
United States of America.
We are here for the Hispanic/Latino Community in Lake, Porter and Laporte Counties.
The organizers realized that our community is larger that any one city or township, with concerns that are the same throughout the entire
region. So, rather than have many small, unorganized business groups repeating the same services and wasting valuable dollars and
manpower it was agreed to pull our experiences, knowledge and work skills together to form a strong core group of people.
The NWIHCC is all about business...how to start one, grow one, join one or buy one. NWIHCC is about education...about what is in the
commercial world available for everyone.
This organization had the benefit of the help of a Representative of the Governor's Office on Latino/Hispanic Affairs as well as a Board
Member and Officer of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Why did it take someone from outside our Region to help us
identify such a glaring need? We don't know for sure, but when the question was asked (Where is the Hispanic Chamber for NWI?), the
answer was quick and sure, "We don't know, but we'll start one!". The question was asked by an Hispanic (Juana Watson), and
answered by Hispanics (Debra Bolanos and Rita De La Rosa). With the experience knowledge and work skills of these persons and the
the help of the initial Board of Directors the NWIHCC was formed.
The experiences, knowledge and work skills of all our members are building this organization. Some large, notable members and
sponsors include: banks (Citizens, Centier, First Midwest) ; hotel chain (Radisson); McDonald Hispanic Owners Association; Superior
Orthopedic; insurance companies (American Family-- soon to be member State Farm); One in Million Inc.; mortgage lenders; title
companies; and non-profits such as The Empowerment Zone, LACASA, Robertson Child Development, E.C. Urban Enterprise and
Hispanic Women's Forum. Other members consist of an attorney (a pretty good one, we are proud to say...and a law firm Partner), a few
bank's employees/officers (marketing and account handlers), entertainment/dance instructor(e.g., Xel-Ha School of Dance) and travel
business owners, Government Housing specialist, varied small business owners (construction, real estate broker, marketer,
homeopathy, real estate investor, medical office manager), just to name a few. Perhaps, 90 or so in total at present count.
When you become a member of the NWIHCC, you will be able to strengthen yourself as an individual, increase your experience,
knowledge, and work skills. You will also help strengthen the Hispanic/Latino community in Northwest Indiana and its surrounding
communities.
THIS ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS THIS WEB SITE, WILL GROW AND DEVELOP IN THE COMING MONTHS. PLEASE JOIN AND HELP
US.
Not all of the members are business owners. You do not have to be a business owner to join...You do have to believe we can
accomplish our goals.
We received an excellent letter from
our Scholarship Winner..please
open this pdf for her letter to us all.
The Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce....Celebrating Another Year of Success!!!
The NWIHCC celebrates another growing year, and successfully representing Hispanic business ownwers in
the Northwest Indiana area. In 2008, our Chamber held several successful networking events and workshops
for the members.
We have continued to address the needs of the Latino business community as well as enteract with the Latino
population in the Northwest Indiana area.
The organization has established relationships with other organizations in NWI to provide resources and
sevices for their members that their members did ot know existed (creating business plans, marketing, minority
certification boot camps, financing opportunities, etc.). Their members have also been able to connect with
other members and non-member business entities to form new relationships, partnerships, and in turn create
new business opportunities for the business.
The Chamber has:
Partnered with the Indiana Minority Enterprise Center (IMEC),
Secured office space @ 5246 Homan Ave., Suite 307B (mailing address: PO Box 2024) Hammond, IN 46304,
Offered members planning classes, thru The Empowerment Zone, and
Been able to provide resources for various types of financing opportunities.
The group held several networking luncheon events at the Radisson Hotel, which gave our members and
attendees the opportunity to connect with other business entities, which included:
Local bank-offered services thru Citizens Financial, Centier Bank, First Midwest, Standard Bank, First Financial,
and Harris Bank;
Local colleges and universities present were Ivy Tech, Indiana University Northwest, Purdue, Phoenix, Devry,
and Brown Mackie College;
Other entities in attendance were White Lodging, Majestic Casino, Resorts Casino, One In A Million, Inc., Staff
Source, International Community Alliance, Work One, Better Business Bureau, Lake CountyVisitors &
Convention Bureau, Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Indiana, Hope Center of Northwest Indiana, BP, State Farm,
We Care From The Heart, and SBDC.
We continue to believe that as an organization, business owners and as individuals, we need to support other
Hispanic organizations and continue to promote and participate in their events. Our board members are not
only involved with the NWIHCC, but are actively participationg in other non-profit organizations...as board
members, committee members as well as general members...within the Northwest Indina area. This helps us
collaborate with and support other organizations with their programs and events they hold within their
communties.
Here is a brief summary of the things your organization has accomplished for the year 2008:
We (financially)gave or donated:
$500 for scholarship sponsorship to the Hispanic Women's Forum Scholarship Fund
Donated to the East Chicago Christmas Parade event
To the International Community Alliance's fundraising events
Joined the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
We partnered:
With the IMEC's Business To Partnership Supplier Diversity Conference, serving on it's planning committee, in
which over 100 minority business owners had the opportunity to connect with the corporate buyers of larger
corporations throughout Northwest Indiana and the State With the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce to
co-host a luncheion to unveil the East Chicago master plan for the revitalization of the North Harbor District and
renovation of the Carnegie Library with the Indiana Minority Enterprise Center and are also represented on their
Board With Hope Center of Northwest Indiana and Purdue to plan and sponsor the "Everyone Can Go to
College" fair With Centier Bank, the SBDC, the Urban League of NWI, Gary Chamber of Commerce and the
Lakeshore Chamber to sponsor the "Getting Down to Business" seminar
We sponsored or co-sponsored:
And planned, our own Health Fair event at the Jean Sheppard Center in Hammond, IN
The Three Kings Day event @ the Roberto Clemente Center, among other events, including participation in the
Bomba and Plena Events
The Indiana Diversity Women's Network first Annual Luncheon event
An SCCLR fundraising event
An Xel-Ha School of Dancing annual fundraising event
The "Victims of Violence" fundraising event...to raise funds for a teenaged violence-victim
The Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Organization's first Scholarship Awards Banquet
For the 2008 Latino Resource Fair...we were a Gold Sponsor...held in Hammond, IN
We participated in, or were advocates for:
(to be continued...)
CURRENT EVENTS & NEW DEVELOPMENTS
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NOTE: FUND RAISER @ George Rogers Clark High ....to the calendar
Watch this special interview w/Gilbert Velez on You Tube
DO YOU KNOW WHERE OUR ....OFFICE .....IS?
NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE FOR .....2009....
We have partnered with.... IMEC Indiana Minority Enterprise Center
CHAMBER MEMBERS @ THE GOVERNOR'S 2009 INAUGURATION W/Juana Watson.....
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THE HISPANIC WOMEN'S FORUM
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Workshops
Business Feasibility Workshop
"Want to Start a Business?"
The feasibility workshop is designed to help would-be entrepreneurs determine their preparedness and
ability to start a business by examining the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges involved in
business ownership.
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday February 23
Where: Purdue Academic Learning Center, 9900 Connecticut Drive in Crown Point, Room 277
Cost: $25 and pre-registration and pre-payment via Visa, MasterCard or Discover are required.
Register or information: 219-644-3513
Register online: http://isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConfSignup.asp?ConferenceID=10893
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©2009 Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center. All rights reserved.