Ferris State University’s Latino Business and Economic Development Center has created a new business program in downtown Grand Rapids — designed to develop professional talent among young Latinos.

The Latino Talent Development Program, which is expected run about once a month throughout the entire school year, or September to March, will be offered for free by FSU this fall, said Carlos Sanchez, director of the center.

The pilot program will offer young Latinos a chance to enhance their business skills through networking, cross-cultural training and dialogue with professionals.

Sanchez added the program is also conveniently designed for any businesses or groups with upcoming leaders in the Latino community.

The program is by the recently opened Latino Business and Economic Development Center — housed at Ferris’ Kendall College of Art and Design.

“We are planning to form a cohort of young professionals who are ready to lead, but are in need of culturally relevant instruction,” Sanchez said. “Graduates of the program will be better equipped to represent their community, make an impact and further their professional careers. Better professionals benefit the communities they live in.”

Open house

An open house for the program will be at 5:30 p.m. today at Kendall.

The open house will feature several guest speakers: Allison Lugo-Knapp, an adjunct faculty at Grand Valley State University’s School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration; Kristin Ekkens, president and CEOof C3 Consulting LLC; Raul Alvarez, chief synergist and communicator at GTSD Group and David Luna, vice president of multicultural affairs for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s.

People can register for the open house online.