Greater Lafayette Commerce announced the return of its Latino Business Expo, set to take place March 7 from 2–6 p.m. at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds.
Now in its second year, the bilingual expo is designed to increase the visibility of Latino-owned businesses and celebrate their growing impact in the region.
“The Latino Business Expo is a powerful opportunity to experience the richness of Greater Lafayette’s Latino business community. It showcases the hard work, passion and unique perspectives that Latino entrepreneurs bring to our region,” said Jesus Correa, Latino business
liaison at Greater Lafayette Commerce. “I invite everyone to stop by, enjoy some lunch from our onsite food truck and meet your next favorite local business.”
Greater Lafayette is home to over 125 Latino-owned businesses, reflecting the rise of Latino entrepreneurship nationwide. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce reports that the number of Latino-owned businesses ticked up 34 percent from 2007 to 2019, outpacing the national average for all businesses. Today, over 5 million Latino-owned businesses contribute $800 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
Despite this growth, Latino entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing a broader customer base and the same resources as non-Latino business owners, limiting their ability to expand beyond their niche market. The Latino Business Expo is one way Greater Lafayette Commerce is working to bridge this gap.
“Greater Lafayette Commerce is excited to host the Latino Business Expo as part of our ongoing effort to make Greater Lafayette a more inclusive and welcoming place to do business,” said Jody Hamilton, vice chair of Greater Lafayette Commerce’s board of directors. “It’s all about opening doors and making sure everyone gets a seat at the table and the resources and connections they need to succeed.”
With 62 exhibitors, the expo promises to be a comprehensive showcase of Latino entrepreneurship and innovation. While the event is centered on creating a sense of belonging for Latino entrepreneurs, non-Latino owned businesses will also have space. Attendees can experience live demos, take advantage of specials and freebies and enter raffles for exclusive giveaways. With the Dos Amigos food truck on site, there’s plenty to enjoy while exploring the expo.
“Garcia Insurance Agency is honored to be the presenting sponsor of Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Latino Business Expo,” said Diana Garcia, owner of Garcia Insurance Agency. “The Latino business community has been a part of Greater Lafayette for many years. We are glad that organizations such as Greater Lafayette Commerce have made note of the economic strength the Spanish-speaking community holds. We hope that every year we have more Latino businesses sign up, show up and represent.”
To view the floor plan and a full list of participating vendors, visit glclatinobusinessexpo.expofp.com. The expo is free and open to everyone in the community, with no registration required for networking.
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