Candidates propose targeted outreach, language access and chamber partnerships to support immigrant and minority-owned businesses

Lafayette candidates at a business forum described measures to make the local economy more inclusive for immigrant, minority‑owned and family-run businesses, including bilingual outreach, targeted grants and partnerships with community organizations.

Several candidates praised the Latino Chamber of Commerce and the city’s recent contract with that organization as a model for reaching Spanish‑speaking entrepreneurs. “We passed a contract ... for the Latino Chamber of Commerce,” said Saul Taka Vega, the incumbent council member, describing the city’s use of community organizations for outreach.

Proposals included bilingual staff in economic‑development roles, more frequent resource fairs, mentoring programs pairing established businesses with new entrepreneurs, and an explicit grant-writing function in city staff to identify and win federal and state funds. One candidate urged the city to hire a dedicated grant writer to capture available funding for small businesses.

Candidates stressed extraordinary outreach to low‑wage and immigrant workers to ensure they are represented in consultations — suggesting childcare, meals and interpreters for meetings so workers can attend. “If we want low wage workers to be part of this conversation, we’re going to have to do extraordinary outreach,” said Anne Marie Johnson.

No policy vote was taken; candidates recommended continued partnerships with the Lafayette Chamber, the Latino Chamber and regional business support organizations.