Hmong-Owned Small Businesses in Minnesota: Implications for Extension Educators and Program Developers

Abstract

This outreach research project was designed to provide beneficial insight regarding Hmong-owned small businesses in Minnesota. Specifically, objectives of the study were to (a) investigate characteristics of successful Hmong-owned small businesses, (b) identify unique problems encountered by Hmong entrepreneurs and small business owners, and (c) develop recommendations for Extension educators and program developers. The theoretical framework for understanding Hmong-owned small businesses was built on three interactive components: opportunity structures, group characteristics, and ethnic strategies. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect the data. A snowball sampling method was used. A Hmong community organization located in the Twin Cities Area was used as a sampling frame. A total of three community leaders (one female and two males, age range 29 to 55) and seven business owners (five males and two females, age range 30 to 52) participated in the study. Eleven themes were identified from the data within the theoretical framework. Findings suggest that designing new programs or adapting existing programs to the Hmong community’s needs and interests could be an excellent opportunity for both urban and rural Extension units to ensure that Hmong migrators build a stable community with their own needed ethnic small businesses.