Kutztown University Latino Business Resource Center (KU-LBRC) &
Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce
Partnership at Work: Boosting Economic Development!
BILINGUAL Business Skills for Success for Latino Entrepreneurs /
Seminario de capacitación para emprendedores Latinos
The Kutztown University Latino Business Resource Center in conjunction with the Berks
County Latino Chamber of Commerce began a twelve-week bilingual business
development course called Bilingual Business Skills for Success for Latino
Entrepreneurs. The class targeted Latino’s because the growth rate of the
commonwealth’s Hispanic-owned firms was nine percent (9%) higher than the
national average and more than nine (9) times the state average for all businesses (4.4
percent). The class met every Tuesday from 6 to 9PM at the Center for the American
Dream located in Penn Street. The class featured instruction from trained bilingual
business development instructors from Kutztown University Latino Business Resource
Center as well as presentations from local business leaders and professionals from the
Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce. The partnership graduated 19
entrepreneurs.
Seminar Overview and Impact:
 12 week seminar consists of 3 hour weekly sessions.
 The KU-LBRC utilizes a blended learning model in the delivery of the seminar.
The student works with the FastTrac curriculum from the Kauffman Foundation,
online learning workshops, online tools and a business consultant from the
KUSBDC /LBRC. This blended learning model helps ensure greater success
rates for our clients
 The Seminar is a comprehensive entrepreneurship-educational program that
provides entrepreneurs with business insights, leadership skills and
professional networking connections so they are prepared to create a new
business or expand an existing enterprise. The FastTrac program includes
practical, hands-on business development programs and workshops for
existing entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs
 During the 12 classes, a total of 10 guest speakers shared their business
knowledge. All of them are well seasoned and experienced entrepreneurs from
various backgrounds
 Seminar Impact & Statistics:
o 25 clients signed for the class and 19 graduated
o 7 clients expanded their business
o 3 new businesses were created
o 9 are planning / evaluating business model
o 1 observer (Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Partnership at Work!
(Adams Molina, Catalina A. Peña Martinez, David Aspina, Diego Lopez, Felix Plácido,
Giovanny Ortiz, Jania Y. Jimenez, Josefina Plácido, Kelin Reynoso, Maria Peña Martinez,
Marta Marizta Peña, Michael Rivera, Nazario Torres, Pilar Ramirez, Sylvia Aviles Perea,
Teodoro Reyes, Virginia Ortega, Yuderki Martinez and Hernan Ortiz.)
For more information on the seminar or future programs, please contact:
Lenin Agudo, Director Latino Business Resource Center at 610-208-8870 or
Marcelino Colon, Chair Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce at 610-685-4583