There's an Application for That : Assisting Latino Businesses in Navigating the Permit Process

Presentation made at Latinos in the Heartland (13th : 2015 : Columbia, Mo.) and published in the annual conference proceedings.The majority of Hispanic-owned businesses in the US are classified as "nonemployer," meaning that they are firms without paid employees, generally run by sole proprietors and partners. Emblematic of "nonemployer" businesses are family-owned and operated retail establishments, auto repair shops, restaurants, and cleaning businesses. Such retail and service industries require special permits to operate (such as health department permits and liquor licenses) or require building permits to expand or renovate business spaces. Building codes, health codes, and other forms of regulation are difficult to access, navigate and understand for many Latino business owners because of lack of English fluency, knowledge of existing regulation, or access to technology. Personal investment and assumption of risk is exceptionally high in immigrant-owned businesses. The cost of business failure, then, is also extremely high on individual families and on the community as a whole. Failure to file the necessary paperwork or receive adequate permission for operation can be financially disastrous and force business closure. This paper presents several best practices in addressing the knowledge gap about business regulation among Latino entrepreneurs. Keywords: Latino, immigrant entrepreneurship, community and economic development, Extensio

A cross-cultural collaboration to improve healthy retail practices in tiendas : the Shop Healthy Iowa initiative

"Chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, disproportionately affect Latinx populations as compared to white populations. For example, estimates suggest that Latinx individuals are 50 [percent] more likely to die from diabetes, they have higher rates of uncontrolled hypertension, and higher obesity rates compared to white populations. Latinx diets being low in fruits further exacerbates their risk of suffering from chronic diseases. Latinx households are more likely to be food insecure than white households and purchase more calorie-dense, high fat and sodium, and low fiber foods. Part of this insecurity is due to poor community nutrition environments with Latinx populations having low access to nutritious foods which increases health disparities in health outcomes and behaviors among these populations. To address these disparities, policy and environmental solutions need to address the low availability and affordability of healthy products in Latinx communities."--Background.Includes bibliographical reference

Increasing Food Options for a Diversifying Population: When Tortilla Chips are Not Enough

Increasing Food Options for a Diversifying Population: When Tortilla Chips are Not Enoug

Capitol Park Neighborhood Charter Plan Update

The first Capitol Park Neighborhood Association Plan was completed in 1995. Over thelast twenty years, major goals in the original CapitolPark Neighborhood Plan have been accomplished.However, the neighborhood has changed in regards to demographics, housing stock, and zoning. In order to maintain the vitality of the neighborhood and address its changes, a series of planning efforts was initiated to provide guidance to the Capitol Park Neighborhood for the next 5 to 10 years.</p