LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host its 2021 National Conference this year in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
The event, scheduled from Sept. 26-28, is the largest gathering of its kind in the Hispanic community and serves as the meeting ground for thousands of community leaders and advocates; as well as more than 260 affiliated Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.
While the pandemic has been a test for the more than 5 million Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs, it's been also a time for national growth.
“More than $800 billion to the gross domestic product," said Ramiro Cavazos, the president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
"They have been affected, many of them did not have banking relationships to secure PPP loans, and so our job is been to be creative and helping them secure capital, equity and debt,“ Cavazos said.
This will be the first time in the USHCC’s 42-year history that the Annual National Conference will be held in Nevada.
The event will be both in-person and virtually, and COVID-19 precautions will be in place.
Watch USHCC conference announcement on Wednesday below:
Masks will be provided by the hotel and at the conference registration desk upon request, temperature checks will be conducted daily and vaccinations will be encouraged for attendees.
“Masks will be part of the convention for those who feel more secure with them," said Peter Guzman, president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce Nevada.
"If there's a mandate that everybody has to wear them in September, then that's what we'll do as well," he added. "Listen, we're about to be sitting around and getting business done, so however we need to get it one, we will get it done."
Mask wearing and vaccination guidelines could change, depending on local, state and national guidelines. Especially of COVID-19 cases in Clark County continue to rise as they have been in the past few weeks.
While Latinos comprise 18.3% of the U.S. population, Latinos are responsible for 78% of the growth of the U.S. labor force since 2008, according to the Latino Donor Collaborative.
"In Nevada, we have continued to promote and aid small businesses. They're undoubtedly the backbone of our economy," said Gov. Steve Sisolak.
