(Photos above: Kut N Beauty (L-R): SBDC Director Steve Curley, Owner Micaela Sandoval, SBDC Advisor José Balcazar, RDI Program Manager Kristine Mier; Nueva Imagen (L-R) flanked by friends: Owner Rosario Bernabe, SBDC Director Steve Curley, SBDC Advisor José Balcazar, RDI Program Manager Kristine Mier; The Loco Place (L-R) Owner Veronica Castro, SBDC Advisor José Balcazar, RDI Program Manager Kristine Mier, SBDC Director Steve Curley)
Three new Latino owned businesses in Redmond held grand openings recently. The businesses are Kut N Beauty Salon, Nueva Imagen Hairstylist and The Loco Place, a Mexican convenience store with fresh fruit traditional snacks.
Each of these businesses have been working on their business planning over the last several months with Latino business advisor, José Balcazar, at the COCC Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
While each business owner has had different needs throughout the business planning process, they have all been participating in Pasos al Éxito or Steps to Success, a program of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI). The Pasos al Éxito program has been offered in several communities throughout the state including Madras and currently Redmond. The program helps prospective business owners learn how to manage money in the Money Smart classes and teaches business principles in the Starting a Business classes. The program also provides one-on-one business advising in cooperation with the SBDC.
“This program is helping rural Latino businesses across the state to prepare and begin to live out their dreams of starting and owning a business,” states Kristine Mier, program manager for RDI. “We’re very excited to see these businesses starting in Redmond.”
Another partner in helping rural businesses get started in Central Oregon is NeighborImpact through their micro-lending program. This program assisted one of the businesses with a $5,000 micro loan to get their business off the ground.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with these great people who are now business owners following their dream,” said Balcazar. “It is very rewarding to be a part of their success.”
The COCC Small Business Development Center helps local business owners build a business that works for them. They work one-on-one with entrepreneurs to start, build and expand their businesses. Experienced advisors provide knowledge, support and educational workshops. Businesses gain access to practical resources for business planning, financing, and market research. The goal of the SBDC is to have a positive impact on the growth and sustainability of Central Oregon businesses.
Pasos al Éxitois a program of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) that provides financial and entrepreneurial skills and resources to rural Latinos. A two-year microenterprise development program, Pasos al Éxito builds the entrepreneurial capacity of rural Latino community participants in three ways: training in basic personal and business finance, instruction in starting a small microenterprise business, and access to support and resources as participants take their first steps toward success.
