Our Executive Director, Alma Flores, reflects on major achievements and the path forward into 2026
As we close out 2025, we pause to reflect on a year of resilience, growth, and impact. Together as a community, we faced challenges head-on and turned them into opportunities to grow stronger. Many of our businesses and families endured financial uncertainty, trauma, and fear—yet continued to persevere with strength and dignity.
At LEDC, our mission has remained unwavering: to empower Latino and immigrant communities through access to capital, business development, advocacy, and community support. With our partners, donors, and organizational allies by our side, we continued expanding economic opportunity and building a more equitable Minnesota.
2025 Highlights
Economic Empowerment
This year, LEDC supported 516 entrepreneurs in launching and expanding their businesses—helping strengthen our local economies and uplift communities across the state.
Loan Deployment
We invested over $4.6 million in small business loans, leveraged $7.9 million in capital, helped create and retain 434 jobs, and continued expanding opportunities for generational wealth-building.
Community Development
LEDC advanced a major vision for a multicultural resource hub at Plaza del Sol on Saint Paul’s East Side, scheduled to open new features in Spring 2026—including our Innovation Food Hub, La Cocina Commissary Kitchen, and a flexible event space for community.
Advocacy & Equity
We responded to ongoing funding threats and worked to defend policies that protect and uplift Latino-serving organizations—ensuring Minnesota’s immigrant community continues to be supported and heard.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The work is far from finished. LEDC remains deeply committed to building a future where every entrepreneur has access to opportunity, and every family can pursue economic freedom and stability.
Your continued support matters now more than ever. By investing in LEDC, you strengthen local businesses, expand bilingual resources, preserve cultural identity, and protect community pathways to economic mobility.
If you are able, please consider making a year-end gift so we can continue expanding our programs and deploying loans to the small-business owners who need us most.
With deep gratitude,
Alma Flores
Executive Director
Latino Economic Development Center
