The Hispanic Business Banquet is a fancy affair for Latino business owners, or dueños, and changemakers throughout the state.
Owners will be recognized for their work and economic contributions in Nebraska. It’s the first event of its kind in the region, but organizers are already planning for next year.
“I think it’s long overdue. I think our Hispanic and Latino people also have, for years, provided and economically has helped grow Fremont,” said Christine Torres, the director of membership and development for the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce. “I always say our money spends the same so it’s nice to finally have los latinos, esos dueños finally be recognized.”
Torres spearheaded the first large-scale Spanish Networking Group in Fremont, which has participants from around the region.
The most recent data available from the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans shows Hispanic-owned businesses have grown in the state by 71% since 2012. Studies show Latin-American born communities have generated billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs in Nebraska.
Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Brenda Wilberding said her preliminary research shows about ten% of businesses in Nebraska are Latino-owned.
“I mean, that’s a huge number, and so to be able to recognize the individuals and let individuals not in that community know the impact that they’re having on our communities is huge,” Wilberding said.
Wilberding added that more than 20 other chamber organizations across the state have reached out to her staff to implement similar events in their communities. As of this week, they only have two tables left available at the banquet.
Four individuals and one business will receive special honors for their work in the Latino community to enhance the economy, including Dan Moran, who started a program to connect students with Spanish-speaking businesses and ice cream shop with locations in Omaha and Fremont. Típico Helado will be recognized as the business of the year.
Torres said she hopes to receive even more nominations for next year’s event.
Wilberding said the first-of-its-kind banquet received so much support from the surrounding community that they had to add more sponsor opportunities. Entrepreneurs and business owners from throughout the state as well as across the river in Iowa have RSVP’d.
The banquet is Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. CST in Valley.
