Eye On Annapolis Covers Completion of AAEDC’s First Spanish Language Business Accelerator

September 20, 2024

Eye On Annapolis reported on the successful completion of AAEDC’s first Spanish language Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) in the following article:

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation Completes First Spanish-Language Inclusive Ventures Program

The article opened with the following commentary from Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman:

“The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation’s Inclusive Ventures Program has empowered business owners by providing them with the tools to grow,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “This program reflects the County’s commitment to providing resources and opportunities for minority and underrepresented businesses as they create jobs and strengthen our local economy.”

It reported that offering the Inclusive Ventures Program in Spanish for the first time underscores AAEDC’s and Anne Arundel County’s commitment to expanding access to business resources for traditionally underserved communities, and included the following commentary from Alison Flores, Director of Hispanic/Latino and Multicultural Resources in the Office of the County Executive:

“Although Hispanic and Latino business owners have been quite successful and are growing at a rapid pace, they still face a lot of challenges when it comes to access to loans and capital, navigating government services, and receiving contracts. That’s why AAEDC’s Spanish Inclusive Ventures Program is such a historical, innovative, and pioneering program – because it’s creating the infrastructure, the support, and the one-on-one assistance that these businesses need to be successful.”

It then listed the 13 members of the cohort, and their businesses:

Brenda Cortez, Lemus Tag & Tile
Maria Cumming, Graze by the Bay
Jose Estrada, J.E. Custom Contractors, Inc.
Krissia Garcia, Klean Krissia’s Cleaning Services, Inc.
Ileana Gonzalez, Apurva Wellness LLC
Candida M. Lemus, Lemus Shop, Inc.
Gerardo Martinez, Wild Kid Acres
Myriam Osorio McCormick, Latin American Crafts Company
Ana Recinos, Resguardo Logistics
Roxana Rodriguez, Super Caliente/Caliente Grill
Fredy Salmoran, Senor’s Chile
Rosalina Ventura, VR Dispatching
Maria Winters, The Coaching Therapist

It concluded  by reporting that AAEDC plans to host three cohorts in 2025, with one potentially offered in Spanish, based on demand, and the following quote from AAEDC President and CEO Amy Gowan:

“We’ve long aimed to make our programs more accessible to the Spanish-speaking business community, and I’m incredibly proud of our team for turning that goal into a reality. This IVP class was our largest cohort yet, with 13 graduates representing businesses from across Anne Arundel County. Congratulations to our first Spanish cohort for taking the leap and embracing this opportunity.”

Learn more about the Inclusive Ventures Program click here.

  

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