Individuals often gravitate toward starting businesses and being their own boss, in the hope of creating lasting wealth for their families. Their passion is exhibited in the skills they bring to their work and the quality displayed in their products or service. However, for many, the gulf between having talent and knowing how to turn that talent into a profit is often wide and deep. Running a business requires knowledge in skills that don’t often come naturally like forecasting costs and targeting markets among others. In the Latino business community, the challenges are even greater. Latinos across the nation are launching businesses at an unprecedented pace, but many barriers remain that keep them from reaching their full potential. Some of the barriers include access to capital, customer acquisition, and language. 

For this reason, West Business Development Center has launched the Mercado Comunitario training program. This FREE Spanish language program trains existing and early-stage businesses in a variety of skills including business planning, financial management, and marketing. In addition, successful applicants who complete the program will have the opportunity to engage in new markets. By participating in local community markets and festivals in Mendocino County through booths sponsored by West Business Development Center. “Integrating new businesses into existing community markets helps improve our economy and creates a diverse marketplace†states Mary Anne Petrillo, CEO of West Business Development Center. 

Individuals can apply for this free four-week training course through West Business Development Center. Instructor Mariana Almaraz will be conducting the training. She has worked with the Latino business community providing one-on-one business advising for the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) since 2016. She teaches classes in Spanish in Sonoma and Napa counties and will now add Mendocino county to her area. 

Applications open March 2 and close March 20, 2020. Training begins April 4 and runs for four consecutive Saturdays. There are three ways to apply for this program:

1) Apply online here

2) Pick up/Drop off applications at the West Center offices 185 E. Church Street, Ukiah CA or 345 N. Franklin Street, Fort Bragg

3) Personal assistance to fill out the application will be on Friday, March 13 from 6-7 pm and Saturday, March 14 from 12-1 pm at 185 E. Church Street, Ukiah


Free Business Advising at West Business Development Center

If you are a business of one or a company of 100 employees, at any stage from startup to established, WestBDC offers free business advising  — on whatever topic you might be stuck on. If it’s finding the right loan to expand, staffing your business with the right people or even just wading through new minimum wage requirements, we have experts ready to help you right now. 

Click here to sign up for free advising. We’ll schedule a free, thirty-minute call and then we’ll assign you the free expert advisor you need.

See how these successful businesses set up, grew and expanded with West Business Development Center Free Advising services:

Frosted: Cupcakes & Goodies, Fort Bragg

Seagull Inn, Mendocino

Peace and Plenty Farms, Kelseyville

Smithwood Mercantile, Mendocino

To see more Client success stories check out our Client Stories or our YouTube channel.

Are you a woman-owned business? 

Please join us for our monthly networking events where you can meet other women entrepreneurs and share best practices, knowledge and make friends.