Details of a program to help new or experienced immigrant entrepreneurs is among topics of this week’s free webinar presented by the Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield.
Host and SBDC director, Kelly Bearden is joined by Brigiett Guzman, Economic Development Analyst for Kern County, and NaTesha Johnson, Program Director for the Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development at Kern Community College District and Bakersfield College Launchpad to discuss a grant Kern County received from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Guzman and Johnson provide details of the grant funded program, Pathways to Prosperity, that is designed to help new and experienced immigrant entrepreneurs to learn business planning and strategy, financial analysis and capital access, marketing, risk management, and more.
This marks the 332nd episode of the “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners.
The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one help to small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to www.csubsbdc.com for more information or to sign up to meet with a business advisor at no cost.
TIMESTAMPS – Please note: The bold blue timestamps are a direct YouTube link to the topic listed.
00:00 Intro
00:35 What’s up today January 22, 2025
02:48 Poll Question: “Roughly, how much does Amazon spend to acquire a customer?”
04:48 Green Trucker Mandate on Hold
06:00 Economic Corner
07:40 SBA Disaster Loan Limits https://lending.sba.gov/
09:59 Capital Corridor
11:15 California Acquisition and Procurement Industry Days Expo (CCAP) Feb 4th and 5th https://ccapexpo.com/
12:31 East Kern Capital Summit https://csubsbdc.com/news/east-kern-capital-summit-february-6th
12:56 Beneficial Ownership Information https://www.fincen.gov/boi
13:50 California Employers Payroll Taxes Rising
14:55 CSUB SBDC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@csubsbdc
15:27 2024 Small Business Credit Survey Partner Report of Federal Reserve’s 2023 Survey
15:51 Age of primary business owner
16:25 Geography
16:53 Race and Ethnicity
17:40 Want to start a home daycare business? Text “learn more”’ to 833-241-3994 or go to https://www.nurturebusiness.org/courses
18:20 Free Human Resources Hotline for Employers
19:04 SBDC Tools to Help Your Business Succeed
19:26 Kelly introduces Brigiett Guzman, Economic Development Analyst for Kern County, and Nicole Wynd, Assistant Grant Writer for Farmworkers Institute of Education & Leadership Development
21:51 Partnership Overview – Nicole discusses the role of FIELD in the Pathways to Prosperity Program https://www.kerncounty.com/government/county-administrative-office/cao/economic-development/pathways-to-prosperity
23:03 Program Overview
24:24 Program Details
26:17 Course Logistics
27:52 Intended Outcomes
28:40 Kelly rejoins and introduces NaTesha Johnson, Program Director for the Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development at Kern Community College District and Bakersfield College Launchpad
29:08 NaTesha begins to speak
29:39 NaTesha begins her presentation – Bakersfield College Launchpad
31:03 BC Launchpad – Mission and Vision
31:51 BC Launchpad – Business Spotlight
32:29 What is the BC Launchpad
33:18 Bakersfield College Entrepreneurship and Innovation Academy
33:53 Launch and Learn
35:03 Launchpad entrepreneurial hub
36:59 City of Bakersfield Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Technical Assistance and Grant Program 2.0 – Number of grants available https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/community/launchpad/index.html
38:08 Funding Availability
38:49 Who is Eligible
40:06 Ineligible Clients
40:19 Launchpad to Success Pilot Program Eligibility Requirements
41:15 Income Eligibility Requirements
41:27 Eligible Use of Funds
41:54 Document Requirements
44:55 Questions and Answers with webinar attendees