History
85 years of something inspiring that will continue to have an enormous and positive impact on the North Texas region.
The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s history is a story of vision, leadership, empowerment, and pride. It is also a story of success, which we are all a part of and feel proud about today.
In September of 1939 a group of 11 men and one woman met at El Fenix Restaurant on McKinney Avenue with the idea of creating a new Mexican business association. Their vision was to develop, promote and protect Mexican businesses in the Greater Dallas area. The mission was to ensure the advancement and economic growth of the Mexican business community. More than seven decades ago, with the vision and mission articulated, these founders determined to improve and alter social and economic conditions and they set their ideas into action. The Mexican Chamber of Commerce was born and a new trend for minorities was set.
Founding members, small business owners and grocers in Little Mexico and West Dallas maintained close ties with the Mexican Consular Service. They held their meetings in Spanish and discussed matters such as civil rights, cultural preservation, and, most importantly, collective buying power and business growth.
The Hispanic Chamber has seen lots of change over the last 75 years, but one thing remains constant, its unwavering belief in and support of Hispanic business.
Some of our accomplishments over the decades include:
1960's
$700,000 in contracts and consistently improved the conditions of minority-owned businesses in the city.
1970's
The Local Economic Development Program generated over $15 million in gross sales for its participants between ’72-‘77.
The Bilingual Job Placement Center was initiated in 1977 and placed more than 450 Hispanic men and women in jobs.
1980's
In 1982 the Chamber changed its name to Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to better reflect the community. During the 80s, the DHCC increased its role of assisting members with their economic development, as well as serving as an important advocate for the Hispanic business community in education and local government.
1990's
In 1993 The GDHCC was recognized as the State Hispanic Chamber of the Year by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) and also as National Hispanic Chamber of the Year. The following year, the City of Dallas asked the GDHCC to pilot a program known as the Business Assistance Center or "BAC". This innovative program helped launch many new Hispanic and minority owned businesses in the City of Dallas.
2000 and Beyond
In 2007 The GDHCC is awarded the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to operate its regional field office known as the Gulf Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC).
In 2008, The GDHCC receives the Small Business Award from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE) for the best new chamber of commerce program in Texas for the GDHCC’s Business Assistance Centers.
Since 1994 to the present, the GDHCC has formalized capacity-building programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses:
1930's
In September of 1939 a group of 11 men and one woman met at El Fenix Restaurant on McKinney Avenue with the idea of creating a new Mexican business association. Their vision was to develop, promote and protect Mexican businesses in the Greater Dallas area. The mission was to ensure the advancement and economic growth of the Mexican business community.
1960's
700,000 in contracts and consistently improved the conditions of minority-owned businesses in the city.
1970's
The Local Economic Development Program generated over $15 million in gross sales for its participants between ’72-‘77.
The Bilingual Job Placement Center was initiated in 1977 and placed more than 450 Hispanic men and women in jobs.
1980's
In 1982 the Chamber changed its name to Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to better reflect the community.
During the 80s, the DHCC increased its role of assisting members with their economic development, as well as serving as an important advocate for the Hispanic business community in education and local government.
1990's
In 1993 the GDHCC was recognized as the State Hispanic Chamber of the Year by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) and also as National Hispanic Chamber of the Year. The following year, the City of Dallas asked the GDHCC to pilot a program known as the Business Assistance Center or "BAC". This innovative program helped launch many new Hispanic and minority owned businesses in the City of Dallas.
The Minority Contractors Committee of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in founding what is now known as the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA). This organization was created to address the needs of minority contractors and has since grown into a major advocacy and resource center for Hispanic contractors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
2000's
In 2007 The GDHCC is awarded the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to operate its regional field office known as the Gulf Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC).
In 2008, The GDHCC receives the Small Business Award from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE) for the best new chamber of commerce program in Texas for the GDHCC’s Business Assistance Centers.
2020's
In 2020, the GDHCC launched the Small Business Support Program to help members navigate pandemic challenges.
In 2023, the GDHCC received funding for two accelerators, ScaleUp Success and Dallas Accelerator, providing 14-week cohort-based entrepreneur training programs.
Also in 2023, the GDHCC’s updated Strategic Plan is based on three pillars: Advocacy, Capacity, and Access to support small business growth and member services.
The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s history is a story of vision, leadership, empowerment, and pride. It is also a story of success, which we are all a part of and feel proud about today.
In September of 1939 a group of 11 men and one woman met at El Fenix Restaurant on McKinney Avenue with the idea of creating a new Mexican business association. Their vision was to develop, promote and protect Mexican businesses in the Greater Dallas area. The mission was to ensure the advancement and economic growth of the Mexican business community. More than seven decades ago, with the vision and mission articulated, these founders determined to improve and alter social and economic conditions and they set their ideas into action. The Mexican Chamber of Commerce was born and a new trend for minorities was set.
Founding members, small business owners and grocers in Little Mexico and West Dallas maintained close ties with the Mexican Consular Service. They held their meetings in Spanish and discussed matters such as civil rights, cultural preservation, and, most importantly, collective buying power and business growth.
The Hispanic Chamber has seen lots of change over the last 75 years, but one thing remains constant, its unwavering belief in and support of Hispanic business.
Some of our accomplishments over the decades include:
1960's
$700,000 in contracts and consistently improved the conditions of minority-owned businesses in the city.
1970's
The Local Economic Development Program generated over $15 million in gross sales for its participants between ’72-‘77.
The Bilingual Job Placement Center was initiated in 1977 and placed more than 450 Hispanic men and women in jobs.
1980's
In 1982 the Chamber changed its name to Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to better reflect the community. During the 80s, the DHCC increased its role of assisting members with their economic development, as well as serving as an important advocate for the Hispanic business community in education and local government.
1990's
In 1993 The GDHCC was recognized as the State Hispanic Chamber of the Year by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) and also as National Hispanic Chamber of the Year. The following year, the City of Dallas asked the GDHCC to pilot a program known as the Business Assistance Center or "BAC". This innovative program helped launch many new Hispanic and minority owned businesses in the City of Dallas.
2000 and Beyond
In 2007 The GDHCC is awarded the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to operate its regional field office known as the Gulf Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC).
In 2008, The GDHCC receives the Small Business Award from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE) for the best new chamber of commerce program in Texas for the GDHCC’s Business Assistance Centers.
Since 1994 to the present, the GDHCC has formalized capacity-building programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses:
- Business Assistance Center (BAC) Program - in partnership with the City of Dallas, from 1994 - 2017, the program provided support and access to resources and information to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing start up businesses from low to moderate income communities in the City of Dallas.
- U.S. Department of Transportation Small Business Transportation Resource Center for the Gulf Region - Since 2007, the Gulf Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC), a regional outreach center of the U.S. DOT has been operated by GDHCC. The Gulf Region SBTRC provides capacity-building services to minority contractors in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
- SBA ScaleUp Program - Operated by the GDHCC from 2016 to 2017, the Program offered the training, support and networks entrepreneurs needed to scale, increase revenue and create jobs.
- ESL Entrepreneurship Program - in partnership with Dallas College, this Program is designed to help Spanish speaking entrepreneurs learn the fundamental steps associated with starting a business, as well as provide an overview on running a business in the U.S. that maintains compliance with laws, regulations, permits, etc.
1930's
In September of 1939 a group of 11 men and one woman met at El Fenix Restaurant on McKinney Avenue with the idea of creating a new Mexican business association. Their vision was to develop, promote and protect Mexican businesses in the Greater Dallas area. The mission was to ensure the advancement and economic growth of the Mexican business community.
1960's
700,000 in contracts and consistently improved the conditions of minority-owned businesses in the city.
1970's
The Local Economic Development Program generated over $15 million in gross sales for its participants between ’72-‘77.
The Bilingual Job Placement Center was initiated in 1977 and placed more than 450 Hispanic men and women in jobs.
1980's
In 1982 the Chamber changed its name to Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to better reflect the community.
During the 80s, the DHCC increased its role of assisting members with their economic development, as well as serving as an important advocate for the Hispanic business community in education and local government.
1990's
In 1993 the GDHCC was recognized as the State Hispanic Chamber of the Year by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) and also as National Hispanic Chamber of the Year. The following year, the City of Dallas asked the GDHCC to pilot a program known as the Business Assistance Center or "BAC". This innovative program helped launch many new Hispanic and minority owned businesses in the City of Dallas.
The Minority Contractors Committee of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in founding what is now known as the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA). This organization was created to address the needs of minority contractors and has since grown into a major advocacy and resource center for Hispanic contractors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
2000's
In 2007 The GDHCC is awarded the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to operate its regional field office known as the Gulf Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC).
In 2008, The GDHCC receives the Small Business Award from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE) for the best new chamber of commerce program in Texas for the GDHCC’s Business Assistance Centers.
2020's
In 2020, the GDHCC launched the Small Business Support Program to help members navigate pandemic challenges.
In 2023, the GDHCC received funding for two accelerators, ScaleUp Success and Dallas Accelerator, providing 14-week cohort-based entrepreneur training programs.
Also in 2023, the GDHCC’s updated Strategic Plan is based on three pillars: Advocacy, Capacity, and Access to support small business growth and member services.
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