During the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local governments launched a variety of funds and programs to support small-businesses. However, Latino-owned businesses in the Washington, DC metropolitan area (DMV) faced significant challenges seeking aid to weather the ongoing crisis. This year's virtual Forum gathered leading researchers, advocates, and policy-makers to discuss successes and challenges in the effort to provide financial and technical assistance to Latino businesses in the DMV during the pandemic. The Forum also considered lessons learned, effective innovations, and areas for improvement in anticipation of the next such crisis. These discussions draw upon a recent Center report which analyzes access to pandemic relief for Latino-owned businesses in the DMV.
This year's Forum was co-sponsored by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and American University's Kogod School of Business.