Football Global Ambassador, the Mariachi Divas, a golf clinic, and a Healing Journey workshop. The closing night award ceremony was hosted by Mario Lopez, actor and TV host.

Sheila E. was presented with the Muse Lifetime Achievement Award. Other awards were presented to civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, The Fighter Award; Hip Hop pioneer MC LYTE, the Living Legend Award; and Mexican flag football champion Diana Flores, the Groundbreaker Award.

Held at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, the Retreat opened on Wednesday, March 29, with an “R&R or Relax and Revive” schedule. The next day the retreat went into full FEMME Power mode with a full schedule of workshops, presentations, luncheon, inspirational talks, Swag Lounge, the FEMME Legacy Awards ceremony and a Concert with a soul-shaking, foot-stomping closing performance by Sheila E.

As part of the business educational Webinar series, LALCC recently partnered with the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to provide information on the County’s Small Business Concierge, APEX Accelerator Program for contracting, Certification information on how to pursue government contracts and Human Resources information about Fair Chance Hiring.

The informative webinar provided unique insights about LA County sponsored certification and contracting opportunities to Small Business Owners. The Fair Chance portion provided information on interviewing tips and financial incentives connected re-entry job-seekers. The webinar started with welcoming remarks by LALCC Chairman Darrel Sauceda, and was hosted by LALCC Operations and Program Manager Olivia E. Rios.

Santiago Orosco, APEX Accelerator Counselor, provided information on the 3 steps to certify with the Office of Small Business for seven different certification programs. The 3 steps are 1) Get registered as a Vendor, 2) Claim your Certification Profile, and, 3) Apply for Certification based on Eligibility.

The APEX Accelerators program focuses on building a strong, sustainable, and resilient U.S. supply chains by assisting a wide range of businesses that pursue and perform under contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD), other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors. During the webinar, Mr. Orosco demonstrated how business owners could navigate the government website to get certified and register their business for contracting opportunities.

Fair Chance, is supported in part by the American Rescue Plan Program, and is a workforce program to pair job seekers seeking re-entry and small business owners. Participating businesses strengthen their workforce to be diverse, equitable, inclusive and qualify for tax credits and financial off-sets for training used by employers when hiring Fair Chance participants. According to Nenette Zabala, Fair Chance Manager, about 70% of employers with Diversity and Inclusion hiring goals, are not aware of Fair Chance and the financial incentives for Small Business Owners.

LALCC Small Business owners who want to expand their business with government contracts, are encouraged to learn the process by watching this webinar available on the LALCC website. If you missed the Live webinar, a recorded version is available at the LALCC website at www.lalcc.org

To create new opportunities and spur future growth for Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) small businesses with financing and loan opportunities, LALCC Chairman, Darrel Sauceda recently met with Melissa McDonald, Chief Operating Officer, of RAZA Development Fund (RDF) to offer small business loans to LALCC members from $25,000-$250,000 which can be used to refinance existing loans, finance facilities, purchase equipment, and working capital to fund operations and future growth projects. RDF was founded in 1999 as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). RDF’s mission is to invest capital and create financial solutions to build generational wealth for Latino and underserved families across the country.

The funding for the small business loans was made available with a recent $3.2 million capital commitment in March 2023 by Charter’s Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund to RDF. The funds are to provide loans to Latino-owned local businesses in financially underserved areas of California, Texas, Ohio, and Florida. RDF intends to use at least $1 million of this investment to provide loans to small businesses within Charter’s California service area.

As part of the financing agreement with RDF, LALCC will provide technical assistance for small businesses who receive a loan from RDF. Housed in Southern California, LALCC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and serves businesses covering all areas of California. LALCC is the leading organization dedicated to organizing and uniting Latino business owners to grow and create positive economic impact. This is accomplished by providing LALCC members with procurement, technical assistance, strategic planning, advocacy, access to political decision makers, economic development and business education.

RDF is currently working with a number of mission-aligned community partners in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Philadelphia, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, and Ohio to ensure affordable access to credit for small, minority-owned business enterprises.

LALCC members who are looking to grow through new financing with a business loan, should contact LALCC immediately to learn more about this exciting new loan opportunity.

The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce and the Department of General Services (DGS) will launch a 3 Part webinar series in August 2021.  The focus is how members can utilize DGB services to their benefit.  

Part 1 - Topic: How to do business with the State of California on August 3, 2021 from 10 - 11:30am.

Part 2 - I'm Certified. Now What? on August 10, 2021 from 10 - 11:30am.

Part 3 - Topic: Contracting with the State of California on August 17, 2021 from 10 - 11:30am.

These webinars are FREE and open to the public.  Register at www.lalcc.org today.

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Avanzar Hispanic Enterprise Accelerator was founded in 2018 in partnership with Wells Fargo to provide small Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses educational training, guidance, counseling, and support through a year long accelerator program designed to help small scalable Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBE's) "Avanzar" or  "advance" to take their business to the next level.

For a second year in a row, Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce was selected as one of seven chambers in the country to execute this program. 

Additional information and to apply visit www.lalcc.org/avanzar

Applications will be made available the middle of May 2021.  For additional information, please contact our office during business hours Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm at (213) 422-9019

Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce announces Elevate Together, powered by Round It Up America is a nonprofit initiative designed to address systemic discrimination and historical racial disparities in business growth and profitability in Black and Hispanic communities.

Through a partnership with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the initiative helps support Hispanic small businesses with five or less employees.  . The ODP Corporation (parent company to Office Depot and CompuCon) is the initiative founding partner.

For more information and grant application visit www.lalcc.org/elevatetogetherw.

Wells Fargo and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Announce Expansion of Innovative Small Business Accelerator Program to 5 New Markets including Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) has been selected as one of five new partners (seven overall) to participate in the Avanzar Small Business Accelerator Program, a United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and Wells Fargo project designated for Latino small businesses ready to take their business to the next level.

In 2020, five new market regions have been selected to invest and expand the Avanzar program by partnering with five local Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

The other new chambers selected by the USHCC as partners are Latin Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas Nevada (Las Vegas, NV), Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Phoenix, AZ), Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Atlanta, GA), and the Hispanic chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando & Prospera (Orlando, FL)

In 2019, Wells Fargo and the USHCC piloted the Avanzar program in partnership with the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Avanzar (‘advance’ in Spanish) is an eight-month business accelerator designed for Latino small businesses that are ready to take their businesses to the next level. Each Latina and Latino entrepreneur participates in courses that are aimed to help develop business plans, strategy, and the leadership skills needed to scale their small businesses. Course topics include building financial plans, streamlining operations, lowering expenses, marketing, leveraging social media, and obtaining access to capital for each business. Subject matter experts, from Wells Fargo, will provide the access to capital training. Throughout the Avanzar Program the USHCC Chambers will track and monitor certain performance metrics with the Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBEs) in the Avanzar Program, including jobs created, access to capital and access to contract opportunities.

“Wells Fargo is proud to be the founding sponsor of the Avanzar program. We fundamentally believe that capacity building, access to capital, and effective mentoring are critical ways to ensure that Hispanic-owned businesses grow and scale. The Avanzar program is about empowering Hispanic business owners to grow sustainable firms that create jobs in communities all across the United States,” said Regina Heyward, Senior Vice President and Head of Supplier Diversity at Wells Fargo.

“We are very excited to expand Avanzar to five new cities thanks to the support from Regina Heyward, on behalf of Wells Fargo, and the great results from our first pilot thanks to Rocio Gonzalez, President and CEO of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte and Ernie C’De Baca, President and CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce,” said Ramiro A. Cavazos, USHCC President and CEO. “Wells Fargo’s investment in Avanzar proves their commitment to helping support Latina and Latino entrepreneurs, America’s fastest growing business group, and our Hispanic Chambers across the country.”

“In the current economic environment, programs like this are critical to help Latino-ed enterprises navigate the current economic crisis, recover and continue to grow,” said Lilly Rocha Executive Director of LALCC. “The Chamber is excited to be partnering with the USHCC, Wells Fargo and our other partner Chambers to bring this important program to our Latino business community.

LALCC board and staff had the pleasure of meeting with new Consulado General de Mexico, Marcela Celorio, to discuss the importance of partnering in creating business opportunities for the Latino Community as well as the importance of identifying ways to enhance cultural awareness in Los Angeles.