-- Chicago\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0
October 11\xA0\xA0
Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0
-- New York\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0
October 24\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0
Viacom \xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0
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"HHF is
thrilled to partner with Verizon Wireless on this important effort to support
Latino small businesses in four key regions across the United States," said
Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
"Hispanic-owned small businesses will play an even greater role in growing the
economy and job creation going forward.\xA0 Verizon Wireless, our partners and the
local business leaders in our host regions want to provide an effective forum to
support that growth."
\xA0
According to
the latest Census Bureau findings, the number of Hispanic-owned businesses in
the United States increased by 43.7 percent to 2.3 million, more than twice the
national rate of 18.0 percent between 2002 and 2007. Hispanic-owned businesses
generated $345.2 billion in sales in 2007, up 55.5 percent compared with 2002
and the number of Hispanic-owned businesses with receipts of $1 million or more
increased 51.6 percent between 2002 and 2007. Those numbers are projected to
grow even more exponentially by the next Census.
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"At Verizon
Wireless we not only understand the value Latino Entrepreneurship has on the
U.S. economy, but the important role technology plays in enabling them to remain
competitive in the digital world," explained Elva Lima, executive director of
community relations and multicultural communications at Verizon Wireless. "Our
partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation allows us to share our
expertise and insights on ways small businesses can leverage technology to help
increase and maximize their bottom line."
