Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

by Maria S. Salinas

We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the unique and diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of the Latino community in the U.S. and the Los Angeles region. At the Chamber, we are highlighting our members and the important contributions they are making to the region.

UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture and California Lutheran University’s Center for Economic Research and Forecasting just released its annual U.S. Latino GDP report, which measures Latino contributions to the U.S. economy. The report found that Latinos contribute an astounding 3.2 trillion dollars of gross domestic product (GDP) — which, if it were its own country, would be the fifth largest economy in the world. This would put them ahead of the United Kingdom, France and India.

Latinos represent 19% of the U.S. population, yet were responsible for 39% of the growth of U.S. real GDP. Businesses should understand these trends to ensure they can reach this growing market and remain competitive. The report further noted that Latino communities embody the American values of commitment to faith, family, and country, and they are integral to the cultural and economic landscape of the Los Angeles region.

Hispanic Heritage Month is important to our business community, and we are proud to embrace this celebration and reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity, unity and appreciation for this special community. Follow Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and our weekly newsletter as we honor some of the region’s most influential members of the Hispanic business community in the Los Angeles region.