| A coalition of local organizations has been meeting to put together a survey focused on minority-owned businesses in South Sioux City. The survey, consisting of 42 questions about business needs, will help identify key training issues.
The effort is aimed at connecting minority
businesses with training programs, support
programs, and the Siouxland business community. It
is a project of the 2003 class of the Siouxland
Immigrant Leadership Training Program, in
collaboration with the City of South Sioux City,
Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise
Assistance Project (REAP), Siouxland Area Small
Business Association (SASBA), Siouxland Unidad
Latina, and the South Sioux City Chamber of
Commerce.
Karen Linnenbrink, REAP Northeast Business
Specialist, said, “We’re seeking to identify
and develop the skills minority business owners
need to be successful, and to integrate them as
active partners in the Siouxland business
community. The first step will be conducting a
survey of every minority-owned business in the
community.” |
| The number of businesses owned by minorities in the United States increased 60 percent between 1987 and 1992, according to a report released by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau. This compares to an increase of 26 percent for all U.S. firms.
More than three million businesses are
minority owned, and this number is growing. (Dun & Bradstreet, 2001) |
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