Iowa program empowers immigrants to start their own businesses
For more than 17 years, a local program has empowered immigrants to start their own businesses while providing resources to help them thrive. Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, or IES, started in 2008. Since then, the group has helped more than 2,200 businesses become companies in Iowa, including Golden Land Food Market on Douglas Avenue in Des Moines.
The market is a busy place. Every aisle is filled with unique ethnic grocery items. Missing flavors from home is why Min Tun opened Golden Land Food Market in 2010. He's at the shop six days a week, making sure customers find their home flavors. The market has grown from 800 square feet into a 12,000-square-foot space.
Tun moved to Iowa from Malaysia as a refugee in 2007. As his business grew, he wanted to provide opportunities to other refugees.
"We don't know English. And then another is work experience. So I just want to help them to be successful in their life," Tun said.
His ambition to share his knowledge and experience with immigrants is the mission behind IES.
"We do that kind of crash courses for people to put stairs for them to reach their goals," Ying Sa, IES board director, said.
Through the one-day event, organizations and vendors come together to share what it takes to be a business owner in the U.S.
"If we are only holding on to our own success, not willing to share, not willing to guide, then you lose so many opportunities to have that joy of seeing others successful," Sa said.
The day also celebrates immigrant entrepreneurs. In 2021, Tun won the Outstanding Immigrant Business Award.
"I didn't expect to get an award but I am happy and proud to get it," Tun said.
It's an example of hard work and dedication flourishing into success.