Interview by Roy Aguillon
Article by Celinda De La Fuente
With over half a million homes in San Antonio, older than 1960, in need to be refurbished, Micro:SA, which is “a catalyst in creating economic opportunity for underserved micro businesses removing structural obstacles that have inhibited their growth,” plans on doing the necessary work to ensure that small contractors become certified and qualified to become more profitable in their field.
Diane Sanchez, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Micro:SA understands the need to support local micro businesses and guide them in their development and growth, and focuses on giving business to “people of color.”
“That’s what we’re really focused on right now…building a pipeline. We’re identifying small contractors and getting them certified and qualified, and also helping them become sustainable,” states Sanchez.
“Our construction workers make 25% less than any other city in the United States…which tells you that somebody’s making a lot of money, but it’s not the guys that are doing the work at the bottom.”
Construction workers and small contractors could find work more profitable if they knew how to represent themselves and understood how to become more competitive. Micro:SA works to provide “access to some of these tools and make them more competitive and knowledge about how to become competitive in this space” by providing resources and opportunities not readily available to small contractors.
In San Antonio, 99% of our city’s businesses are classified as small businesses. Micro:SA offers “micro businesses access to the entire ecosystem of agencies, the private/public sector and tools necessary to ensure their success as entrepreneurs.”
Con ganas, contact Micro:SA if you are a small contractor in need of assistance. The resources are out there.
“Never, never, never give up…I find that when one door closes, another opens,” advises Sanchez.
Keep pushing. Keep moving forward. Perseverance is key, gente.
For more information:
call: 210-468-1314
