JCB announced the launch of Be Your Own Boss, a program that provides construction professionals with the tools, training and financial resources needed to launch and grow their own construction business.
"With Be Your Own Boss, we're not just selling equipment; we're investing in people who are essential to the construction industry," said Marc-André Dubois, vice president of marketing of JCB North America. "This program reflects our long-term commitment to helping hardworking Hispanic professionals transform their experience and determination into successful, sustainable businesses."
Hispanics make up roughly one-third of the United States construction workforce, and in states like Texas, California and Florida, they represent more than half. Despite their vital contributions to the industry, many face limited access to financing and business resources.
In fact, a report by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute found that 70 percent of Hispanic entrepreneurs fund their ventures through personal savings, and insufficient access to such savings remains the primary obstacle to business ownership. The Hispanic Construction Council states that 90 percent of Hispanic construction firms lack adequate support from traditional banks in accessing bank products.
Developed in response to the significant barriers many Hispanic construction workers face when starting and elevating their entrepreneurial journey, Be Your Own Boss offers tailored solutions to help turn ambition into ownership and long-term success. The program provides bilingual resources, business coaching, initial capital, customized financing options for ITIN holders and first-time buyers and direct connections to trusted JCB dealers nationwide.
"Hispanics have built the homes, roads and cities of America — it's time we also build our own legacy," said Sergio Terreros, president of the National Hispanic Contractors Association. "Thanks to JCB for launching this visionary program that empowers our community to shift from workers to owners, from doing the job to leading the business. This is how we create opportunity, pride and generational success."
The launch of Be Your Own Boss coincides with JCB's continued investment in Texas, highlighted by its new $500 million, 1-million-sq.-ft. facility in San Antonio, Texas. This expansion underscores JCB's long-term vision to grow its footprint in the United States while strengthening local economies and empowering the workforce driving the construction industry forward.
"I have firsthand experience in the opportunities JCB provides as this global company has given me the tools and resources to help launch this powerful program for my fellow Hispanics," said Roniel Rivera-Garcia, spokesperson of JCB's Be Your Own Boss. "Through Be Your Own Boss, we're proud to be a true partner in progress, breaking barriers, creating opportunities and helping build a stronger, more inclusive future for the construction industry."
For more information, visit jcb.com/en-US/campaigns/be-your-own-boss/.
