After nine years of working for a reforestation contractor in Oregon, Alexander Galicia of Salem is looking to become his own boss.
"Since I know the business, I'd like to own my own company," Galicia said Saturday at the sixth annual Latino Small Business and Workforce Development Conference.
The event took place at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore. It brings together Hispanic business owners, youth, community members, and public and private organizations that want to hire Hispanics or market products and services to the Hispanic community.
Galicia, 34, said he was at the event to get information about how to start a small business.
"I want to know about certification, contractor licensing, permits and insurance bonds needed for a reforestation business," he said. "Eventually, I'd like to contract with the state."
The first thing Claudia Sandoval did after receiving her business license a month ago was order business cards.
As the only employee of her company, Sandoval, a housekeeper from Vancouver, Wash., said she's inundated with requests for house-cleaning services.
"I want to know how to grow my business, how to go about hiring people," Sandoval said as she pulled out a pamphlet about services the government offers to women with small businesses.
Sandoval picked up the booklet at an Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services exhibit.
Workshop topics included economic literacy, asset development, finance management, marketing strategies, access to credit and licensing and regulations.
The conference featured more than 30 Salem-area business vendors.
At the SELCO Community Credit Union booth, attendees wanted information about how to finance a small business.
"Most were interested in starting a landscaping or nursery business," said Elizabeth Ramirez, a teller with SELCO.
Tina Hernandez, who was working an American Family Insurance booth, also answered questions.
"People want to know what type of insurance we sell and the cost," Hernandez said. "They also want to know if we write insurance for certain types of businesses."
About 460 people attended this year's event, said Esther Puentes, the owner and president of Interface Network, which puts on the event.
"It's our largest crowd yet," Puentes said. "There's such a need in the Latino community for information on starting a business. People see this conference as a place to network and get information."