HINA Wire
Chicago – The Foundation of Little Village, a nonprofit focused on building community wealth, cultural preservation, and corridor revitalization in Little Village, broke ground on its highly anticipated commercial and cultural amenity: Xquina Incubator and Café. The 13,000-square-foot space is located in an 1880s-era building on the 26th Street Corridor, and the project will restore, modernize, and reintroduce the historic building as a spacious business incubator and inclusive community hub.
«The Foundation of Little Village was built on the concept that by working together with the Little Village community, entrepreneurs, local leaders, and partners, we can achieve economic advancement while preserving the rich culture of and revitalizing the iconic 26th Street Corridor in Little Village,» said Dan Arce, Board president of the Foundation of Little Village. The Xquina Incubator and Café ties directly into this concept, and we’re thrilled to be here today taking the next step as we create new opportunities for our neighbors.»
The Xquina Incubator and Café is strategically designed to drive impact into the Little Village community by providing local entrepreneurs convenient access to the Xquina Business Ecosystem, which includes the delivery of culturally relevant Spanish and English language entrepreneurial programming and coaching: “Juntos Lanzamos”, “Juntos Emprendemos”, and “Juntos Avanzamos”. In addition to “Juntos Programming”, the expansive Xquina Business Ecosystem includes a business incubator, financial assistance, cultural amenities, a referral network, and access to an open, adaptable learning space available to community residents, program participants, alumni, and partners.
«Little Village is a cultural epicenter and beloved home to a community rich in culture, spirit, and entrepreneurial drive,» said Illinois State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez. «The Foundation of Little Village is a vital line of support in this vibrant community, and the Xquina Incubator and Café will be a centerpiece of the nonprofit’s critical efforts to drive economic equality, prosperity, and advancement for Little Village.»
The Xquina Incubator and Café will be completed in two phases with the first phase expected to open in June 2024. Phase one will include a business incubator, local café, multipurpose media room, and a shared commercial kitchen on the historic building’s first floor. The second phase will focus on the second and third floors of the building. It will include a co-working office, private offices, a podcasting room, a video production room, a local artist gallery, an event space, and workforce training rooms.
«The Xquina Incubator and Café will serve as the central hub for the Xquina Business Ecosystem to thrive in and provide a space for Little Village entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and prosper,» said Kim Close, executive director of the Foundation of Little Village. «Through thoughtful partnerships, we’ve built the Xquina Business Ecosystem to link entrepreneurs to solution sets that provide business services and meet the unique and individual needs of Little Village entrepreneurs.»
The Foundation of Little Village supports and encourages business growth through an established business ecosystem that offers culturally relevant and bilingual entrepreneurial programming, access to capital, a business incubator, and other critical resources that impact the economic wellness of Little Village. The nonprofit’s core pillars focus on building community wealth, cultural preservation, and corridor revitalization. Learn more about the Foundation of Little Village or enroll in its entrepreneurial Juntos programming at flvchicago.org.
About the Foundation of Little Village
The Foundation of Little Village was founded in August 2018 to create a socioeconomic impact system for Little Village entrepreneurs. During this time, the Foundation of Little Village has supported more than 250 local small businesses with culturally relevant educational programming, professional services, workforce training, access to capital, and technical assistance to bridge the digital divide between youth and local businesses.
In pursuit of these goals, the Foundation of Little Village equips local entrepreneurs with access to bilingual, professional programming designed to support and encourage economic growth, educational opportunities, and vibrant wealth creation to effectively propel the Little Village community forward.
