New Development Services Center
CHARO Community Development Corp. will open the doors of its new Business and Financial Center next month, consolidating a host of services available to small businesses in East Los Angeles and adding to the organization’s menu of offerings.
CHARO, founded in 1967, operates an entrepreneurial training center, a business assistance center, a career training center, a welfare-to-work program, child care centers and an affordable-housing division.
It also packages Small Business Administration loan applications. In a little over a year, the organization has become the agency’s leading intermediary for the Los Angeles district.
The organization won the 1999 SBA Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.
Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Bank are partners in the new center, with each company contributing $300,000.
U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alatorre, and SBA Los Angeles district director Alberto Alvarado will be among the speakers at a dedication ceremony for the center May 5. The center will open for business the next day.
The new center, at 4301 E. Valley Blvd., will house the loan packaging, entrepreneurial training and business assistance programs and will eventually offer incubator space for budding entrepreneurs. The dedication ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and is open to the public.
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Times staff writer Marla Dickerson (marla.dickerson@latimes.com) covers small business. Staff writer Lee Romney (lee.romney@latimes.com) covers Latino business.
