Vida en el Valle: California Hispanic Chambers Look to Back Business

By: Cynthia Moreno

SACRAMENTO - If there is one group of immigrants who come to the United States with the desire to start a business, they are Latinos. At the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce's 19th Annual Legislative Summit last week, supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of Latinos took center stage.

"I don't know about all of you, but my grandma is a fine example of a person who embodies that business spirit. She will sell you anything from tortillas, to tamales to Avon products-she knows no limits and I know many of you have members in your family with the same desire to sell, to create a product and to start a business," said state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, and chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus.

The state chamber -- the leading organization that promotes the development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and emerging Latino businesses in California -- hosted nearly 300 business people representing Hispanic chambers from across the state at the Sheraton Grand Hotel last Tuesday to hear presentations by elected officials and policy leaders on how to best advance policy issues that impact Latino businesses.

It is one of the few times during the year, Latino business owners have the opportunity to hear from their elected representatives.

"This is a great opportunity for business owners and local leaders to interact with legislators about issues that are critical to their businesses and their communities," said Mark Martínez, president and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in his opening remarks.

"While our organization advocates for Latino businesses every day, it is important that legislators hear the personal stories of Latino business owners as they consider laws that will impact all of us," he said.

Making California a friendlier state to start a business is top priority for Lara.

"Every time I speak with business owners, their number one complaint is the amount of regulation that is preventing potential businesses to get started in the Golden State. It is important we begin to eliminate obsolete regulations and find out which ones are impeding the growth and success of existing businesses," said Lara.

Part of helping Latino businesses grow -- and addressing their concerns and meeting their needs -- first begins with hearing the personal stories of business owners including their struggles, their triumphs, their failures and successes.

"What resonates with us the most are the stories you tell us. Tell us where you are from, what business you have or what kind you want to start-tell us about your family, your community and what you have been through. At the end of the day, all of us in the legislature, especially the Latino Caucus-we are just gente (people) and we want to know how to best help you," said Lara.

The Hispanic Chamber, which gathers a list of their top legislative priorities each year, outlined three of their major priorities this year including:

A comprehensive state economic development plan to promote an innovative economy that encourages research and development by eliminating the sales tax on new manufacturing equipment;

Preserving key aspects of the enterprise zone program to protect important jobs that have been created in economically distressed parts of the state;

Ensuring that the state implementation of health care reform doesn,t create overly burdensome requirements for businesses.

State Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, who traces his roots to Tecalitlan, Jalisco, said his families struggles helped him and his father start businesses in the golden state.

"My father came to the United States at the age of 19 with no formal schooling but a desire to get ahead. He worked in restaurants and in the fields even though everyone said he was the unhappiest man they had ever seen. We grew up poor in a family of nine brothers and sisters. All of us worked to make ends meet," said Hueso.

By the age of 6, Hueso was working at swap meets, then a paper route and a car wash. Later he went into auto sales and worked his way through college at UCLA. One day while he sported a UCLA sweatshirt, a woman approached him and made a remark that stood out to him.

"You almost have to start your own business in this state if you are a minority."

The words struck a chord with Hueso.

"From then on, I realized that that is the experience of Latinos in this country. That is the story of most, if not all of us. We are emerging as business owners because we are giving rise to our ideas and we are motivated to penetrate into the economic market. There is no one like us that knows how to best serve the needs in our communities," said Hueso.

Hueso wants to ensure Latinos have more opportunities with conducting business with México.

"It is important we establish a presence. There is a $4-9 billion economic opportunity for California, especially along the border. With the reduction of wait-times at the border, and educational and cultural exchanges, we can further strengthen are ties with our friends across the border," said Hueso.

It makes more sense to strengthen ties with Mexico than any other country, said Hueso, referring to Gov. Brown's recent trip to China.

"International trade is important and China is the fastest growing market place. It was enlightening to see how well regarded California is internationally because they look at us with admiration, and most countries want to invest here, so we have to figure out ways that can happen," said Paul Gladfelty, CHCC lobbyist and invited speaker.

The creation of jobs and the economy are the most important issues to Latinos as a whole.

"All of us pay taxes and all of us have the ability to reach out to our legislators, but they key to starting a business and being successful begins with being proactive," said Gladfelty.

Contact the Reporter: cmoreno@vidaenelvalle.com