Mountain BizWorks has been awarded $88,000 from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center. The grant, made through the center’s “Economic Innovation” program, will support Mountain BizWorks’ services for Latino entrepreneurs in western North Carolina.
Mountain BizWorks aims to mitigate language and cultural barriers that can impede Latinos’ ability to start small businesses. Through starter loans (which help borrowers establish credit scores) and customized one-on-one business coaching, the project is expected to create or expand 30 Latino-owned businesses that will create or retain 58 jobs.
To accomplish these goals, Mountain BizWorks will partner with two other local organizations: Latino Advocacy Coalition, which will promote the program and refer clients; and Center for Participatory Change, which will help clients who want to form business cooperatives.
This is one of 84 grants made by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center in March for creating jobs, improving the availability of health care, and planning water and sewer improvements in rural communities. It is one of 11 grants made in the “Economic Innovation” program area.
For more information, contact Nathan Harlan at 828-253-2834 ext. 14 or nathan@mountainbizworks.org.
– article submitted by Anna Raddatz