Posted on 01/06/2008 4:38:16 AM PST by Glenn
Josue Carrillo did not want to squander the money he inherited after his mother’s death.
He decided that he would invest it in a restaurant, but he was not sure how to go about opening a business.
Carrillo, 19, is one of about 20 businesses helped by the Coalition for Latino Leaders (CLILA) a Dalton organization that works with the Hispanic American Center for Economic Development (HACED). In the next two weeks, Carrillo plans to open the Gordita Factory on South Dixie Highway.
CLILA, located at 446 N. Thornton Ave., hosts workshops on how to start a business, said the organization’s president, America Gruner. A reception celebrating the first year of collaboration between the CLILA and HACED will be at CLILA’s office on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. HACED helps the community obtain information and support in the creation and development of Latino businesses.
“There is no agency representing Latino businesses,” Gruner said. “We guide them through the application and show them how to get licenses and permits.”
The center also helps established businesses learn how to stay open.
“Businesses would start and would close in two to three months,” Gruner said. “People would lose their savings. There was a need for information from experts on the issues with everything related to small businesses.”
Carrillo said when he decided to begin his business he did not know what to do.
“They helped me to focus on my business plan,” he said.
CLILA has helped a variety of businesses that sell items including aromatic soaps and authentic Mexican piñatas to one-hour photo shops and imported leather clothing, Gruner said. Formed in 2006, CLILA moved into its new facility this past November.
In the future, Gruner said plans are to begin a Latino business association.
CLILA is run by volunteers, with some of the organization’s leaders “pitching in” to pay the rent on the Thornton Avenue office. Most of the services provided to participant are free, Gruner said.
“We are responding to a need in the community in general,” Gruner said. “People want to do business and follow the rules. If they don’t know what the rules are, they can’t do it.”
For more information, call (706) 272-6664 or email cliladalton@yahoo.com.
Aren’t the receipt of services taxable?
What a load of crap. The same resources for business start-ups and business development are available to everyone....SBA...SCORE...Microloan programs....State and Community Supported Economic Development Center, Incubation Centers and the list goes on and on.
Appears this CLILA organization will be the only business that profits with its state and federal grants.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.