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Hispanic Chambers Unite. Multi-chamber Arizona agenda advanced

Hispanic chambers of commerce across the state banded together to forge a statewide agenda that was presented at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce national convention in mid September.

Israel Torres, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board chair, says the multi-chamber small business caucus is the first time state Hispanic chambers created a united agenda to be considered as part of the USHCC’s national agenda for Congressional lobbying.

The collaboration could allow Arizona to compete with states such as California and Texas, which annually attend the national convention with a statewide agenda, Torres says.

“Getting the group together was like herding cats,” says Torres. “But this first time was the most important.”

The chambers coalition pulled together at January meetings in Tucson, Nogales, Flagstaff and Winslow, he says.

“There’s been some discussion in the past about forming a statewide coalition, but it’s never really happened.”

Arizona took a delegation of 75 from the various Hispanic chambers to the USHCC’s 26th national convention in Milwaukee. Together the chambers represent about 4,000 members. The national convention’s 2005 theme was, “Attaining Wealth, Building Success.”

The USHCC represents more than 2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States and Puerto Rico. It serves as the umbrella organization for more than 210 local Hispanic chambers nationwide.

Jessica Pacheco, franchise manager with APS and another AHCC board member, says the Arizona legislative agenda has moved forward within  the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

Arizona’s agenda represents the top three concerns for Hispanic businesses statewide, she adds. The USHCC takes the concerns of Hispanic chambers nationwide and lobbies for these issues in Congress.

“We plan to not only influence the national agenda, but tangibly enhance the small business environment in Arizona for Hispanic businesses,” Pacheco says.

The top three issues for state Hispanic small businesses are immigration, economic development and border infrastructure funding.

The state recommendations include instituting a viable guest worker program, greater access to U.S. Small Business Administration programs, and Congressional funding for the Port of Mariposa in Nogales and for the construction of the new commercial port of entry in San Luis.

Torres says the united effort is only the beginning.

“We really see that this will be the first step in doing this every year,” he says.