Organization Empowering Entrepreneurs with Technology
NALCAB played a central role in organizing and coordinating the consortium as a part of its national initiative to support Latino entrepreneurship. NALCAB participates in the consortium by supporting the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) with the administration and coordination of grant activities.
A consortium of 12 NALCAB member organizations applied for funding under the U.S. Department of Commerce's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). In March 2010, this consortium with the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) of San Francisco, CA as the lead applicant secured $3.7 million to establish the Latino Tech-Net (LTN) to provide 17 broadband-enabled small business support centers in 11 cities with over 300 workstations.
The primary goal of LTN is to create employment in Latino communities. Computers are critical to starting a business today -- by having access and relevant training, entrepreneurs can utilize resources needed to establish a successful business. Business owners who integrate technology are able to make their businesses more efficient and may able to hire additional workers or retain employees.
Every partner of the LTN will receive computer software, which will be housed on a central server at Plaza Adelante, where MEDA is headquartered. The standardized bilingual curriculum will address both basic digital literacy and more targeted modules specific to micro-entrepreneurs, including Quickbooks, Excel for budgeting, e-commerce, and online marketing.
LTN's Primary Goals
- Increase broadband and technology usage by low-and moderate-income Latino families;
- Provide customized bilingual computer training to help entrepreneurs establish and expand businesses in order to create jobs.
The LTN Partners
LTN has a diverse group of partners who work on asset building in Latino communities nationwide. All organizations are multi-faceted and provide direct services such as small business development, homeownership counseling, workforce development, and existing community technology centers. Several of the partner organizations are nonprofit housing developers.
| Organization | Target Area |
| Mission Economic Development Agency (Lead agency/project manager) | San Francisco, CA |
| CAMINOS Pathways Learning Center (Technical Manager) | San Francisco, CA |
| Avenida Guadalupe Association | San Antonio, TX |
| Azteca Economic Development & Preservation Corporation | Laredo, TX |
| Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. | Phoenix, AZ |
| Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation | Del Norte, CO |
| Hispanic Economic Development Corporation | Kansas City, MO |
| Latino Economic Development Corporation | Wheaton, MD |
| Latino Economic And Development Center | Blackfoot, ID |
| New Economics for Women | Los Angeles, CA |
| Norris Square Civic Association | Philadelphia, PA |
| Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation | Anthony, NM |
| NALCAB (consortium coordinator) | San Antonio, TX |
Contact Information
Richard L. Abisla
Latino Microenterprise Tech Net/BTOP Project Manager
Mission Economic
Development Agency
2301 Mission Street, Suite 301
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 282-3334
E-mail: rabisla@medasf.org
Web: http://latinotechnet.org
