Suazo Business Center opens second office to serve Ogden community

The Suazo Business Center, a nonprofit business resource organization with a mission of development and empowerment of the Latino/Hispanic and other underserved communities, has opened a second location in Ogden. The organization, founded in 2002, is headquartered in Salt Lake City.

The Ogden Center was established in a partnership with Weber State University and Ogden City. Ogden is the home of the Utah’s most diverse population outside of Salt Lake County. Nearly 39 percent of Ogden City’s population identify as minority, and information from the Census Bureau and the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah report white households in Utah bring in nearly 30 percent more in annual income than Hispanic families and the success of minority entrepreneurs reflects that disparity, Suazo Business Center officials said.

“The success rates of minority entrepreneurs are not in line with overall small-business development, however, as they are at a disadvantage regarding many areas critical to business achievement,” a center news release said.  As a response to these barriers to success, Suazo officials said they are going to the heart of the issue and working to assist northern Utah small businesses by opening the Ogden location. 

“Entrepreneurship is a vehicle that can effectively curb the income gap for underserved communities in our state. We see this on a daily basis at our center,” said Silvia Castro, Suazo Business Center’s executive director.  “The Suazo Center was created to provide minority business owners, and other underserved entrepreneurs, the resources necessary to start or grow their businesses, increase their earning potential and wealth and help to end pandemic cycles of poverty. As these amazing entrepreneurs succeed, it becomes an all-around win for Utah and our local communities.”

The Ogden center, located at 2036 Lincoln Ave., opened earlier this month.

The Suazo Business Center has assisted in the education, growth and development of well over 10,000 clients since its founding, Castro said. It has created over 5,000 new small businesses and have helped generate over $250 million in revenues within the community it serves.