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Bilingual Business Accelerator Conference On April 18, 2025, business owners from around Yakima County attended YCDA’s Bilingual Business Accelerator Conference at Legends Casino. After a keynote session led by Jon Smith, Executive Director of YCDA and Amy Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of South-Central Workforce attendees dove into hands on break-out sessions–Financial Education, Loan Readiness, HR […]

The following article was originally published in El Sol de Yakima and written by América Barceló-Feldman.  El Sol de Yakima is a weekly Spanish Language Newspaper. Meet Yani Cisneros, the bilingual Business Development Manager at the Yakima County Development Association, and discover her vision for contributing to local economic progress by supporting local small business

The connection between workforce development and economic development cannot be overstated. Businesses cannot grow, innovate, or compete effectively without a skilled and reliable workforce. At the same time, a thriving local economy creates more opportunities for job seekers to build careers and improve their quality of life. This interdependence is why it is so crucial

On March 14th, 2025, YCDA hosted our Bilingual Business Accelerator Kick-Off at Legends Casino in Toppenish.  The Business Accelerator Program is designed for Yakima County businesses with fewer than 30 employees that have been operating for more than two years.  The event brought together 42 businesses and five resource partners–South Central Workforce, Small Business Development

Growing small businesses often face many barriers to growth. From navigating complex financial systems to securing loans, hiring employees, and marketing their services, the challenges can be overwhelming. That’s why the Yakima County Development Association’s (YCDA) Bilingual Business Accelerator is designed to meet business owners where they are, providing hands-on guidance to help them succeed.