On Thursday September 8th, the Latino Business Foundation of Silicon Valley (LBFSV) invited San José Mayor Liccardo, District 5 City Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and Mexican Consul General Alejandra Bologna Zubikarai to join with community members and business course graduates to celebrate the opening of the Small Business Resource Center, located at Quetzal Gardens 1695 Alum Rock Ave in East San José. 

The Small Business Resource Center is on the ground floor of La Esquina de Quetzal Gardens a new affordable housing complex located at the intersection of Alum Rock Ave. & King Rd. Quetzal Gardens brings 71 units of new affordable housing closely aligning with the community’s vision of development without displacement.  

“On behalf of the City of San José, I am extremely proud to help Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley and its partners, Excite Credit Union and SOMOS Mayfair open their joint facilities in Quetzal Gardens,” said Sam Liccardo, Mayor of San José. “East San José has always been a powerful incubator for small businesses, as well as driving our vibrant arts and culture tradition. Giving our business owners a one-stop-shop for business support and financial services is a great gift to the neighborhood and to the region.”  

Critically, the inauguration of the Small Business Resource Center is a partnership effort. LBFSV is sharing the ground floor space with SOMOS Mayfair, a-not-for-profit focused on holistic family needs, as well as Excite Credit Union which specializes in serving unbanked and underbanked residents and businesses.  

The event also brought together key funders such as Sobrato Philanthropies and the City of San José who share LBFSV’s vision of a thriving business mosaic as rich, diverse and unique as the city itself.  

The City’s Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs has been involved with LBSV for many years and facilitated the introduction of new partners including Santa Clara University, which participated in developing the center’s educational component. At the event, a number of the first graduates of LBSV’s Small Business Management course were honored and received handsome certificates from the University. 

Nanci Klein San José’s Director of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs stated: “San Jose has more than 80,000 active businesses creating wealth and opportunity for all. This new center sets the standard for free training, access to capital and a strong business voice. I wish them every success.” 

Small businesses have become a critical path to economic opportunity for immigrants and immigrant women in particular. The survival of neighborhood small business is imperative as the community continues to face tough economic times in the wake of a protracted pandemic. Through the Small Business Resource Center, LBFSV hopes to serve over 1,000 entrepreneurs at least 70% will be women, of whom many are single mothers.   

After the entrepreneurs received their certificates, LBFSV President Jesus Flores wheeled in an ice cream cart and the Supervisor, the Councilmember and the Consul General handed out paletas to help the guests cool off.