Many minority and small find it a challenge to obtain capital to expand their business and create new opportunities for growth and profits. Enthusiasm and hard work won't be enough to succeed. In the past, mainstream banks steered clear of lending in inner-city communities and black neighborhoods, where people were considered higher risks for default. Protests and lawsuits forced an end to "redlining" and other discriminatory lending practices, but many of those areas are still underserved.

More recently, there has been an explosion of banks catering to the Asian and Latino communities, but few cater to the Black community and other minority small businesses in Orange County. We hope that this workshop will help Black Businesses and other minority small businesses learn how to find the hidden markets and sources of capital to expand their businesses.

The Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County will presenting a How-to Find Capital workshop entitled “Move Your Business to the Next Level by Tapping into Emerging Markets and Getting Capital for Success” on Wednesday, July 18th, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Room, 2323 North Broadway in Santa Ana.

A panel of experts including Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Small Business Administration, Advantage CDC, Alliance Bank, Nitz Consulting and Clearinghouse CDFI will help our minority businesses better understand how to access capital to expand their businesses. There will be a mixer following the presentation where the participants can follow-up with each of the panelist based on the needs of their business. Small businesses at different levels of business expansion needs and the public is invited. There was no charge.