By Christine Bolaños
Latina Entrepreneurs
are Powerhouses in Nation’s Capital
their businesses by providing vital
counseling and training.
“Qualified Latina entrepreneurs can also
apply for certain federal contracting
programs that set aside a portion of
government funding for participating small
businesses,” Roque says. “Our programs
such as the Women-Owned Small Business
federal contracting program and 8(a)
business development program helps to
provide a level playing field for womenowned
small businesses and those
owned by socially and economically
disadvantaged people or entities by limiting
competition for certain federal contracts to
participating businesses.”
When sisters Geraldine Barrientos Roig
and Mariana Barrientos Roig, founders of
ROIG Communications, LLC, launched their
business there weren’t as many resources
for women of color-owned businesses.
“However, the support we received from
other Latina entrepreneurs and our local
community was key to our success during
the early days, when resources were
scarce, and times were challenging.”
shares Mariana Barrientos Roig, who also
serves as VP of Strategy. “Our involvement
with Hispanic Chambers expanded our
horizons and network.”
For them, the relationships and network
they built over the years became their
most valued asset.
The question of whether Latinas can break barriers in
the workspace has evolved into: What innovative
business ventures will they invest in next? A prime example
of Latinas’ “staying” power is in Washington, D.C., where
Latinas, like in cities across the United States, are surpassing
their male and non-Latina counterparts in record numbers
when it comes to entrepreneurial pursuits. Latinas are
leaving their mark in a variety of fields, ranging from
government to public relations and culinary arts to
entertainment and everything in between.
Nina C. Roque
Executive Director of the National
Women’s Business Council.
“Latinas are making their mark on our
nation. They are starting businesses,
holding leadership positions, and running
for office at record numbers,” says Nina C.
Roque, who serves as Executive Director
of the National Women’s Business
Council. “Latinas are entrepreneurial
in spirit, innovative, multicultural and
multilingual --- they are a force.”
The organization serves as a federal
advisory council providing policy and
program suggestions to the White House,
Congress and U.S. Small Business
Administration. According to data from
the National Women’s Business Council,
and sourced from the SBA, Washington,
D.C. has 50.3 percent, or the third highest
percentage of Hispanic women-owned
businesses relative to the men-owned
and equally-owned businesses, in the
United States.
According to Roque, the SBA oversees
the Women’s Business Center which
provides help to Latina and other women
entrepreneurs on how to start and grow
20 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 24, No. 3, 2018
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