Congratulations Fuerza Local Graduates!
What better way to start off 2022 than with a celebration! First up: 45 Fuerza Local participants!. After six months of hard work, these incredible entrepreneurs are completing their program.
This business accelerator program features weekly classes (in Spanish) on a variety of topics including marketing, business planning, cash flow management and many more. Participants also gain critically important financial literacy through participating in a lending circle, which requires them to make on-time payments every month they are in the program. Their savings are then matched by Local First Arizona. Additionally, each graduate is offered the opportunity to access credit at fair market rates through several partnering financial institutions in lieu of any previous credit history. When all is said and done, these 45 grads will have more options for success to support their new businesses!
Meet some of the amazing soon-to-be graduates and join us January 26, 2022 for the graduation!
Ivonne Ortiz, Kelly’s Cottage Ranch
Kelly’s Cottage is a place to gather with those you love. It’s surrounded by mountain views, mature trees and a garden area while still being conveniently located close to the city. The Ortiz family says it’s their “piece of heaven in the desert” and it is named after their late niece. Once an abandoned building, it now has a big grassy outdoor area and two cabins that you can rent for an overnight stay. Want to support Kelly’s Cottage Ranch? Follow them on social media and plan your next event with them!
“Fuerza Local has guided us through the whole process of how to start a new business doing it right from the beginning so we can start the right way and with the best knowledge possible to grow and feel confident to do it.”
Getsemani Bejarano, It’s a Tots’ World
Kid’s parties just got easier with “It’s a Tots’ World.” This business offers soft play rentals for all your events - they even match the rentals to your themes! Owner Getsemani Bejarano began It’s a Tots’ World so that she could have more control of her time and spend it with her family. Bejarano loves the creative element and seeing what she creates in her mind come to life on event days. The soft play industry is relatively new and the best way to help this local business is by spreading the word.
“Fuerza Local has helped me put my ideas on track and successfully start up an entire business. I will take everything I have learned and apply it [to] other projects as I come across them in life. Thank you Fuerza Local!”
These are just a few of the businesses graduating this month! Check out the full directory and support the local, Hispanic and Latinx-owned businesses near you.