The Latino Entrepreneurial Network of SE WI is Awarded a Grant from the Helen Bader Foundation, Inc.

Nov. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- The Helen Bader Foundation, Inc. of Milwaukee has announced their continued support of the Latino Entrepreneurial Network (LEN) organization by awarding LEN a two year grant to help support Green Economy initiatives and to support LEN’s mission to educate and promote entrepreneur awareness in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Juan Alcaraz, LEN President stated “During this economic downturn, established businesses continue to struggle to stay afloat. Small business owners often battle limited access to capital and lack of innovative business ideas and coaching.” Alcaraz continued to state “Moreover, they often encounter a declining demand of goods and services. But now is the time to undertake that business idea and take it to the next level. Thus, our mission is to educate, and promote, entrepreneurship awareness in the community through bilingual coaching, professional development and networking. Small businesses are the economic engine of the United States."

The Helen Bader Foundation strives to be a philanthropic leader in improving the quality of life of the diverse communities in which it works, including the Milwaukee area. The Foundation makes grants, convenes partners, and shares knowledge to affect emerging issues in key areas.

"This grant is the result of our arduous work to engage contractors to participate in the opportunities presented by the green economy. Last year we conducted, the first bilingual(Spanish) Business Fair addressing Green Business opportunities in our state." States Nelson Soler, LEN Founding Executive Director.  

With the current lean economy, small urban entrepreneurs continue to struggle en route for self sufficiency. They face a market with shrinking sales and demand, limited access to capital and limited access to quality and innovative business coaching. LEN recently interviewed 83 low-income, underserved business owners in Milwaukee County about their needs (60% African American, 37% Latino, 3% other). The interview specifically requested businesses to identify barriers to success. LEN found that 75% of the businesses are experiencing cash flow problems, 80% of the businesses have not engaged in any green or sustainable activity and 65% indicated they need coaching.

As we continue to see that the country's economic model continues to shift to a Green and Sustainable economy, LEN believes that it’s imperative that underserved, low-income entrepreneurs understand that future opportunities existing in this market. Furthermore, as part of a solid cash flow management strategy, businesses need to understand how green and sustainable philosophies can provide them with a larger profitability through cost reduction. We must empower low-income, underserved entrepreneurs to become self sufficient. It is LEN’s goal to build on our successful, and culturally relevant, bilingual program to provide low-income entrepreneurs with solid training and coaching in developing long term, sustainable and green strategies while addressing and integrating these strategies with their financial overall strategy.

Nelson Soler Continued “This grant would allow us to assess, train and post evaluate entrepreneurs in green and sustainable practices."

Helen Bader Foundation, Inc. Mission

The Helen Bader Foundation, Inc. strives to be a philanthropic leader in improving the quality of life of the diverse communities in which it works. The Foundation makes grants, convenes partners, and shares knowledge to affect emerging issues in key areas.

About The Latino Entrepreneurial Network (LEN)
LEN’s mission is to bridge individuals, entrepreneurs and microenterprises with resources through strategic alliance formation, networking and sharing of business and financial practices. All members take a pledge to uphold the organization’s values of acting with integrity, maintaining high ethics, sharing knowledge, investing in our community and fostering professionalism.  

The Latino Entrepreneurial Network of Southeastern Wisconsin, Incorporated (LEN) was recently awarded the 2010 Best Small Chamber in the United States and the 2008-2009 Best Small Chamber of the Midwest by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) located in Washington DC.

For more information, please visit: http://www.lenwi.org/

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LEN’s mission is to bridge individuals, entrepreneurs and microenterprises with resources through strategic alliance formation, networking and sharing of business and financial practices. For more information, please visit: http://www.lenwi.org/