Chamber of Commerce launches Hispanic Business Alliance

Palm Coast Observer
Business

The Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce has launched the Hispanic Business Alliance to support the county’s growing Hispanic business community.

Chamber President and CEO Greg Blosé said the Hispanic community is set to be the fastest-growing minority community in Flagler County by 2040. The alliance’s mission will be to support the community's economic growth, according to the chamber’s press release.

Maria Dowling, a Hispanic business owner in Flagler Beach, said she hopes the alliance will help bring community members together to learn from each other.

“We know that there is a need within the … Hispanic businesses for support, advocacy and education,” Dowling said. “We wanted to create an alliance that builds a community.”

One area the alliance will help the Hispanic business community with is education on available resources, Dowling said.

While language is sometimes a barrier to accessing resources, she said, business owners often simply don’t know when or where support resources are available.

The alliance’s kickoff event will be held from 4-6 p.m. March 7 at the Latino Market and Bakery in St. Joe’s Plaza at 300 SW Palm Coast Parkway, Suite 1.

Dowling said the alliance expects to hold more events to promote a diverse business economy, which will in turn promote innovation.

“When we have people from different backgrounds, we have different ideas. And those ideas will lead to innovation within the community … when we have that, we’re going to have growth,” Dowling said. “To me, it's a win-win situation, for the businesses and for the community.”