Hispanic Chamber hopes to help city cash in on growth
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Victor Diaz, head of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, at the office in Aspinwall
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When local business owner Victor Diaz isn't running his Aspinwall-based contracting company, he may be found showing around potential Hispanic investors from Spain or a Cuban contingent based in New Jersey.
Mr. Diaz, president of Videotek Construction and CEO of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is trying to help the Steel City cash in on one of the largest, and fastest-growing, business development sectors.
According to preliminary statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, growth of Hispanic-owned businesses in Pennsylvania followed the national trend of rapid growth among minority-owned businesses between 2002 and 2007. In that time, the state saw the number of Hispanic-owned businesses double.
But Pittsburgh has seen little of that increase.
"This area is a great area, but it takes its time embracing new things and getting things done," Mr. Diaz said. "We have everything here.
"It's amazing how some of these folks, in Jersey in particular and Baltimore, they really don't know about this place."
The Hispanic chamber, which has about 50 dues-paying members and a database of 350, would love to help change that.
Recently Mr. Diaz and Allegheny Conference on Community Development CEO Dennis Yablonsky embarked on a trade mission to Puerto Rico, where they spoke with investors about the Pittsburgh region. The chamber also has worked with the Pirates organization to help Hispanic players and their families settle into the region.
Mr. Diaz said the chamber works with other local organizations, such as the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, that help bring foreign investors from Spain to the region to explore commercial investment opportunities.
Pittsburgh's size, including a smaller population than some other metro areas, has been a factor in its low-key marketing efforts to reach out to Latinos, Mr. Diaz said.
First Published October 17, 2010 12:00 am
