The event, designed by the Small Business Administration for new citizens with green cards and first- and second-generation Americans, is free and open to the public.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Immigrants and new Americans are invited to a U.S. Small Business Administration program on Monday, March 20, on how to grow their own businesses with help from government services and resources.
The program, designed especially for new citizens with green cards and first- and second-generation Americans, is free and open to the public.
According to a recent study by the New American Economy, immigrants are 75 percent more likely than native-born residents to start a business. More than 7,000 immigrant entrepreneurs live and work in Greater Cleveland.
Although they comprise just about 5 percent of Greater Cleveland's population, they are far more likely than their native-born neighbors to be entrepreneurs, and to work in professional, scientific, technical, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Monday's event is sponsored by the U.S. SBA, Global Cleveland, ClevelandPeople.com, and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman.
Brown will talk about small business opportunities and introduce small business owners who used SBA resources to expand their businesses. Panelists are: Sunny Daga of Wrap Title Inc., Junu Hwang of GNU Technology Inc., and Yuval Zaliouk of YZ Enterprises.
The program will be held at 9 a.m. at the Ariel International Center, 1163 East 40th St. The event will begin with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
"It's important that we support our New Americans who contribute so much to our economy on how to do so successfully," Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland, which aims to attract, welcome and connect international newcomers to economic and social opportunities in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. "Not only will we cover loan programs, but there will also be a panel discussion on technical assistance and opportunities for exporters.
"This event will help them grow their businesses and teach them how to access federal procurement opportunities," he said.
To register, log on to https//businessopportunitiesfornewamericans.eventbrite.com or via email to events@globalcleveland.org