SBA developed 35 new partnerships with various Hispanic organizations to increase Hispanic awareness and participation in all of SBA s programs. SBA also partnered with 11 Hispanic organizations to establish hyperlinks on their Internet sites to provide information about SBA programs that can assist the Latino business community. SBA opened the first completely bilingual BIC in Lawrence, Massachusetts. BICs offer a one-stop location where small business entrepreneurs can receive assistance and advice. The centers provide computer hardware and software, business management counseling by retired business executives and assist entrepreneurs on a variety of business planning topics.
All business services are free of charge.
Most of the information on-line regarding the Women s Business Center was made available in Spanish. It uses the business expertise and best practices of 69 community-based WBCs in 38 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico to provide women entrepreneurs with business principles, management techniques, networking, and information about SBA services, market research, and technology training. SBA licensed a venture capital company, Capital International, that will focus its investments activity on Hispanic owned or managed businesses a market that has difficulty obtaining access to venture capital. SBA made 1,993 loans to Hispanics in the top 12 Hispanic markets and 3,751 loans to Hispanics overall or 8 percent of total SBA loans. The HEPM provides information and assistance to high school and college students, faculty members and those in the Hispanic community who are seeking federal employment.