Document Type
Capstone Project
Publication Date
2022
Keywords
Stevenson Center, small business, Latinx business owners, economic development, organization
Abstract
This applied research project examines the perceptions, goals, and challenges Latinx small business owners face when participating in daily business activities and attempting to access resources. Through nine in-depth interviews with business owners in Berwyn, Illinois, and personal observations and professional discussions, this capstone identifies critical barriers, such as: language, “missing links” to resources, exclusionary marketing practices, and weak connections to financial institutions and governmental entities. In response, this study offers recommendations to economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, city governments, and business communities. Specifically, entities need to embrace inclusive marketing practices, design financial programs through a more equitable lens, and foster genuine relationships to support Latinx small business owners better.
Recommended Citation
Shaw, Kendra, "Listening to the Unheard: Perceptions, Goals, and Challenges of Latinx Small Business Owners in Suburban Cook County" (2022). Capstone Projects – Politics and Government. 39.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cppg/39