Small-business advocates try to shore up capital, services for minority entrepreneurs By JENNIFER PITTMAN

From Santa Cruz Sentinal Sunday March 20, 2011

WATSONVILLE -- Starting a private immigration law firm in downtown
Watsonville, even for a skilled legal advocate in the federal court, would have
been nearly impossible without business counseling and help with securing
financing, Ariadna Renteria Torres said.

Renteria Torres opened her one-person law firm in September in Plaza Vigil, a
busy business incubator supported by El Pajaro Community Development Corp.

"Once I'm shown the path, I think I can follow through. But I think you need
a lot of support when you start a business, even if you know your craft,"
Renteria Torres said. "I found myself to be very naive."

Counselors at El Pajaro CDC, just one of the agencies in Santa Cruz County
that provides no- or low-cost business-development training, counseling and help
with financing, is hoping to keep on mission despite possible cuts that would
impact services.

"We're trying to find more resources so our clients can find a loan, but we
also need resources so they receive training so they can be ready to get that
loan," said Carmen Herrera-Mansir, executive director of El Pajaro CDC. "Our
clients usually don't have collateral. Their collateral is our relationship and
the training they get here. We see they're willing to put the work into the
business plan." (READ MORE)