November 14, 2012. The San Francisco Chronicle writes about a California nonprofit group that helps low-income immigrants start their own businesses with technical assistance, microfinancing, and networking support.
The 12-person staff operates on an annual budget of $1.2 million to $1.4 million and offers classes in San Jose, Richmond and Oakland, as well as Berkeley. Since 2000, clients have improved their household net worth by an average of 9 percent each, Butler said.
Immigrants own 18 percent of small businesses nationwide, according to a study this year from the Fiscal Policy Institute. In California, it’s much higher: One-third of small businesses are run by immigrants.