ANNUAL LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, 2022
In the Annual Letter From The President of 2020, I challenged our community to make the 2020s “The Decade of The Hispanic Promise, Fulfilled.” At the time, the 2020 Census had not been implemented yet and, while we had every indication that Latinos held the key to the future of the US and our region, we did not yet know to what extent. We know now.
The 2020 Census has confirmed the explosive growth in the Latino population, marked by a 46% increase in Pennsylvania since 2010. In Philadelphia, the Hispanic population increased by 27% (50,700 residents) and now constitutes 15% of city residents. Gains in surrounding counties are equally impressive, ranging from 30% in Camden to 59% in Montgomery County and 62% in Delaware County.
As we enter 2022 our challenge remains that of harnessing this growth to fuel the Latinx entrepreneurship ecosystem so that we maximize our potential to grow businesses, create jobs, and build wealth, lifting Latinos out of the entrenched poverty of the past 35 years.
Construction, health care, finance, hospitality, and technology hold great promise for Latino entrepreneurs. In the case of the hospitality, health care and construction industries, our community dominates the labor market, yet we have not reached equal representation as business owners. In finance and technology, we are simply under-represented, yet the opportunities for advancement and growth are nearly limitless in these high-growth sectors, and the time to establish our business presence is now.
GPHCC programs like Build Latino, Dine Latino, Accelerate Latinx and the complementary events and convenings, Closing the Gap Conference and the State of Hispanic Business, are designed to support entrepreneurs.
They provide opportunities to build strong networks, access business opportunities and high-quality technical assistance that will lead to the growth and development of an ecosystem centered on maximizing Latino economic power in our region.
Entrepreneurship is not a DIY project; it is a community-wide effort. Whether you are a business owner, contract with a business, or buy from a business, there is a role for each of us to play as we build a strong local business sector. GPHCC’s mission is to develop, promote, and advocate for Hispanic business in the Greater Philadelphia region while encouraging the advancement and economic growth of the Hispanic community. What role will you play?
Let’s meet this challenge together.
Sincerely,
Jennifer I. Rodriguez, MCP
President & CEO
The 2020 Census has confirmed the explosive growth in the Latino population, marked by a 46% increase in Pennsylvania since 2010. In Philadelphia, the Hispanic population increased by 27% (50,700 residents) and now constitutes 15% of city residents. Gains in surrounding counties are equally impressive, ranging from 30% in Camden to 59% in Montgomery County and 62% in Delaware County.
As we enter 2022 our challenge remains that of harnessing this growth to fuel the Latinx entrepreneurship ecosystem so that we maximize our potential to grow businesses, create jobs, and build wealth, lifting Latinos out of the entrenched poverty of the past 35 years.
Construction, health care, finance, hospitality, and technology hold great promise for Latino entrepreneurs. In the case of the hospitality, health care and construction industries, our community dominates the labor market, yet we have not reached equal representation as business owners. In finance and technology, we are simply under-represented, yet the opportunities for advancement and growth are nearly limitless in these high-growth sectors, and the time to establish our business presence is now.
GPHCC programs like Build Latino, Dine Latino, Accelerate Latinx and the complementary events and convenings, Closing the Gap Conference and the State of Hispanic Business, are designed to support entrepreneurs.
They provide opportunities to build strong networks, access business opportunities and high-quality technical assistance that will lead to the growth and development of an ecosystem centered on maximizing Latino economic power in our region.
Entrepreneurship is not a DIY project; it is a community-wide effort. Whether you are a business owner, contract with a business, or buy from a business, there is a role for each of us to play as we build a strong local business sector. GPHCC’s mission is to develop, promote, and advocate for Hispanic business in the Greater Philadelphia region while encouraging the advancement and economic growth of the Hispanic community. What role will you play?
Let’s meet this challenge together.
Sincerely,
Jennifer I. Rodriguez, MCP
President & CEO
support GPHCC in 2022
GPHCC hosts over 20 events annually that attract 3,000 attendees. View our 2022 calendar.
For more information, contact jsuarez@gphcc.org.
For more information, contact jsuarez@gphcc.org.
