“Univision Contigo” celebrates entrepreneurship

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is launching a multi-platform campaign today to inform and empower Latino small business owners. Under the company’s “Univision Contigo” empowerment platform, the campaign celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of Latino small business owners and offers them information and expanded resources.
 
“We are proud to continue to expand our support of Hispanic business owners with a commitment to celebrate successes to date and share information and resources that will ultimately help strengthen the fastest growing segment of American business today,” said Roberto Llamas, executive vice president for Human Resources & Community Empowerment, Univision Communications Inc. “In addition to the many community outreach efforts we are leading across the country, we are delighted that the Small Business Administration will be working with us to make additional Spanish-language material and resources available for our business community.”
 
“There’s no question that Latinos today are a powerful and growing force in America’s economic life. The SBA and Univision can continue this momentum by working together in the spirit of collaboration exemplified by the ‘Univision Contigo’ empowerment platform,” said U.S. Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “This is a great time for those with aspirations to start their own business to explore the services that SBA offers. We offer the three Cs; capital to help finance new startups, counseling to help entrepreneurs create a business plan and execute it, and contracts to help grow and expand. Every business starts small. Univision entrepreneurship events are a great opportunity to translate your talents into a viable business that can support your family and your community.”
 
Univision Contigo’s campaign will leverage UCI’s platforms and community outreach efforts in key markets, as follows:
 
·         Nationwide Events: Town halls, financial literacy workshops, small business seminars, and “Prosperidad” Fairs will take place in a dozen key markets across the nation from Los Angeles to Miami, which will include small business ‘boot camps’ to increase the readiness and chances of success for aspiring entrepreneurs.
·         Awareness Campaign: National public service announcements will air across Univision Networks throughout the month of March featuring Univision News anchor Enrique Acevedo, Univision TV personality Chiquinquira Delgado, and administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet.
·         Inspiring Personal Accounts: Univision News is introducing a digital platform that features the personal stories of five Hispanic entrepreneurs from around the country. Additionally, its nightly news program, Noticiero: Edicion Nocturna, will air regular segments highlighting entrepreneurial success stories through its “Sueño Americano” (American Dream) series. This content is being supported through a partnership with the Ford Foundation. In many markets across the country, Univision Local Media stations will also profile local small business owners and their stories of success and overcoming obstacles in business.
·         Enhanced Tools: Univision’s Enterprise Development group will enhance its suite of financial empowerment tools and introduce more products to further aid credit and loan facilitation. In concert with the campaign, the Small Business Administration is also launching a Spanish-language website that features resources for Latino small business owners.
·         Survey of Hispanic-Owned Businesses: Univision previously announced it had teamed up with Stanford University’s Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI) to conduct a comprehensive survey to help identify areas for business development and growth. Thousands of Hispanic business owners from around the country have already participated in the survey and others are encouraged to do so in order to be included in the full report of the findings which will be released this spring.