UNA’s Manny Rodriguez (second from left) just completed offering CIE’s Start Simple course in Spanish to a cohort in Mabton (Yakima County), with five graduates now moving forward with one-on-one counseling to develop their business ideas.
Today, immigrants and historically marginalized groups face unprecedented fear and exclusion. Entrepreneurship is often their only path to income and stability, yet these groups face significant structural barriers to business ownership.
With a Small Business Technical Assistance Program grant from the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority, using a unique train-the-trainer model, Unidos Nueva Alianza (UNA) is now delivering CIE’s programs to deeply underserved Spanish-speaking communities in Grant and Yakima Counties.
Based in Grant County and serving the Central Washington and the Columbia Basin, UNA’s mission is to promote and protect the rights of immigrants and underrepresented communities through advocacy, education, health, and direct support. The collaboration with CIE fits within their existing Unidos in Growth program which helps foster growth, leadership, and economic empowerment through access to education, digital tools, and entrepreneurial resources.
Since 2023,CIE and UNA have collaborated to leverage UNA’s deep roots, community trust, and cultural competency to extend CIE’s reach into populations and geographies that have historically lacked access to quality business development support. UNA now has the capacity to offer this support directly by bringing CIE’s program into the communities it serves.
“This is a win-win-win,” says Mike Skinner, CIE’s founder and executive director. “It increases UNA’s capacity to directly support emerging entrepreneurs and businesses, it helps CIE better serve its mission and, together, we are able to reach more people and support more small businesses that need it the most.”
UNA completed our train-the-trainer program in August and have just completed offering our Start Simple course in Spanish to a cohort in Mabton (Yakima County) with five participants moving forward to develop their business ideas. UNA’s Manny Rodriguez facilitated the course and says: “The Mabton experience speaks to why this partnership matters: bringing business education and support closer to the communities we serve. Through Camino Empresarial, we’re creating space for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their ideas, build connections, and take their next steps with support. We’re excited to continue this work with CIE and bring that same opportunity to Quincy.”
UNAs next cohort will be at UNA’s new office and training center in Quincy (Grant County) on November 3, 10, 17, and 24. Click here to register, and help us spread the word!
