Delaware Summit Highlights Growth & Impact of Latina-Owned Business Enterprises

• Statewide business event highlights the presence and voice of Latina entrepreneurs across Delaware
• La Plaza Delaware hosts the state’s inaugural Latina Business Summit on June 14 in Milford
• Latino-owned businesses are growing, but women remain underrepresented

Despite a modest rise in Latino-owned enterprises state-wide, increasing from 5% to 6% year-over-year, female entrepreneurs remain significantly underrepresented. A 2023 report highlighting that Latino-owned businesses represented 36% of new ventures nationwide has fueled the launch of Delaware’s first Latina Business Summit, organized by La Plaza Delaware and scheduled for June 14 in Milford.

Known for its business programs and coaching, La Plaza launches its first women-focused summit to empower Latinas through shared experiences, confidence-building, and candid discussions in a supportive environment. Notably, the Delaware Alliance of Latino Entrepreneurs show progress, with women comprising almost 50% of its 440-strong membership.

Mary Dupont, executive director of La Plaza Delaware, emphasized the importance of creating a space to discuss traditional gender roles within Latin American cultures, where women are often viewed as supporters rather than leaders. She noted that while contributing to the family business is valuable, it is equally vital for women to recognize their potential as primary drivers of success.

“We wanted to do something specifically with women,” said Mary. “And also we were thinking about different events that La Plaza likes to have, sort of community-wide events … but we never really focused specifically on women and we thought that the time was right this year to do something like this.”

“They just sort of step into those roles and they don’t even ask the question, they just keep the business going … And behind the scenes are the very, very strong, powerful