Blog

North Carolina Client: Elizabeth Hurtado Originally from Colombia, Elizabeth Hurtado struggled to secure a job when she first arrived in the United States, almost 10 years ago. Before earning a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, she was advised to begin knocking on doors of businesses asking for a job. Following this advice, she secured a job as aRead more

Prospera receives Kauffman Foundation funding for economic development in rural areas Prospera has been selected as one of 19 organizations across the country to receive 2019 Inclusion Open grants from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which received more than 750 applications from over 42 states and U.S. territories. As part of its initiative to fundRead more

Manolo’s Bakery, North Carolina Charlotte and North Carolina as a whole are growing rapidly, and the importance of immigrant-owned businesses also continues growing as the state becomes more diversified and internationally involved. A good example of this diverse growth is Manuel “Manolo” Betancur. A native of Colombia, Manolo runs one of the most popular bakeriesRead more

Brico, The Eco-Cleaning Company What do two good friends concerned about the environment and hungry to start a business have in common? The answer is Brico, The Eco-Cleaning Company! Roxana Monroy and Rosy Brito exemplify the spirit of innovative women entrepreneurs. As residents of a fast-growing lakeside town in North Carolina, they noticed an interestingRead more

Creating More Innovative Partnerships in the Charlotte Ecosystem Prospera’s presence continues to grow steadily in North Carolina and create an impact in the region through its programming and local partnerships. The most recent partnership was created as a result of an Innovate Charlotte pilot program, a fellow local nonprofit organization with a mission to connectRead more

Prospera North Carolina Board Member Receives National Recognition John Herrera, member of Prospera’s North Carolina Board, was recently featured by Time Magazine in its special August issue titled The South Issue. The main article focusses on the stories, lives and history behind the country’s most culturally complex region, and it recognizes key people who areRead more

Prospera North Carolina Board Member Receives Recognition Martín Flores, Prospera North Carolina Board Member, was recently recognized as one of the local professionals making a local impact by selecting him among the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 honorees. This recognition honors local professionals who are making major strides in their career while leaving aRead more

WaterMate, Restoration Services Ramy Melo is a jack of all trades with entrepreneurial spirit. Ramy’s journey began when his family moved from a small town in the Dominican Republic to the United States in the early 2000s. They moved to Rhode Island and eventually relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. A graduate of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PublicRead more

Prospera Markets and Secures Capital for Small Business in North Carolina One year ago, Prospera established an office and full-time staff in North Carolina. Since then, year-round assistance has been provided to current and aspiring Hispanic business owners in North Carolina to positively impact the state’s economic development. A critical step in Prospera’s establishment inRead more

Smart Era Lighting Systems “Illuminating Your World with the Power of the Sun” Entrepreneur Rafael Badilla is an industrial designer from Costa Rica. When he moved to North Carolina he found unattractive designs of solar system lights in parks and parking lots. He saw an opportunity to stand out in the industry and in 2012Read more