November 18, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Susan Sturgeon Marketing Manager
SC Small Business Development Centers
803-576-8080


The SC SBDC Partners with the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
to Establish a Hispanic Small Business Service Center in Greenville

Bilingual Business Consultants to Help Hispanic Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
Successfully Start, Grow and Sustain their Businesses


COLUMBIA, SC The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC), the state’s premier provider of business assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs, is pleased to announce that it is collaborating with the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SCHCC) to establish a joint Hispanic Small Business Development Center in Greenville.The SC SBDC is currently hiring a bilingual business consultant to provide Hispanic small business owners and entrepreneurs no-fee consulting, affordable training programs and an array of valuable resources.

“Our partnership with the SC SBDC will allow us to expand our combined capacity to provide bilingual small business services in South Carolina,” said SCHCC President/Founder Evelyn Lugo. Lugo said she believes this will lead to a breakthrough for many Hispanic small business owners aspiring to take their companies to the next level.

Addressing a Critical Need
According to Lugo, as the COVID-19 crisis crippled the nation, it became evident that the more than six thousand Hispanic-owned businesses throughout the state were disconnected from the information, tools and resources they needed to weather the crisis. For this reason, Lugo said the SCHCC redoubled its commitment to providing Hispanic business owners the assistance they need to recover, recoup and thrive. “For most Hispanic small businesses, this means access to quality technical assistance and access to capital,” Lugo said. “The SC SBDC can help us address both of these critical needs.”

SC SBDC State Director Michele Abraham said that by partnering with the SCHCC, the SC SBDC would be able to help level the playing field for the fastest-growing minority segment in South Carolina. “We have been assisting Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs for at least ten years, but we know there are many more individuals who can benefit from our services,” said Abraham. “Our bilingual Hispanic business consultant based at the Greenville SBDC Center will provide clients one-on-one, private consulting sessions and training addressing COVID-19 recovery options, business plan development, obtaining financing, growth strategies, marketing and employee relations, to name a few. This individual also will play a key role in community outreach, building awareness of our service offerings and earning the trust of our Hispanic partners and clients.”

“The SC SBDC and SCHCC share a mission: to promote the economic growth of Hispanic businesses in South Carolina. We hope the bilingual business services being added in Greenville will move us closer to achieving this vital objective,” said Abraham. The two organizations plan to open similar centers in the Midlands and Lowcountry over the next few years.

 Visit the University of South Carolina Employment site to apply for the SC SBDC Hispanic Business Consultant position. 


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About the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC):
Twenty South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) located throughout the state’s 46 counties offer no-fee individual, confidential business consulting. Highly trained consultants assist both existing and startup companies by providing a variety of services including business plan development, fiscal and operations management, human resources, financing options, marketing strategies and much more. In addition to conducting a variety of affordable education workshops, SBDC centers refer clients to useful business resources. Specialized services include government contracting, exporting, technology commercialization, veterans’ business assistance and minority outreach. Visit SCSBDC.com to find a center and make an appointment. Follow us at facebook.com/SCSBDC and @SCSBDC.
 
About the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SCHCC):
The South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2007 at a crucial moment in the Hispanic business community’s growth, providing an organization to represent these businesses. The SCHCC’s mission is to promote the economic growth of Hispanic businesses throughout South Carolina. The Chamber accomplishes its mission by providing technical assistance, access to capital, networking opportunities, and advocacy on behalf of its members and the broader Hispanic business community.