(uplifting music)
Speaker 1: The Latino Small Business Conference
is an annual conference that takes place
in three different locations,
over three different weekends.
This year, the conference
was held in Grand Island, Omaha and Norfolk,
with a total of more than 300 attendees.
-: So, the goal of this company
is teach and give to student entrepreneurs
to meet about, offer things
about topics in marketing, in the technology
and taxes, bookkeeping,
things about everything
that we can help businesses to grow and be successful.
Speaker 1: In collaboration with Juan Sandoval,
Associate Director of
the Nebraska Business Development Center,
the conference is an annual culmination
of the efforts of Sandra Barrera,
a Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator
who spearheads the Latino small business program.
This program provides free guidance and support
to immigrant entrepreneurs
who want to establish their own businesses here in Nebraska.
As the Cornhusker State becomes more diverse,
Nebraskans are seeing more and more businesses opening up
by their immigrant neighbors.
The Latino Small Business Conference celebrates
and encourages that continual growth.
The conference held entirely in Spanish
and free for participants
brought together Latino business professionals
from across the state.
-: We are new immigrants in this country.
We love Nebraska,
and it's very important
for the Latino business community
because they have the opportunity to learn about
what is new in the administration, finance.
But in the other hand,
they can connect
with other businesses and resources
that can assist them.
Speaker 1: During the multiple breakout sessions,
presenters covered a range
of topics from augmenting businesses
via mobile apps and social media
to construction costs,
grant applications, financing, startups,
and even business insurance.
In organizing the conference,
Barrera focuses not only on providing information,
but also on providing opportunities
for immigrant own businesses
to make their names known through networking,
display table opportunities,
and even catering by local restaurants.
-: I love it
because I did it last year and this year,
and I've been I went to the Grand Island, now Omaha.
So, this is great,
it's a well organized event,
where everybody gets to exposed to the business
and talk about it and learn,
also learn about different programs
that are available to the community.
A lot of networking,
it benefits everybody.
-: We have the Dean to make,
the extension of his office came.
So, he came and did this version in Spanish.
So, this is very contact for extension
that bring Latinos and their arguments.
(uplifting music)