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Commission hears pitch for free bilingual small-business classes funded by state grant
Summary
A nonprofit told the Sunnyside City Community and Economic Development Commission it can offer bilingual small-business training, one-on-one advising and seed grants after receiving an approximately $80,000 Washington Economic Development Finance Authority award; commissioners discussed local partnerships and bringing the program to city council.
The Sunnyside City Community and Economic Development Commission on Tuesday heard a presentation from the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship about free, bilingual small-business classes and one-on-one advising the group said it can deliver locally.
Manny Gonia, the presenter, said the nonprofit focuses on “helping people get started with their business” in smaller cities and rural areas and recently received “about $80,000” from the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority to expand programming in Yakima County. “It's called Start Simple,” Gonia said of the flagship online course, and the organization provides workbooks, Excel templates and follow-up advising.
The commission was told the curriculum covers personal finance, cash-flow analysis and sales forecasting, runs four weeks (two hours per week online) and is available in English and Spanish. Gonia said the nonprofit pairs classroom work with one-on-one advising for up to two years to support licensing, bookkeeping and other administrative steps. “We just recently received the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority grant for about $80,000 to provide this service here in Yakima County,” he said.
Gonia described prior outcomes: a recent childcare-focused series in Toppenish had about 20 participants and led to several new child-care openings, and earlier programs produced roughly 20 new business starts across partner communities. He also said the group had distributed seed grants last year — “I think $200,000 in grants, and those were $4,500 a piece,” he said — to support participants who saved toward starting a business.
Commissioners asked about local logistics and partners. One member recommended local lenders and community banks as hosts and loan-resource speakers; Gonia said he routinely partners with local nonprofits, chambers and food banks for space when he travels to different towns and that he can provide printed workbooks and QR codes for signups.
The commission agreed to consider promoting the program to residents and discussed inviting Gonia to present the program to the city council so council members could see the offering and consider formal support. Gonia offered to begin in-person sessions as early as February and left materials and business cards for follow-up.
Next steps: commissioners said they will compile interest, share contact information to schedule in-person classes, and consider a council presentation to broaden outreach.
