The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce’s nationally recognized entrepreneurial training course, Emprendedores, was awarded funding this year from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Wells Fargo Bank.

The Emprendedores program, which kicked off in 2014, was the first of its kind in the state. Emprendedores focuses on culturally-accessible lessons and comprehensive programs about small business ownership for Spanish-speaking New Mexicans. The program was originally adapted from an SBA small business training program (done in English), then modified to meet the needs of the Spanish speaking entrepreneurial community.

Participants range from Spanish-speaking emerging entrepreneurs to established business owners. So far, Emprendedores has served over 250 Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and business owners, with an average retention rate of 80%.

Classes focus on a variety of key skills ranging from business ESL and business vocabulary to computer literacy and includes peer to peer mentoring and one-on-one consultation with the course instructor.

This new funding will support the next phase of growth for the Emprendedores program, opening up a new set of offerings focused on international trade. 20 of the program’s level two graduates will participate this year. The program’s expansion includes a trade mission to the customs border-crossing city of Santa Teresa and the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, offering participants opportunities to meet prominent chamber members, community leaders and international economic development entities.

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Emprendedores received National recognition at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Annual Convention on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. The USHCC National Convention is the largest networking venue for Hispanic businesses in America. For over a generation, the USHCC has served as the nation’s leading Hispanic Business organization, working to bring more than 4.2 million Hispanic owned businesses to the forefront of the national economic agenda.