The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, United Way and Wells Fargo are joining forces to promote the creation and/or growth of micro-enterprises in the McAllen area. The LatinaHope Business Network is designed to facilitate the learning, networking and acting of Spanish speaking micro-entrepreneurs that have a new business idea or a small business and want to move their venture to a more tangible point.

The program begins with basic workshops on finance, single entry bookkeeping, operational management, marketing and business plan development. Additionally, each session attendees will have the opportunity to learn at least two of the following skills: candle making, card making, jewelry making, knitting / crocheting / quilting, sewing and alterations, soap making, toy making, and wreath making.

After attending the two trainings, participants will have the opportunity to prepare a project plan (basic business plan) and present their business idea from the to the LatinaHope judging panel. The panel will decides if the project is mature enough to receive the LatinaHope Ignite fund. Recipients of the LatinaHope Ignite fund will get up to $250 in materials to encourage the creation of new microenterprises in the McAllen area. After using the first round of materials, the entrepreneur is allowed to request a second round of materials at a significant discount to expand and grow the new business.

The LatinaHope Business Network holds its meetings the first and third Wednesday of the month at Calvary Baptist Church, 1600 Harvey St, McAllen, TX. The first will is scheduled for January 20, 2016. The LatinaHope is open to all community members that are working on new ideas. The event is conducted in Spanish. RSVP required, as seating is limited. For additional information, or to RSVP, please contact Ivan Gonzalez, (956) 682-2871 or igonzalez@mcallenchamber.com