Culture

Latino Retail Entrepreneurs’ Contributions to Community and Economic Development in Iowa: A Community Leader Perspective

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Abstract

Latino immigrants have extensively impacted the economies in the United States. Latinos have rich cultural and historical roots that are deeply embedded in daily life, and their culture lends itself to businesses focusing on decorative arts, cuisine, events, festivals, dance, and music. Latino owned businesses tend to feature products and services in the U.S. that are inspired by their culture, heritage, and resources of the country of origin. These cultural-based offerings of U.S Latino Entrepreneurs bring new economic opportunities to boost community and economic development. The purpose of the study was to: 1) determine types of cultural products featured by Latino bi-cultural entrepreneurs in Iowa, 2) identify the issues that hinder business startup and sustainability for Latino BCEs, 3) recognize opportunities for increased business growth and scalability, and 4) gain an insight into Latino retail entrepreneurs’ contributions to community and economic development in Iowa from the perspective of local community leaders.

How to Cite:

Tan, H. & Niehm, L., (2018) “Latino Retail Entrepreneurs’ Contributions to Community and Economic Development in Iowa: A Community Leader Perspective”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 75(1).