Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Message from Israel G. Torres, Chairman of the Board

Greetings, Chamber members!

Israel Torres Summer is finally winding down, but the AZHCC's efforts toward heightening Arizona's influence in the national small business community will continue to gear up after a highly successful trip to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) 26th Annual National Convention & Business Expo in Milwaukee, WI. This year's theme was "Hispanic Enterprise: Attaining Success, Building Wealth."

Arizona's delegation caucused with its counterparts from throughout the country with the goal to bring our small business agenda to the national forefront. This agenda included:

immigration and its impact on the availability of labor and small business, including the Western Region Travel Initiative;
economic development and access to Federal small business assistance programs at the local and state levels via the Small Business Administration; and,
congressional support of existing border infrastructure needs such as the expansion of the Port of Mariposa in Nogales and the funding for the construction of the new commercial port of entry, San Luis II, in San Luis, AZ.

I'm proud to announce that our trip was an absolute success. With the help of our regional representatives in Frank Rivera (AZ), Pete Granillo (AZ), Tina Cordova (NM), and Jerry Natividad (CO) the entire nine-state region adopted our complete agenda verbatim. Thank you to all of our board and statewide stakeholders for having the vision and seeing it through!! I'll keep you posted of any further progress.

Back here at home, this Friday is the Chamber golf tourney at Ocotillo Golf Course. Buy your foursome and bring your A game!!

Also, don't forget DATOS next month, now in its tenth year! Sponsored by SRP, DATOS 2005 will take place 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa.

I encourage you to get involved in any or all of these events, and be an active member of our Chamber. Board elections are upon us. Go to the azhcc.com for more information. Get involved, join a committee, run for the Board, remember it's your chamber!

Israel G. Torres
AZHCC Chairman of the Board