Banding together

Mention Ohio, and The Cleveland Clinic or The Cleveland Orchestra might come to mind. But the area’s newest claim to fame might be the state’s burgeoning opportunities for Hispanic businesses.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Ohio, located in Cleveland, is getting the word out that Ohio is bustling with opportunities. Compared to other states, Hispanic businesses are growing twice as fast in northeast Ohio, the home of one in three of the state’s Hispanic-owned businesses and the area of focus for the chamber.
“Hispanics generated about $1.2 billion in sales in 2002 for the entire state,” says D. Daniel Porras, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Ohio. “Sales by Hispanic businesses in northeast Ohio generated $317 million the same year,” he adds, citing a U.S. Census Bureau study.
The chamber promotes Hispanic business interests and economic development through strategic partnerships, technical assistance and advocacy. It provides management training programs and professional services to help Hispanic entrepreneurs build a successful business.
Launched in the early 1980s, the organization has nearly 200 members including restaurants, construction companies, bodegas, landscaping businesses and architecture firms, says Porras. That number doubles if you include subsidiary companies.
Porras says about 25 percent of the members are non-Hispanic. “Companies, especially banks, are trying to build relationships. We act as a resource and provide an opportunity for businesses that want to do business with Hispanics,” he says. “My vision is to build the association where we do a lot of b-to-b and use each other’s products.”
The non-Hispanic businesses are very welcome in this chamber.
“We see the potential in corporations that are not Hispanic,” says Cristian Sandoval, the chamber’s board chair who also leads the Hispanic and multicultural division for National City, one of the nation’s largest holding companies. “Many of them have an interest in reaching the Hispanic segment, but don’t know how to do it. We’re helping them by creating partnerships.” Initiatives include tailored programs for institutions and procurement opportunities. For National City, matchmaking events allow bankers to meet small businesses.
Demographically, Puerto Ricans make up the largest Hispanic group in the area, followed by Mexicans and then a mixture of Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Peruvians and Argentineans. Right now, the chamber doesn’t have breakdown figures, but gathering that information is top priority.
“We’re planning to build a database covering all 15 counties. We’re going to determine what businesses there are, and from there develop an economic strategy for Hispanics in northeast Ohio,” Porras says.
The organization just received $75,000 in grants to achieve this, with the lion’s share coming from the Cleveland Foundation.
The chamber is part of a larger movement to spur economic development as a participant in the Fund for Our Economic Future, which is trying to stimulate economic growth in northeast Ohio, particularly among the two largest minorities, Latinos and African Americans. The fund has fostered a handful of organizations including JumpStart, which invests $50,000 to $900,000 in companies showing high potential.
Another endeavor is forging alliances. “Our vision is to create greater synergies starting from students coming out of college and going all the way to corporate,” Sandoval says.
“We’ve partnered with NSHMBA (National Society of Hispanic MBAs) to bring everyone together. We’ve become more of a business organization that can provide services to business students, small businesses and corporations,” he says. “Our idea is to provide a full gamma of services that will help small businesses and corporations reach Hispanics within northeast Ohio.”
Another initiative is the Ohio Business Women’s Conference and Expo, a networking event designed to bring women and corporations together. Last year’s two-day event featured 15 workshops for women business owners and provided networking, seminars and certification opportunities. Employers came to interview women, not just Hispanics, for positions with their companies.
“Women businesses are growing by leaps and bounds,” says Mily Rodriguez-Weiss, secretary of the chamber’s executive board of directors. Her company, PS Promotions, sells promotional items and is a chamber member.
“In Ohio, women businesses have grown, but not at the same rate as the nation. We rallied to garner support,” she explains. “Corporations totally agreed with us and supported the event. Last year, the first event had over 600 attendees.” Plans are in the works for another EXPO this year.
Richard K. Levitz, a real estate development consultant who heads Levitz & Associates and a member of the chamber, believes the future is bright for Hispanic businesses in northeast Ohio. His task is to help small business get involved in the real estate and construction industry by giving them opportunities to participate in larger projects. One such project is Crocker Park, a partnership between Stark Enterprises and The Carney Group. Levitz is the project coordinator. “This development is literally the downtown for Westlake. It did not have a downtown before this,” he says.
“There are opportunities everywhere. I just hope that more Latinos move to Cleveland to fill all the missing spots,” says Levitz. “I tell companies and employers to look for Latino workers at all levels. There is work, and someone has to fill these opportunities, so let’s bring in some Latinos that want to work.”
In addition to building the database and advocating for Hispanic businesses, the chamber also hopes to increase membership and sponsor more revenue-generating events. It aspires to build unity among the different Hispanic groups in n northeast Ohio.
“You must unite and bind the community with one common goal. The numbers must be united so corporations will pay attention and politicians will listen,” says Rodriguez-Weiss. This will be accomplished, she says, “by putting the chamber in the forefront as an organization that makes a difference and creating a community consciousness.”