The University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBCD) is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the accomplishments Hispanic entrepreneurs in the region. SBDC operates within the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, part of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Carlos Arocho, a University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center client, arrived to the Pittsburgh region from Puerto Rico in 2017, with the desire to improve his life and apply his work experience as a barber. He noticed that the area of Aliquippa had many newcomers from different regions of the U.S., and even different countries. Many of them had come to work at the cracker plant under construction in nearby Monaca, Beaver County. He perceived a lack of barber shops in the area, so he decided to change his plans from working for someone to owning a business.
Arocho approached the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and met with a consultant who also speaks Spanish and started the process of getting the permits to occupy a rental space he found. Working together, Arocho was able to follow the steps to open a business. He attended the quarterly Spanish First Steps workshops offered by the SBDC, as well as receiving market research assistance.
The SBDC provided assistance with with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania licensing requirements to for barber shops, and assisted with the interactions online.
Results:
As a result of the client’s efforts and persistence, he was able to get through the application process and got all of the necessary permits from the State of PA as well as the certificate of occupancy from the local municipality. He is now open and attending many customers, fulfilling his dream and working hard for himself.
Quote:
“Working with the University of Pittsburgh SBDC allowed me to easily navigate the permitting process and dealing with the State of PA in a positive and rewarding way. I was able to accomplish my goals”.
The University of Pittsburgh's Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion will present the 2021 Latinx Connect Conference October 14-16. Here are a few events that we are highlighting from the conference!
Recruiting Hispanic Talent – Dos and Don’ts for Small Businesses
October 14, 2021
10: 30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
As the labor market becomes tighter with looking for talent, there is an opportunity to highlight the special attributes and skills Hispanics and Latinx employees bring to the marketplace. Join us for a panel discussion with Pittsburgh’s top HR experts to learn what strategies small businesses should employ to attract and retain the best and the brightest to their companies.
Latinx Community Engagement at Pitt: Innovation, Research and Service across Allegheny County
October 15, 2021
1:45 -3:25 p.m.
This panel will feature research, teaching, service and community engagement advanced by Pitt faculty, staff and alumni in service of local Latinx populations. We will discuss the impactful research led by Pitt’s Director of Latinx Research and Outreach; follow how the Innovation Institute supports immigrant/international entrepreneurs who are newcomers to the Pittsburgh region and want to open their own businesses; and learn how a Pitt alum founded and oversees the Latino Community Center to serve Latinx children through education and family services. We will call the audience to action and offer opportunities to engaging with these organizations and the communities they serve.
If you want to learn more about how the SBDC can help you launch or grow a small business in Western Pennsylvania, visit www.sbdc.pitt.edu, or contact us at sbdc@innovation.pitt.edu.