Tyler Hispanic Business Alliance Courts Spanish-Speaking Community
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Like the rest of the United States‚ Tyler is seeing a massive increase in the number of Hispanic businesses – from bakeries‚ restaurants and supermarkets to mechanics‚ lawn-care services and contractors.
“Most are young‚ mom-and-pop businesses‚ but they’re definitely growing‚” says Eleno Licea‚ assistant vice president at Southside Bank. “It’s been estimated that there are anywhere from 600 to 1‚000 Hispanic businesses in Tyler.”
Although plentiful and largely successful‚ Hispanic business owners don’t always feel comfortable and welcome in American communities‚ primarily because of language and cultural barriers.
But that isn’t the case in Tyler‚ thanks to the new Hispanic Business Alliance.
Formed through a joint effort by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce‚ the Fourth Partner Foundation‚ the City of Tyler‚ the University of Texas at Tyler and a number of other organizations‚ the Hispanic Business Alliance exists to support and encourage the Hispanic business sector in Tyler and Smith County.
Licea – a native of Mexico who has lived in Tyler for 12 years – is one of the people of Hispanic descent serving on the committee for the Hispanic Business Alliance. Another is Tom San Miguel‚ whose paternal grandparents emigrated from Mexico.
“People in Tyler are starting to see value in working with Hispanic businesses to benefit Tyler’s economy‚” says San Miguel‚ a Tyler real estate agent and owner of Stitches‚ a company that monograms corporate wear.
“There are some very successful Hispanic businesses in Tyler that nobody knows about‚ because the own ers‚ for whatever reason‚ fly under the radar. We hope the Alliance will bridge the gap between Tyler’s mainstream business sector and Spanish-speaking business owners.”
The chamber of commerce is helping bridge that gap by naming a new director of Hispanic business affairs. Fluent in Spanish and English‚ the new chamber employee will work closely with the Hispanic Business Alliance.
“We want the person to be physically out in Hispanic neighborhoods‚ knocking on doors of Hispanic businesses and introducing them to opportunities to grow their business‚” says Tom Mullins‚ president and CEO of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We need to make sure Hispanic business owners feel like we want them to be successful here. In the Hispanic business community‚ there are very talented people‚ and they’re quite surprised when someone says‚ ‘I’m interested in what you’re doing‚ and I want to be supportive of what you’re going through.’ ”
Dawn Franks‚ a program officer for the Fourth Partner Foundation and committee member for the Hispanic Business Alliance‚ believes the Alliance will create a win-win situation for everybody.
“We recognize the Hispanic businesses bring services to us‚ and we bring services to them as well‚” Franks says. “There’s opportunity for growth in support of the Hispanic business community here‚ because the entire Tyler community is not aware of the vast array of services Hispanic businesses offer. A Hispanic grocery store may serve Hispanic clients‚ but it would be short-sighted to say they’re only in business to serve other Hispanics.”
Licea agrees: “At the end of the day‚ people want to do business with some one doing good business. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is.”
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Antony Boshier
