CRESTVIEW — A newly formed organization of Hispanic and non-Hispanic professionals and nonprofit workers aims to unite Hispanic businesses while helping local businesses tap into the rapidly expanding Hispanic market.
Hispanics and Friends Linked organizer David Triana, manager of United for a Good Cause.org, a Hispanic non-profit organization for youth, said the group will benefit both communities.
“The Hispanic community is growing rapidly,” Triana said. “What we are hoping to do is educate and inform the non-Hispanic civic leadership, businesses and city agencies about this growth and (be) prepared for an explosion of growth that is going to occur here if immigration reform takes place.”
Hispanics and Friends Linked will hold its second monthly meeting Saturday on the porch at Hot Spot Cigars and Coffee. Its first gathering on May 6 drew 45 people to the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
“We are hoping other chambers want to hear about it,” Triana said.
Pensacola marketing consultant Maria Pinochet, a Chilean native, will speak about marketing to the Hispanic community. Latinos contribute more than $1 million to the local economy, Triana said.
“Small businesses might not have the means to market to Hispanics, but we have many ways to market to us at no cost that we can tell them about,” Triana said.
Triana called Hispanics and Friends Linked “a bridge between the communities.”
“It is important because it brings people from different organizations together to provide a networking opportunity that is probably not available in the local chambers themselves,” he said.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Hispanics and Friends Linked
WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 7
WHERE: Hot Spot Cigars and Coffee, 5155 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview
NOTES: A group of Hispanic and non-Hispanic professional and nonprofit workers meets monthly to network. Kore Access marketing owner Maria Pinochet will speak about marketing to the million-dollar local Hispanic market.
CONTACT: 368-3505 or dt4alexis@gmail.com
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Group aims to educate, inform professionals about Hispanic community's growth, opportunities