Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs catalyze America’s economy

Geri Sanchez Aglipay In Indiana, the Great Lakes Region, and nationwide, the small business start-up boom is largely owners from traditionally underserved communities — and the Latino community helps lead the way. In the last three years, America has experienced the fastest creation rate of Latino-owned small businesses in three decades. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month acknowledges the contributions, diverse cultures and their historical impact in America, like the current record high Latino entrepreneurship. Under landmark bi-partisan legislation passed under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America economic agenda, Hispanic small business owners are at the forefront of strengthening America’s economy. They’re gaining contracts, increasing revenues and creating good-paying jobs from infrastructure projects such as high-speed internet installation, lead pipe abatement, EV parts manufacturing and maintenance, climate-resilient roads and bridges and energy efficient homes and buildings. Customer growth and revenue expansion bodes especially well for small firms who are certified through SBA’s contracting assistance programs such as HubZone, women-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned or the 8(a) Business Development program. Job creation by Hispanic small businesses contributes to closing the wealth gap, wherein Hispanic and Latino households only own about 15 to 20% of the...