The vibrancy and diversity of entrepreneurs of color are powerful driving forces for the U.S. economy and the well-being of marginalized communities. At UCLA LPPI, we have embarked on a new journey to uncover the profound impact of ethnic-owned businesses in three critical states: Arizona, California, and Texas. This commitment is reflected in The Economic Recovery and Entrepreneurship Project (TEREP), a new community-informed initiative to generate innovative insights and challenge narratives that underestimate the capabilities of ethnic enterprises. Despite the undeniable contributions of ethnic-owned small businesses to the economy, entrepreneurship is not without its challenges. However, what sets entrepreneurs of color apart is a commitment to generational wealth-building often rooted in strong family values and economic precarity. 

The survey findings of more than 1,600 ethnic small businesses and interviews with small business owners are compelling; I have witnessed the transformative power of entrepreneurship within my own family. My mother, running a toy stand at our local swap meet, could supplement our family’s income when my dad’s wages were not enough. My first job working at my uncle’s restaurant exposed me to the invaluable employment opportunities he created within the community—and his decade-long struggle to keep the doors open. 

At UCLA LPPI, these deeply personal experiences motivate me and an incredibly dedicated research team to tell the stories and impact of entrepreneurship by people of color. TEREP centers around, highlighting the intersecting obstacles entrepreneurs of color and Latina entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, UCLA LPPI will also sharpen its recommendations to policymakers, urging them to be forward-thinking and envision a lower-carbon economy inclusive ethnic-owned businesses. TEREP analyzes ongoing pandemic impacts, the barriers to accessing capital, adopting technology, preparing for disasters, and practicing environmental sustainability in the face of climate change. These innovative findings will help ensure the competitiveness, profitability, and continued positive influence of entrepreneurs of color in our changing economy. 

UCLA LPPI’s commitment to empowering Latino communities and communities of color, broadly, is unwavering. A recent report by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture and California Lutheran University’s Center for Economic Research and Forecasting shows that if the U.S. Latino GDP were an independent country, it would be the eighth largest in the world. The economic force we represent is vital to the American economy and a testament to our determination and potential. We invite you to learn more about and engage with TEREP.