Career Navigation & Entrepreneurship

No products in the cart.

Career Navigation and Entrepreneurship

Finding a job, keeping a job, and building something of your own all require different kinds of support. CSS offers career navigation and entrepreneurship programming through our Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, with a particular focus on serving the Latino community in central Ohio.

Whether you are entering the workforce for the first time, transitioning to a new field, or building a small business you have been dreaming about, we can help you take the next step.

Mercadito Raices

Mercadito Raices, which translates to “Our Roots Market,” is a small business development program offered through the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center in partnership with the Ohio Small Business Development Center. The program is designed to help Hispanic entrepreneurs prepare their businesses to launch and grow in central Ohio.

Latino businesses represent a significant and growing part of the central Ohio economy. Over the last ten years, the number of Latino business owners in Ohio has grown by 44%, compared to 4% for all other business owners. Mercadito Raices was built to support and accelerate that growth.

What the Program Offers

Mercadito Raices is a series of workshops covering the practical skills entrepreneurs need to launch and sustain a business, including business planning, marketing, event participation, and connecting with community resources. Instructors include representatives from the Small Business Administration and the Columbus Economic Development department.

Program Results

In August 2023, nine Hispanic entrepreneurs who completed Mercadito Raices launched their businesses at Festival Latino. Eight of the nine participants were women. In fall 2023 through winter 2024, CSS offered five free introductory workshops and attracted 97 participants. Twenty-seven entrepreneurs enrolled in the full course, with 22 expected to complete the program and launch businesses in summer and fall 2024.