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ABOUT API SBP

Formed in 1999, API SBP is a collaborative of five community organizations, The Chinatown Service Center, Koreatown Youth & Community Center, Little Tokyo Service Center CDC, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, and Thai Community Development Center. Our partners share 135 years of service between them, are well known and respected for the quality of their work, the impact of their services and their standing in the community.

Mission

The mission of the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP) is: to assist the development of small and micro businesses in Los Angeles with a particular focus on the Chinese, Korean, Japanese Thai and Filipino business communities, especially those of low income immigrants.

Our objectives:

• Help entrepreneurs and small businesses overcome barriers to growth and success
• Generate jobs and sustainable businesses in the community
• Accommodate the unique economic needs of low income immigrants
• Serve as a link between the mainstream economy and ethnic small businesses

Business Counselors

API SBP works with bilingual business counselors who provide workshops, individual counseling, loan packaging and procurement assistance as well as links to other small business services. Most services are free to clients. All services are available to the general public.

Business Counselors speak Tagalog, Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Korean and English and have real estate, merchandising, retail, restaurant/food services, marketing, import/export, licensing, banking and small business experience.

To contact a business counselor click on Contact Us
To learn about our workshops click on Workshops

SBA Women's Business Center

API SBP is an SBA Women's Business Center and a participant in the United Way (Greater LA) Saving for the American Dream IDA program. We also receive support from Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual and Citibank, among others.

Please visit our Partners link for more information about our funders.

Since 1999 API SBP has counseled and trained over 8,000 individuals, businesses and entrepreneurs. We have assisted with the formation of 300 jobs and start up businesses and helped dozens more retain jobs and sustain their existing businesses.

API SBP is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect views of the SBA.

API SBP Awards

"Minority Business Champion Award," US Small Business Administration (SBA) (2005)

"National Program Innovation Award," Association for Enterprise Opportunity (2004)

"Minority Business Advocate Award," US Small Business Administration (2003)

"Technical Assistance Advocate Award," LA Mayor's Office MBOC & SBA (2002)

"Best Practice," California Small Business Development Center (2000)