| Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs are receiving technical assistance, education, and training through a new business assistance center established by Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The center provides emerging Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to open and manage successful business enterprises and expand those businesses beyond their primary Hispanic market. The center aims to give all of Lawrence's Hispanic residents, regardless of English-language ability, the opportunity to participate in the city's economic and social mainstream.
Lawrence, located 30 miles north of Boston, has a large immigrant, poor, and under-educated population. At least 60 percent of city residents are Hispanic. Despite regional and statewide growth in business-sector service jobs, Lawrence firms are disproportionately concentrated in the low-wage, low-skill employment brackets. While trade continues to play a major role in the regional and State economies, the retail and wholesale trade sectors in Lawrence have lost 2,000 jobs over the past 10 years. Creating minority businesses and improving economic opportunities for minorities, is a major city priority.
Northern Essex Community College has leveraged more than $123,000 from six partners for the Business Assistance Center.
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