1444 Fulton St. Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 222-8705 Tax ID 75-3129705 Recognized as #1 Chamber of the Year Nationwide by the USHCC! Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation Our Mission: To promote education and self-sufficiency through economic development that strengthens our community.
Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation 1444 Fulton Street Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 222-8705 Tax ID 75-3129705 President/ CEO Dora C. Westerlund OFFICERS Chairman William Eric McComas Rummonds, Barron, Thornton, LLP Treasurer/ Vice Chairman Fausto Hinojosa Price, Paige & Company Secretary Rosa Rodriguez Rabobank, N.A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ricardo Flores Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant Antonio Valtierra Valtierra Insurance Agency Enrique Altero Herndon Auto Service Gaston Cignetti DLL Insurance Agency Porfirio Rios Intervalley Insurance Victor Olivares CSU Fresno Sandy Figueroa Samuels Jewelers Frank Villegas F&E Consulting Nory Garza New York Life Insurance Mission Statement Our Mission: To promote education and self-sufficiency through economic development that strengthens our community. We are committed to develop strategies and set policies to better serve all business interests in the Fresno area and assist in accomplishing their goals towards growth. We effectively utilize existing resources by forming productive partnerships with corporations, small businesses, community and government entities in order to provide our Spanish and Englishspeaking members with quality programs and opportunities. Vision To support the start-up and growth of Hispanic Businesses in Central California through technical assistance, outreach, advocacy and access to capital. History In 2004, a group of local business owners saw the need to come together to form an entity that would serve as a resource center with universal access for Spanish and English-speaking business entrepreneurs. The founders are Ricardo Flores, Antonio Valtierra, Dora Rivera, and Fausto Hinojosa. EX-OFFICIO Rudy Medina Bank of America Al Galvez Amani-International Jaime Marquez Marquez Brothers
Program and Services o Technical Assistance (TA) Program- through the TA Program, we are hands on with businesses during their start-up or expanding phase by providing the tools, resources, and educational workshops that lead their business to selfsufficiency. The workshops include: Next Level Training Workshops are bilingual business development seminars that provide business owners with entrepreneurial knowledge, including business plan development and financial management. These workshops are conducted during a 6 week course, meeting 2 times a week. Business owners also receive one-on-one technical assistance on an individual level. Small Business Lending and Financial Workshops are to educate, assist, and create awareness of the financing opportunities available to small businesses and ultimately get them ready to apply for a business loan. The common topics include: credit repair, basics of finance, completing a loan application and cash flow projections. Law Abuse Workshop Next Level Training Workshop Through these programs, we have been able to strategically assist over 500 entrepreneurs and contribute towards the economic development of our community by establishing strong local partnerships and focusing on the common goal of helping businesses prosper. Business Owner, Leonor Hipolito receiving her certificate of completion of the Next Level Training Program Small Business Lending Workshop
Micro-loan Program Microloan Program We assist with the loan preparation process that offers access to capital for start-up and existing businesses. Business owners receive one-on-one counseling on business plan development areas such as: marketing strategies, competitive analysis, location profiles, customer demographics, cash flow projections, and start-up financial information. We guide business owners through the application process until they are prepared to obtain a business loan. Since 2004, over $3 million has been awarded in loans and over $12.6 million has been reinvested in the community creating/retaining over 1,000 jobs. After proving technical assistance to the business owners or facilitating the award of a microloan, we also assist businesses in the Grand Opening of their business by conducting ribbon cutting events and providing more exposure to their business with the use of our local media partners. Grand Opening of "The Loft" an event venue owned by women that also received a $40,000 micro-loan Gabriel Nava (middle) receiving a $15,000 microloan to open his new business "La Herencia Restaurant" Celebrating the Grand Opening of Yogurt, etc. a new business in Downtown Fresno Gregorio Covarrubias receiving $25,000 to expand his business "La Posta Restaurant"
Downtown Business Hub The Downtown Business Hub (DBH) is the first bilingual business incubator in the Western United State providing the community and local business owners with a one-stop-shop and businesses with: Affordable office space to businesses with fully furnished offices Provide 24 hour, 7 days a week access to Incubator facilities and workstations, 3 conference rooms (one with video teleconferencing) Access to IP phones and unlimited local and long distance service, direct phone number and voicemail account Wireless internet access, fax, mail, and copy services Access to a training room with a capacity of 100 people and a lounge area Provide multiple in-house resources (e.g., receptionist services, Pay Check Free station) Currently, the DBH has 17 incubates that include start-up businesses such as financial advisors, website development, accountants, and environmental testing.
Developing Hispanic Leaders Gala Night Developing Hispanic Leaders Gala Night is the largest gathering of Hispanic leaders in the fields of business, education, government, and community in the Central Valley. Through this event, the FAHF has awarded over $276,000 in Tomorrows Entrepreneurship Scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each. The purpose of this program is to encourage students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees to develop new business ideas and a good business plan. This program seeks to teach students at the importance of developing high quality business ideas and business plans and to provide them with the resources, not only to write comprehensive, complete and concise business strategies, but to also see those plans become a reality. Most of the students are the first generation in their family to attend a University and graduate. Cornelio Santos and Yenedit Valencia recipients of scholarships at our Gala Event Hilda Solis, former U.S. Secretary of Labor speaking at our Gala Event in 2013 Guests at our 2014 Gala Night event
Lend a Hand Lend A Hand - Since 2002, the FAHF, in partnership with the St. Agnes Holy Cross Center for Women, has hosted an annual Lend A Hand Christmas event. Approximately 600 women and children are invited to be the guests of honor for this special event. The FAHF has managed to partner with other organizations and corporations for a great cause and provide these families with valuable information such as health and wellness, and financial education that will better their lifestyle. These families are served dinner and children receive toys and bicycles. For most of these children, it becomes their only Christmas present due to household financial hardships. From 2002-2004, the event attendance was 250, from 2005-2009 it increased to approximately 400 participants, in 2011 there were 600 women and children in attendance, and in 2013 over 700 attended the event.
Networking Events Univision Mixer Spring Tasting mixer at International Catering Fiesta Mixer at the Downtown Business Hub Wine Tasting Event Mixer Negociantes Unidos breakfast meeting