Las Vegas, Nevada – In the diverse state of Nevada, opportunity abounds and businesses thrive, creating a vibrant landscape of growth and innovation. Among the initiatives driving this progress is NV Grow, a unique small business program tailored to Southern Nevada’s burgeoning businesses. Working closely with the Asian Community Development Council, NV Grow partners with a variety of programs to support and elevate local businesses.

One such success story is that of Kim Dung Ho, a photography enthusiast who began her journey in 2016. As a solo entrepreneur, Kim faced many challenges, but her determination to capture life’s moments kept her going. When the pandemic hit, her business, deemed non-essential, took a hit. Kim had to go through tough times, seeking resources to keep her business afloat.

“I had no income and bills to pay,” Kim said. “I looked for resources in Vegas and found NV Grow through the Asian Chamber of Commerce. They created a path for my business and gave me a lot of opportunities.”

Kim credits NV Grow with providing her with access to key data, marketing strategies, and business intelligence tools that helped her business survive and thrive.

“The advisory team at NV Grow is very helpful,” she added. “As a member and advisor, I can go directly to them whenever I need guidance.”

Another entrepreneur using NV Grow is Ben Kang, a web developer and software engineer. Ben received a grant from NV Grow that allowed him to start his business, hiring developers, designers, and engineers to launch software that allows restaurants to have digital menus.

“That was a watershed moment for me and many other business owners in Las Vegas,” Ben said. “To this day, many restaurants and other businesses still use the software I created.”

Ben encourages other entrepreneurs to take advantage of programs like NV Grow, emphasizing their accessibility and value in helping companies not only stay in business, but grow it.

“Programs like NV Grow should be used by all business owners here. Running a business can be tough, so it’s important to be aware of these programs to help your business grow,” Ben advised.

Ben and Kim’s success stories resonate deeply within the Fil-Am business community, inspiring others like Marilou and John Soriano to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Marilou, a water store owner, hopes to grow her business with the support of NV Grow.

“I hope NV Grow will help me with marketing so I can reach more people, not only in the Filipino community but also in other Asian communities,” Marilou expressed. “I also need a larger inventory to make this place more convenient and customer-friendly.”

John Soriano, who founded a successful office and home cleaning business three and a half years ago, believes that the partnership with NV Grow can significantly impact the success and expansion of his company.

“We want to continue to employ and provide opportunities for people in the community,” John said. “Our goal is to create a positive culture and system, and if we can employ more people, we can provide more jobs. We want to have an impact on the community.”

NV Grow offers Fil-Am entrepreneurs the opportunity to join dynamic peer-to-peer learning groups, participate in roundtables with diverse companies, engage in stimulating discussions and receive expert mentoring. The program connects them with essential data, marketing strategies and business intelligence tools to enable business expansion and job creation.

If you are in Nevada and looking to grow your business, contact NV Grow for free help and resources. Visit their website at www.nvgrow.org.

Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN News, Las Vegas