• Contact Us  |
  • Seminars |
  • Blog  |
  • Downloads & Resources
  • English
  • Página Web en Español
  • Request Assistance
  • Donate Now
Prospera FloridaProspera FloridaProspera FloridaProspera Florida
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Organization
    • Financials & Reports
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • Careers/Internships
    • FAQ
    • Media Room
    • Blog
  • What We Do
    • Services
      • Consulting
      • Seminars
      • Access to capital
    • Business Advancement Services
      • Business Plans
      • Marketing Plans
      • Legal Assessment
      • Branding Kit
      • Accounting
    • EVENTS
      • Success Stories
      • Don Quijote Awards
  • Who We Serve
    • HISPANIC ENTREPRENEURS
      • Overview
      • Client Showcase
    • GENEROUS GIVERS
      • Funders
      • Clients’ Circle
      • Volunteers
    • Partners
      • Strategic Partners
  • Where We Work
    • Central Florida
    • South Florida
    • West Coast of Florida
    • Other Florida Regions
    • North Carolina
    • Georgia

Our History

In 1991, we began this journey of helping Hispanic entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their businesses, to achieve community prosperity.

HERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR STORY:

We were founded in Tampa by a Hispanic entrepreneur, as part of the Hispanic Business Institute, with support from the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County.

With support from Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin, an HCCMO committee started a national research to find a successful model to invest in Hispanic entrepreneurs in Central Florida, and they found it very nearby in Tampa.

The organization (then called Hispanic Business Initiative Fund) was replicated in the Orlando area with support from Orange County and City of Orlando.

We founded the Don Quijote Awards with co-host HCCMO, to recognize business owners and professionals.

We established the first satellite office within the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce, with support from El Osceola Star and other local Hispanic leaders.

We became a Resource Partner for collaboration with other economic development organizations in the Orange County National Entrepreneur Center.

The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund West Coast and Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Greater Orlando merged into one 501c3 organization.

We established operations in Miami within and with the support of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, to reach the South Florida’s abundant. Hispanic entrepreneur community

Opened our first stand-alone South Florida office in the City of Doral at the Miami Free Zone, adjacent to small businesses, traders and fellow economic development organizations

We began delivering services in additional areas of Florida beyond the Central, South and West Coast regions, including West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Ft. Walton Beach, and Jacksonville. The first annual Success Stories Luncheon was hosted in South Florida to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and recognize, as in Tampa and Orlando, exemplary local technical assistance clients, based on growth, innovation and community impact.

We began delivering services outside of Florida, with quarterly business seminars in Spanish and individual consulting to entrepreneurs in Charlotte, North Carolina’s rapidly growing Hispanic community.

We completed our 25th year of service and rebranded from HBIF to Prospera (some still miss the old name, but it was really hard to remember for most!).

Just one year later, we established a permanent office with full-time staff in Charlotte, NC, co-located with the LACCC.

We developed PROPEL to offer services in other U.S. markets and help meet the need for specialized support for Hispanic entrepreneurs across our country.

The COVID-19 pandemic took us by surprise but found us prepared to transition overnight to remote operations, so we were able to continue helping our clients, holding their hands and identifying solutions to confront this crisis.

This year, we are commemorating our 30th anniversary, with a four-day, organization-wide, online celebration and more!

We will continue to work hard, to help entrepeneurs achieve their goals. Join us to be part of the years to come.

31 years supporting Florida’s economy by serving Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Enjoy Prospera’s 30th anniversary commemorative video below

2019-2020 Annual Report

Enjoy Prospera’s 25th anniversary commemorative video.

25th Anniversary Annual Report

GALLERY OF PHOTOS

Tampa Founders

25th Year Anniversary

25-Year Highlights

Photo Archives

View Photos

Orlando Founders

25th Year Anniversary

Anniversary Celebrations

BMW Receptions & 2016 Success Stories Luncheons

View Photos

Recent Posts

  • Kelleher Foreign Utilise Intuition et Sagesse pour convenir Professional, Discriminating Clients
  • SBA Expands Outreach to Hispanic Businesses with Historic Multi-State Alliance with Prospera
  • Genau Warum Frühling Ist das Größte Zeit für Sie Start Eine Union
  • Client Spotlight: D’Class Closets
  • Client Spotlight: Bracho+Bosch

Recent Comments

    Categories

    • Central Florida
    • home
    • Media Coverage
    • News
    • north carolina
    • Resources
    • South Florida
    • Success Stories
    • Uncategorized
    • Upcoming Events
    • West Coast of Florida

    Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016

    CONNECT

    CONNECT

    Administrative Offices :

    National Entrepreneur Center
    Orlando Fashion Square Mall
    3201 East Colonial Drive, Suite A20
    Orlando FL 32803
    888-PROSPERA
    admin@prosperausa.org


    Find a Prospera Office

    DISCOVER & EXPLORE

    • Our Organization
    • Servicios
    • Leadership
    • Media
    • Careers/Internships
    • Grants
    • Blog
    • Downloads & Resources
    WordPress contact form

    Follow me on Twitter

    Tweets by @ProsperaUSA
    • Browser Support  |
    • Photos & Videos  |
    • Privacy Policy  |
    • Terms & Conditions  
    © 2021 Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, Inc. (d/b/a Prospera®) | Identity By | Powered by: WorkMagic
    • Home
    • Who We Are
      • Our Organization
      • Financials & Reports
      • History
      • Board of Directors
      • Leadership
      • Staff
      • Careers/Internships
      • FAQ
      • Media Room
      • Blog
    • What We Do
      • Services
        • Consulting
        • Seminars
        • Access to capital
      • Business Advancement Services
        • Business Plans
        • Marketing Plans
        • Legal Assessment
        • Branding Kit
        • Accounting
      • EVENTS
        • Success Stories
        • Don Quijote Awards
    • Who We Serve
      • HISPANIC ENTREPRENEURS
        • Overview
        • Client Showcase
      • GENEROUS GIVERS
        • Funders
        • Clients’ Circle
        • Volunteers
      • Partners
        • Strategic Partners
    • Where We Work
      • Central Florida
      • South Florida
      • West Coast of Florida
      • Other Florida Regions
      • North Carolina
      • Georgia
    Prospera Florida