Hispanic business incubator seeking applicants
The region’s first Spanish-speaking business incubator program for Hispanics and Latinos is taking registrations for a new program being organized in Dalton, Georgia, by Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Dalton Innovation Accelerator and a South American entrepreneur who supports other Hispanic entrepreneurs.
“During a conversation about how to serve our communities better, we recognized a need for a Spanish incubator like DIA [Dalton Innovation Accelerator],” Leyner Argueta, an instructor at GNTC, said in an announcement of the new program.
Argueta, who will serve as program facilitator, said the incubator program is the first of its kind in the region.
The Dalton Innovation Accelerator is providing mentorship opportunities, access to the office and warehouse space during the program, promotional opportunities, administrative support and a networking event as part of the program.
“This program is fantastic for individuals that may have completed the Latin American Association’s ¡AVANZANDO JUNTAS! [Moving Forward Together], or similar programs,” Lauren Holverson, executive director of the Dalton Innovation Accelerators, said in the announcement of the program. “We want to build a pipeline of programs and services that assist entrepreneurs in each phase of their journey.”
Viviana Ramirez, owner of Eclectic79 and Casa Del Café in Dalton, hosted meetings once a month before the pandemic to help young Hispanic entrepreneurs to get started by connecting them with resources they need. She is working to resume that schedule now because she constantly receives requests for help obtaining an EIN, registering a new business in Georgia, etc.
“We are about a 50% Hispanic/Latino population in Whitfield County,” she said. “This will really help to get these entrepreneurs going with what they need.”
The 10-week program will meet twice weekly at GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus in Dalton. The course costs $350, which is due at the time of registration. To register, go to bit.ly/3CEFblN.
Walmart cuts cigarette sales
Walmart will no longer sell cigarettes in some of its stores though tobacco sales can be a significant revenue generator.
The world’s largest retailer said Monday the company is “always looking at ways to meet our customers’ needs while still operating an efficient business.”
Crowson did not identify the stores immediately affected by the tobacco ban. Decisions about removing cigarettes at Walmart will be made on a store-by-store basis according to the business and particular market, the company said Monday.
Health officials say cigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the U.S. each year.
Iowa may cut benefits for jobless workers
Iowa is nearing passage of a dramatic reduction in unemployment benefits to try to force people to fill thousands of open jobs and reverse a trend in which the governor argues the state’s “safety net has become a hammock.”
A measure supported only by the Republicans who control the Legislature would reduce allowable unemployment payments from 26 weeks to 16 weeks, placing Iowa among only six states with such severe limits. Currently, 40 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico pay up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, and Iowa has held to that standard for nearly 40 years.
The proposed reduction, which is expected to be approved soon, comes as Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% in February and the state’s businesses have struggled to hire enough workers, typically for lower wage jobs.
Southwest Airlines agrees to 16% pay hike
Southwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement Monday with a union representing its customer-service agents that would give pay raises totaling more than 16% over the next three years to about 7,000 employees.
The machinists’ union said its negotiating committee unanimously recommended that members approve the contract in an upcoming ratification vote.
The contract is the latest sign of inflationary pressure on airlines, which are also facing higher fuel costs. During the pandemic, Southwest has seen fewer people apply for some openings, leading the Dallas- based carrier to raise starting pay for many airport-based jobs.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers posted a summary of the tentative contract. Workers would get immediate raises of 6.5% and 3% annual raises in each of the next three years, which works out to a compounded increase of 16.4%.
The union said the deal also strengthens provisions on mandatory overtime.
Apple cuts production of iPhone for first time
Apple Inc. looks set to snap its longest win streak this year after a report that the iPhone maker is cutting production of its entry-level smartphone by a fifth amid lower demand for consumer electronics.
The Cupertino, California-based company plans to reduce output of iPhone SEs by about 20% next quarter compared with its original plan because of signs consumer-electronics demand is being hurt by the war in Ukraine and rising inflation, Nikkei reported, citing unidentified people. The company told multiple suppliers it was lowering production orders by 2 million to 3 million units for the quarter, according to the report.
Apple this month updated its iPhone SE line for the first time since 2020 and added 5G network support, possibly in an effort to persuade consumers with older iPhones to upgrade and lure Android users.
The company also cut orders for its AirPod earphones by more than 10 million units for 2022, according to the Nikkei report. Since their 2016 launch, AirPods have become the most widely sold truly wireless earphones, helping Apple grab more than 25% global market share, according to research firm Counterpoint.
– Compiled by Dave Flessner