GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Ferris State University’s Latino Business and Economic Development
Center Director Carlos Sanchez said that a recent award from the West Michigan Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce has made potential clients aware of the center and its programs.
The chamber honored Sanchez with its Non-Profit Champion Award in recognition of the center’s efforts in the community on behalf of the university.
“We are focusing on businesses as big as small manufacturing, but also as small as the case of a single mother who is doing catering to a couple of offices. That extra income is having an impact on her finances,” Sanchez said. “This really underscores the commitment of Ferris to the Latino community. This is not a recruitment piece for the university, this is just doing good work.”
Sanchez has been director of the center since its inception in November 2012. The center is charged with providing leadership and community entrepreneurship development for young Latino professionals, and has completed two sessions producing future leaders through the Latino Talent Initiative.
The recent award from the West Michigan Hispanic chamber has increased public awareness of the center’s offerings.
“It’s given more traction, particularly in the area of entrepreneurship. We will launch our first class in early September,” Sanchez said. “Now, people are asking when the program will start, how to sign up, what it is about.”
The Latino Business and Economic Development Center is based in Grand Rapids at Ferris’ Kendall College of Art and Design.