Concord Chamber launches Hispanic business committee

CONCORD, CA (Sept. 14, 2022) — In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Concord Chamber is introducing a new committee – Negocios Hispanos de Concord, also known as Negocios Hispanos for short, or the Hispanic Business Committee. This Chamber committee was created by local entrepreneurs and individuals involved in the community eager to make a difference by assisting local Hispanic businesses in our area.

The onset of the pandemic left many businesses in need of assistance, and the Chamber in partnership with various organizations, especially the City of Concord and Visit Concord, sprang into action and began providing as many resources as possible to help them stay open.

The Concord Chamber recognized the importance of offering business resources in Spanish to ensure the Hispanic community, which makes up about one-third of Concord’s population, was receiving this important information. The Chamber created a COVID-19 Resource page on the Chamber website in both English and Spanish and utilized a translator to assist with questions and with applying for small business grants. Concord Chamber Ambassador, Johana Segura, was interviewed on both Telemundo and Univision to spread awareness of the various programs created by the City of Concord and Chamber.

Uniting the business community

In late 2021, several Chamber members approached the staff expressing interest in starting a group for Hispanic-owned businesses within Concord. Recognizing the importance of uniting the business community further, these members met to discuss how to build the group and gain traction within the community. The Chamber members who have taken the lead in this committee include Fiorella Hardt, Branch Manager of Umpqua Bank, Jenniffer Jimenez, owner of La Fritanguera, and Johana Segura, owner of 24/7 Nightingale Home Care, along with resource partner Edith Guillen, Business Services Coordinator with Monument Impact.

The committee first surveyed Hispanic owned businesses along the Monument Corridor to see what their needs were before deciding which direction to take. The results from the survey focused on businesses seeking resources, marketing assistance, and safety.

The Negocios Hispanos de Concord now meets once a month on the last Tuesday of the Month at 8:45 am at Los Rancheros Supermarket (weather permitting). Guest speakers and topics of discussion have been focused around the areas of interest from the survey – Visit Concord presented 10 social media tips, Concord Police Chief, Mark Bustillos spoke about safety and the unsheltered, and Concord Mayor Dominic Aliano provided an update on City happenings. Each meeting, new business owners and representatives attend and are able to expand their networks, uniting to create a strong business community.

Follow The Negocios Hispanos de Concord Instagram @negociosdeconcord for updates. And attend one of the monthly meetings to learn more.

For more information, call 925-685-1181, visit www.concordchamber.com or stop by the office at 2280 Diamond Blvd., Suite 200, Concord.