By Brittney Sherman
Morgan Hill’s Business Support Services Program graduated its first cohort on October 2, marking an important step in the City’s broader ELEVATE Morgan Hill economic mobility initiative. The program was created after data from the City’s housing element update revealed substantial gaps in resources for small businesses—particularly within the Spanish-speaking community. Although roughly a quarter of Morgan Hill businesses are Latino or Hispanic-owned, they received disproportionately fewer COVID-19 recovery loans, highlighting a systemic gap in access to support.
In response, the City developed a business training program centered on practical skills such as financial management, scheduling, marketing, and proposal development. The inaugural cohort of 20 entrepreneurs—primarily Spanish-speaking residents, with half the class composed of women—represented a wide range of industries from bookkeeping and construction to cosmetology and woodworking. The program is open to all residents, but its design intentionally strengthens support for communities historically underserved by traditional business assistance programs.
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