ORLANDO, Fla. — Many local Hispanic business owners say they all have the same goal: to become city-certified businesses, win city contracts and gain more contracting opportunities.
The City of Orlando recently partnered with the Florida Mexican American Chamber of Commerce and Top Connect to host free Spanish language seminars.
“How to do business, how to get capital to start a business,” said Alma Aguilar, president of the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, Florida. “That’s the first question: What kind of business can we do if we go in with you? And we can make it happen. We started hosting these seminars to make sure everyone follows the necessary steps and can be successful.”
Organizers said the purpose of the seminar is to educate minority communities in their native languages about city services, programs and resources.
Miguel Rosales, owner of Orlando-based Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara, said the seminars are a way to expand his business and give his employees more opportunities to perform. He said he is gathering paperwork to submit and that sharing the best of the culture through mariachi is one of the reasons he is looking to expand.
Rosales said he founded Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara in Orlando 14 years ago to bring something positive to the community.
“We’re committed to entertaining you and bringing joy to you,” he said.
Rosales, a native of Mexico, said he moved to Central Florida in 2009.
The other members of the band are from Venezuela and Colombia.
“For me, mariachi is my life,” Rosales said.
Bass guitarist Fernando Estrada feels the same way.
“My dad was a mariachi musician too,” he says. “He played the trumpet, so I grew up in that environment.”
Estrada, a Colombian native, said he was grateful for his craft, which he had been practicing for 36 years.
“We face barriers here, such as the English language, and sometimes we don’t necessarily know how to manage and set up a business,” Rosales said.
He recently attended a seminar in hopes of getting his minority-owned business recognized by the city of Orlando.
“As we look to expand into new markets, it’s important that we use this seminar to help all Hispanics in the industry have better opportunities in the region,” Rosales said.