As we start another year, the LBC-GLA continues to grow its membership and its influence. Over 500,000 Latino businesses now populate southern California. What’s more, Latino businesses are growing at a rate of 35% greater than the nation at-large.
Because of our chamber’s role in providing technical assistance and capacity building to businesses, the LBC-GLA has witnessed the growth and potential of these businesses on a first-hand basis. At our third annual ceremony on January 31, 2012, we will be honoring Latino businesses that have excelled in their specific industry and have demonstrated growth and job generation. The ceremony includes businesses of all sizes, but particularly focuses on small and medium-sized ventures.
A quick look of the nominees includes overwhelming job generation, from handfuls to over 5,000 per business. These employment achievements represent the fundamentals to the overall economic recovery of the nation and demonstrate that Latinos play a critical role in their contributions to our overall economy. There is an even a greater dynamic force when our robust business growth is added to the might of the Latino labor force. Latinos, both in the business sector and labor force, will be key to America’s economic recovery. I have a suggestion to those that are seeking to build their base in political races by the demonization of all Latinos and other immigrants. It would serve all Americans well to “Lay Off” this message of hate and let the recovery move at a quicker and more moral pace.
