Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County, Maryland

A Thriving Hub of Cultural Diversity and Built for Business Success

Montgomery County, Maryland, has become a major hub for Hispanic-owned businesses. The county offers many programs to support minority-owned businesses across industries, including technology, life sciences, healthcare and nonprofits. This makes Maryland’s Montgomery County an ideal place for entrepreneurs. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we salute the many industry leaders who have chosen to locate and build their companies in Montgomery County.

Jorge Restrepo is CEO and founder of EurekaFacts, LLC, a market research, social science research, public opinion polling and analytics organization. He credits the county’s diverse talent pool, which offers a major advantage for his business: “Montgomery County’s rich cultural diversity and highly skilled workforce have been instrumental in shaping EurekaFacts, giving us a strategic advantage in understanding both local and more global markets.” The company has achieved significant growth over the last 15 years and has recently expanded operations into El Salvador and Medellin, Colombia.

In addition to the fact that 33% of adult residents in the county have an advanced degree, the well-established business ecosystem, which supports startups and entrepreneurs throughout their business journey, is another reason why so many companies want to establish a presence here. An impressive 53% of all businesses in Montgomery County, Md., are minority-owned and that includes 17% that are Hispanic-owned. Among the county’s top-ranking public schools, over 160 languages are spoken. “The county’s focus on supporting minority-owned business and providing opportunities for networking has been pivotal to our success,” Restrepo adds. 

Ileana Quintas is the founder and CEO of IQ Solutions, a certified woman-owned, minority mid-sized business dedicated to improving public health through advanced research and digital innovations. With its accessibility to federal agencies, Montgomery County provides IQ Solutions with a critical strategic advantage. “We support almost all divisions at the National Institutes of Health, among other government agencies, with a variety of health communications expertise. It is crucial for us to have proximity to our clients.”  

Quintas adds that the quality of life also helps them recruit and retain employees. “The majority of our staff enjoy living and working here – from the schools to exercise venues like the C&O Canal to the various entertainment options.” The county features 419 beautiful parks and 93,000 acres – nearly one-third of the county – and is designated as an Agricultural Reserve space, which helps preserve wildlife, air and water quality and offers residents a variety of outdoor activities.  

As an organization led by a Hispanic woman, IQ Solutions is dedicated to ensuring that the communications they produce for the American public are also available in Spanish. “We believe all residents of this country have the right to access science-based information to help inform their health decisions.” IQ Solutions has grown to a staff of over 250 employees and was a finalist in the 2022 Maryland Tech Council’s Government Contractor of the Year award.  

Being located near federal government agencies both in the county and Washington, D.C., factor into many of our Hispanic entrepreneurs’ decisions for an ideal location. Leland Kruvant is the President & CEO of Creative Associates International, a company dedicated to fostering positive change and development around the world. It offers an array of services from digital transformation projects and sustainability programs to capacity building around the world. Started in 1977 by four women united by their shared passion for education, Kruvant notes the reasons why Montgomery County is an ideal base for this technology company. “Montgomery County’s proximity to Washington, D.C., provides access to key governmental, non-governmental and international organizations facilitating collaboration and influence in global development policies and initiatives.” The top talent pool and supportive ecosystem also factored into their decision to choose Montgomery County.  

With numerous programs to help minority businesses thrive and access capital, there has never been a better time and place for small businesses to build their legacy in Montgomery County, Md.  

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we salute the thousands of Hispanic business leaders who chose the county as the home base for their operations. Explore business opportunities in Maryland’s Montgomery County.