3 minute read
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO
It reached $3.2 trillion in 2021, up from $2.8 trillion the year prior, according to a report by the Latino Donor Collaborative in partnership with Wells Fargo. The study reveals an inspiring fact: if Latinos were an independent country, our economy would be the fifth largest in the world, outpacing heavyweights like the United Kingdom, India, and France.
These numbers underscore our economic power and must incentivize major brands to invest in leadership and procurement contracts that align with our numbers.
We invite our members and business partners to join us in a strategic call to action to significantly increase procurement opportunities and the inclusion of Hispanic members on corporate boards in 2024. You can depend on our community’s strong work ethic, increasing lifespan, and growing human capital to continually amplify our achievements beyond our current success. The numbers show this year after year.
As employers, we generate employment opportunities that contribute to tax revenues, fueling federal, state, and local services and social programs – crucial for the well-being of our employees and their families in New Jersey.
Moreover, our growing population and increasing impact on large organizations’ revenue streams translate into innovative opportunities for small business owners. We can create authentic multicultural marketing and healthcare services targeted to population segments based on our lived experiences and the know-how representing our values, traditions, and culture. Yes, we are the target market!
By partnering with Latino-owned small businesses, large organizations support local economies and enhance their return on investment through more targeted engagement in their markets.
In 2024, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) will continue to deliver on our mission to secure a pathway of sustainable growth for our members to participate in a profitable supply chain that expands beyond our local community to our state’s border. We will expand upon the successes of 2023 with our free entrepreneurial training programs, such as the Latina Entrepreneurship Training Series and the Hispanic Entrepreneurship Training Program. We will continue facilitating corporate networks, offering informational events, and assisting our members in securing state and federal grants, bank loans, and business opportunities.
We will also fervently champion the appointment of talent to corporate board memberships, ensuring that Hispanics secure influential roles in C-Suite positions where they can lead with substantial impact.
As your president and fellow Hispanic, I am moved by the humility and tenacity of our familia of businesses. Let’s celebrate our collective achievements and individual successes, knowing that we are set on a path toward broader inclusivity. Join us in driving our business community’s influence across all sectors and corporate boards as we move forward in 2024!
