April 2024

April AAPI Chamber and Foundation

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As we embark on the month of April, we are not only celebrating Earth Month but also reflecting on the resilience and strength within our community. It is a time to honor our heritage, our businesses, and our planet.

As entrepreneurs and business leaders, we understand the importance of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our actions today shape the world for future generations. That's why, as a chamber, we are committed to promoting eco-friendly practices and supporting businesses that prioritize environmental responsibility.

This Earth Month, let us renew our commitment to sustainability in both our personal and professional lives. Whether it's reducing our carbon footprint, supporting local green initiatives, or advocating for policies that protect our environment, each of us has a role to play.

Let us also take this opportunity to celebrate the diversity and richness of our AAPI community. Our cultural heritage is deeply intertwined with our respect for nature and the world around us.

Let's draw inspiration from this connection as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Together, we can make a difference. Let's harness the collective power of our community to create positive change for our planet and future generations.

Thank you for your dedication to our chamber and our planet.

Warm regards,

Catherine Francisco PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AAPI CHAMBER

Upcoming Events

College of Southern Nevada AAPIME Heritage Month Kickoff April 23, 4:30-6pm CSN NLV Campus June Withley Student Lounge

Ten Times Better Documentary Community Event The Beverly Theater Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:30 PM Free and Open to the Public

Upcoming Events City of Las Vegas AAPI Heritage Month May 7th, 9-11AM City of Las Vegas City Hall Meet the City’s business licensing and purchasing teams. They will answer questions you have about business licensing and purchasing process in the City.

City of North Las Vegas AAPI Heritage Month May 718th, 11AM-3PM Aliante Nature Discovery Park In collaboration with the City of North Las Vegas, the AAPI Chamber is hosting a free, community event at Aliante Nature Discovery Park to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month.

KAFL: April 24th Dinner & Social More detail coming soon!

WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Nevada SBDC guides and assists Nevadans looking to start and grow businesses, with objectives to increase business starts, create and retain jobs, and increase access to capital. One-on-one advising services are free and confidential. Nevada SBDC also offers and coordinates a wide range of workshops and courses in collaboration with public and private entities.

Q1 2024 Quarterly Impact Report

38

Advised 38 business owners in various services such as marketing, legal, government contracts, and funding.

$203,750 Assisted in a total of $203,750 in funding resources.

4 Assisted with 4 individuals in starting their own business.

Documentary Screening Event Free and open to the public.

The Beverly Theater Tuesday, May 7, 2024 6:30 PM

RSVP Here

Member Spotlight: Nevada SBDC Success Story Leanne Duong-Ma was running a small business name Direct Source Procurement, supplying sustainable and eco-friendly reusable food packaging and food service supplies items like cups, lids, and straws to area businesses since 2017. The Las Vegas based company had been making steady growth for a few years, but Duong-Ma believed that her women/minority-owned certified business could be servicing a much larger market. Duong-Ma reached out to the Nevada SBDC for assistance with marketing strategy, market research, and to discover what e-commerce options were available to her.

Duong-Ma was paired with Nevada SBDC advisor Catherine Francisco, operating out of the new Asian American and Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas. To assist with networking and expanding her marketability, Francisco invited Duong-Ma to a national networking conference and to take part in the Super Bowl Business Connect program, a program that connects experienced, event-ready Las Vegas businesses with opportunities to compete for contracts related to Super Bowl LVIII that took place in Las Vegas in February, 2024. Because Direct Source Procurement was already a woman and minority-owned certified business, they were in a perfect position to take advantage of this program. After creating a pitch,

Duong-Ma applied and was selected as a supplier for the upcoming Super Bowl. Francisco also assisted Duong-Ma in applying for the Clark County Technical and Economic Assistance Program (TEAP) grant, which disburses funds to small businesses in the Clark County area that were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Direct Source Procurement is now an official supplier of Super Bowl LVIII, a huge win for the business that will surely lead to other contracting opportunities in the future. The business was also approved for a $25,000 TEAP grant, granting Duong-Ma some additional capital to expand her marketing efforts. She then leveraged these big wins to respond to an RFP from the Clark County School District and is now awaiting school board confirmation to be a supplier for one of the nation’s largest school districts.

ROUNDTABLE WITH UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR KATHERINE TAI AAPI Chamber hosted Ambassador Ambassador Katherine Tai and the Office of the United States Trade Representative for a closed roundtable discussion on foreign trade. AAPI Chamber President Catherine Francisco moderated the discussion with Ambassador Tai and 13 businesses. We want to thank the Office of the United States Trade Represtnative and Ambassador Tai for the opportunity, Evan Louie and Assemblyman Duy Nguyen for their continued support of AAPI Chamber and all the business owners who joined us.

THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER SPONSORS

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