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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THEIR 35th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) was founded in 1990; and
WHEREAS, the IHCC was originally founded as the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Inc. In 2000, the organization transitioned to become the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, the IHCC is the largest community of Hispanic business owners across Illinois and the Midwest, representing over 120,000 businesses; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the IHCC is to foster knowledge, connections, and collaboration to drive social change and sustainable economic impact through entrepreneurship; and
WHEREAS, for generations, Latinos have been integral to the United States of America's economic engine, serving as small-business owners, workers, consumers, and contributors across critical industries including agriculture, food processing, construction, manufacturing, logistics, and retail; and
WHEREAS, in Illinois, Latinos represent nearly 18 percent of the state's population and contribute an estimated $100.1 billion annually in taxes, wages, and consumer spending, according to a 2021 report by the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting at California Lutheran University; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is home to the largest concentration of Latinos in Illinois, accounting for more than 1.4 million residents. This represents approximately 25 percent of the county's total population according to the U.S. Census Bureau; and
WHEREAS, Cook County also hosts the majority of the state's Hispanic-owned businesses, which generate billions of dollars in economic activity and serve as a cornerstone of regional development; and
WHEREAS, these businesses not only create thousands of jobs but also strengthen local supply chains, foster neighborhood revitalization, and expand the county's tax base. Small businesses are the pillars of a thriving society. When they succ...
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