Las Vegas, Nevada — In the richly diverse state of Nevada, opportunities abound, and business thrives, creating a vibrant landscape of growth and innovation. Among the initiatives fueling this progress is NV Grow, a distinctive small business program tailored for Southern Nevada’s flourishing enterprises. Working closely with the Asian Community Development Council, NV Grow collaborates with a variety of programs to support and elevate local businesses.
One such success story is that of Kim Dung Ho, a passionate photographer who began her journey in 2016. Running a one-woman show, Kim faced numerous challenges, but her determination to capture life’s moments kept her going. When the pandemic struck, her business, deemed non-essential, was hit hard. Kim had to navigate through difficult times, searching for resources to keep her business afloat.
“I didn’t have any income coming in, and I still had bills to pay,” Kim shared. “I looked for resources around Vegas and found NV Grow through the Asian Chamber of Commerce. They created a path for my business and gave me lots of opportunities.”
Kim credits NV Grow for connecting her with crucial data, marketing strategies, and business intelligence tools that helped her business survive and thrive.
“The counseling team at NV Grow is very helpful,” she added. “As a member and a counselor, I can reach out to them directly whenever I need guidance.”
Another entrepreneur benefiting from NV Grow is Ben Kang, a web developer and software engineer. Ben received a grant from NV Grow that allowed him to kickstart his business, hiring developers, designers, and engineers to launch a software that enables restaurants to have digital menus.
“It was a pivotal moment for me and many other business owners in Las Vegas,” Ben said. “To this day, a lot of restaurants and other businesses still use the software I created.”
Ben encourages fellow entrepreneurs to utilize programs like NV Grow, emphasizing their accessibility and value in helping businesses not just maintain but grow.
“Programs like NV Grow should be utilized by all the different business owners here. Running a business can be difficult, so it’s important to be aware of these programs to help grow your business,” Ben advised.
The success stories of Ben and Kim resonate deeply within the Fil-Am business community, inspiring others like Marilou and John Soriano to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Marilou, the owner of a water store, hopes to enhance her business with the support of NV Grow.
“I hope NV Grow can help me with marketing so I can reach more people, not just within the Filipino community but other Asian communities as well,” Marilou expressed. “I also need more inventory to make this place more comfortable and accommodating for customers.”
John Soriano, who founded a thriving office and residential cleaning enterprise three and a half years ago, believes that partnering with NV Grow could significantly impact his company’s success and expansion.
“We want to continue hiring and providing opportunities for people in the community,” John shared. “We aim to create a positive culture and system, and if we can add more people, we can bring more jobs to them. We want to make an impact in the community.”
NV Grow offers Fil-Am entrepreneurs the opportunity to join dynamic peer learning groups, engage in roundtables with diverse companies, participate in stimulating discussions, and receive expert mentoring. The program connects them to essential data, marketing strategies, and business intelligence tools, empowering business expansion and job creation.
If you are in Nevada and looking to grow your business, contact NV Grow for free assistance and resources. Visit their website at www.nvgrow.org.
Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN News, Las Vegas
