GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As West Michigan’s Hispanic population continues to surge, Latino business owners face hurdles in growing their businesses.

For over a decade, Yeli Romero has run her marketing company, Acceso VIP, out of Grand Rapids. She has represented groups like Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and Bethany Christian Services.

But getting there wasn’t easy. Spanish is her first language and she said most training for prospective business owners, like in accounting and business management, is only in English.

“As a business owner, I’ve struggled with learning the finances of a business,” she told News 8 through a translator.

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is trying to break down that barrier. This year, it started hosting accounting training in Spanish inside its home on S. Division Avenue in Grand Rapids.

“When you’re trying to explain processes, counting, cash flow, even in your own language can be hard to understand,” Guillermo Cisneros, the president and CEO of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said. “Imagine if it’s in a different language. We want to make sure we bring this knowledge to Latino businesses in their own language.”

The chamber plans on expanding its instruction in Spanish to include human resources, strategic planning and lending once it opens its nearly $10 million new headquarters. Construction on the new HQ is set to begin at the site of an old plant on Godfrey Avenue early next year. The facility is expected to open between 10 and 12 months after that. Inside will be conference rooms, classrooms, space for the chamber’s staff and more.

Romero hopes the new center and the training it will provide will be instrumental for Latinos in bringing their businesses to life.

“Any business owner, the biggest impact is the fact they will know where things stand for their business,” Romero said. “From there, as we all say, information is power.”

The chamber hosts accounting education classes on the second Tuesday of each month between January and October. The next workshop, discussing W-9s and contractors, is on Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. It will be held at the chamber’s headquarters at 2007 S. Division Ave. near Burton Street. The classes cost $25 for members and $40 for nonmembers.

“I think this is a very good opportunity because it’s really helped me grow personally and professionally,” Romero said.

The chamber puts on free business workshops, called Talleres Empresariales, to help local Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs. Those sessions are at 9 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month between January and October.

The chamber also offers Conectas, free monthly networking events for business owners. Those happen at 8:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month between January and November.

More of the chamber’s business and talent development is available through its website.