The City of Minneapolis announces the first annual Latino Business Week Oct. 6-Oct. 13. The special week honors all Latino entrepreneurs and business owners in the City with events like panels, vendor shopping, music and various resources for aspiring and existing business owners.
“Minneapolis’ growing Latino community is essential to our city’s cultural vibrancy and economic strength,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “From small mom-and-pop shops on Lake Street to larger enterprises employing people across the city, Latino-owned businesses are creating jobs, enriching neighborhoods, and strengthening our local economy with their resilience and diversity. While we proudly celebrate these invaluable contributions during Latino Business Week, I know the work our Latino neighbors are doing doesn’t end when the week does.”
The week kicked off Sunday afternoon with Mayor Frey, Minneapolis City Council Members Jason Chavez (who is serving as sponsor for the week’s activities) and Jeremiah Ellison, and Latino Business owners from La Mexicana Supermercado, El Guanaco Bakery & Cafe, and Mercado Central. The kick-off ended with a special performance by Colombian Live MN. Latino Business Week is one of the ways the City invests in economic equity – part of the City’s continued investment for economic inclusion and recovery.
The Minneapolis City Council recently celebrated an honorary resolution at the Sept. 19 meeting.
“As a proud Latino, son of immigrant parents and Ward 9 Council Member, it is an honor to support Latino Business Week. My office has had the privilege of connecting with countless business owners, and through these conversations, we have gained invaluable insights and inspiration,” said Chavez. “I am filled with pride and gratitude for every entrepreneur who adds their unique sazon to our city. When we undertake initiatives like this, we send a powerful message to our residents: We see you, we value you, and we stand with you. I share a heartfelt thank you to all the hardworking business owners who love Minneapolis and continue to fight for our community. Your passion and resilience make our city stronger.”
Schedule for the Week
- Tuesday, Oct. 8 - Business Plan Workshop with City Commercial Loans, hosted by the City’s small business team.
- 3-5 p.m. – Structuring business ideas into business plans
- 5-6 p.m. – Low-interest loans and the Ownership and Opportunity Fund
- East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 NE Second St., Minneapolis
- Limited seating available, workshops hosted in Spanish
- Wednesday, Oct. 9 – Small Business Resource and Marketing Workshop, hosted by the City’s small business team.
- Noon-3 p.m. – “Elevate Your Brand: Essential Strategies for a Winning Marketing Campaign”
- Corcoran Park, 3334 20th S.
- Workshop hosted in Spanish
- Thursday, Oct. 10 – Empowerment through Employment and Self-Employment Pathways, hosted by the City’s Civil Rights, the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and the Community Planning and Economic Development’s employment and training team.
- 1-4 p.m. – Attendees can learn about workers’ rights, state IDs, employment authorization documents and more
- CareerForce, 777 E. Lake St.
- Sunday, Oct. 13 – Latinx Farmers’ Market Pop-up – a showcase of Latin cuisine, music and other family-friendly activities. The event is hosted by the Latino Economic Development Center.
- 4-7 p.m.
- Farmers Market Annex, 200 East Lyndale Ave. N.
Ownership and Opportunity Fund
The City’s Ownership and Opportunity Fund, formerly known as the Commercial Property Development Fund, offers money for real estate development in primarily economically challenged areas. The mayor is proposing an investment of $420,000 within that fund to be shared among neighborhood organizations around the City to promote building economy and commercial presence.
SEE MORE: Check out this video by Mayor Frey and Council Members Chavez and Ellison.