Technical Assistance

One-on-One follow-ups with site visits where participants are provided free counseling and assistance in areas such as licensing and permits.

Loan Program

HEDCO, INC., together with the Spanish American Merchants Association (SAMA) offers several loan programs that are designed to generate economic growth and stability in cities and towns around the State of Connecticut. All HEDCO / SAMA revolving loan programs are designed to ensure small business owners have access to capital to encourage growth and stimulate small and mid-size industries and businesses resulting in the creation and retention of jobs.

Empresario Development Center

The Center is an effort to provide the necessary training and skills to those individuals interested in learning or enhancing their skills to improve their possibilities of finding a job and/or obtaining the knowledge necessary to more effectively operate their own business.

The goal of the Empresario Development Center is to expand and multiply learning opportunities for those in our community who need basic, high-quality computer literacy, entrepreneurship education, health & safety information, financial, management, marketing, and other training skills.

These trainings specifically target the underserved citizens, so they have an improved, productive quality of life as they adjust to living in an electronic, networked, computer-based and changing society.

All classes are primarily held at the Hartford and New Haven labs.

The Empresario Development Center is supported by Federal, State, corporate and private foundations as well as private funds.

I. Training

  • Basic Computer
  • Accounting 101 for small business
  • Quick Books
  • Wage & Workplace Standards
  • Business Management
  • Insurance for Small Business
  • Hiring & Managing Employees
  • Microsoft Word
  • First Time Home Buyers
  • Business Planning
  • Legal Aspects of Your Business
  • Understanding E-mails
  • Federal, State & City Tax Regulations

II. Certifications & Professional License

  • OSHA Certification 10hrs & 30hrs
  • ServSafe Food Management Certification