National Hispanic Heritage Month: A Time of Celebration and Promotion

Annually, from September 15 to October 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the diverse contributions, cultures, and extensive histories of the Hispanic and Latin American communities in the United States. This year, the month focuses on the significant role played by Hispanic founders, business owners, and innovators in the small business boom promoted by the Biden-Harris administration. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) highlights the enormous entrepreneurial commitment of these diverse communities. The SBA also emphasizes its historical efforts to support more Hispanics in achieving their American dream of entrepreneurship. Isabella Casillas Guzman, the highest-ranking Latina in the President’s cabinet and Administrator of the SBA, is dedicated to the success of Hispanic communities. In recent years, the SBA has provided a record amount of $3 billion to Hispanic entrepreneurs and helped Latino businesses secure nearly $10 billion in federal contracts. Economic data shows that five million Latino businesses contribute $800 billion annually to local economies. In Colorado, Hispanics own almost 70,000 businesses, creating thousands of jobs and investing millions of dollars in local cities and communities. In the SBA's six-state region, engagements with organizations such as Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and Minority Supplier Councils are regularly conducted. President Biden has early on directed the development of an ambitious government plan to promote equity, opportunity, and fairness for minorities, veterans, women, and rural communities. The SBA has set four equity goals, including improved access to capital for underserved communities and increased use of federal contracts to support minority-, veteran-, and women-owned businesses. These goals complement the legislative successes of recent years, such as the American Rescue Plan, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. These legislative measures make urgent investments to reduce costs, create equal opportunities, and open historical possibilities for the 36 million small businesses and innovative startups in the U.S.—especially those in underserved areas. Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, we continue the important work of honoring Hispanic culture and entrepreneurship. We thank the generations of Latino leaders who have built this country and continue to fight for equality and justice, and we commit to investing in the next generation of Hispanic entrepreneurs who hold the destiny of our nation in their hands. For more information about the SBA's programs and services, please visit www.sba.gov and follow us on Twitter @SBArockymtn. Aikta Marcoulier, the SBA's Regional Administrator in Denver, leads the agency’s programs and services in Colorado, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.