Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce event highlights Latinos' economic impact

The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's signature annual event highlighted the Latino population's growing economic and political clout but also provided some sobering data on the high numbers of Latinos experiencing hunger or lack of access to nutritious food.

As the Latino population continues to grow, "that purchasing power is only going to get bigger, and we are going to keep the economy going," said Monica Villalobos, the president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, during the DATOS event, held Thursday in front of a capacity crowd at the 2,200-seat Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

The release of the chamber's yearly DATOS report coincides with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 . The report is intended to provide the community with data to help inform decisions about economic opportunity, education and health care.

One in three Arizonans are Latino, and one in four eligible voters are Latinos, Villalobos said.

In metro Phoenix, Latinos make up an even greater share of the population — 40%, Villalobos said.

According to Villalobos, within K-12 schools, nearly one in two students are Latino, and Latinos represent the future workforce of the state.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who spoke at the event, praised the more than 100,000 Hispanic small businesses in major markets in Arizona.

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"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy," said Hobbs, who highlighted that her administration recently relaunched the Greater Arizona Economic Authority to support small businesses. The authority has devoted $5 million to provide loans to micro businesses, Hobbs said.

This year's DATOS event also focused on the high numbers of Latinos who have faced food insecurity.

In 2022, following the pandemic, food insecurity rates among Latinos reached the highest levels since 2013, Villalobos said, citing national data. Villalobos said nearly 13% of Americans that year did not have access to quality, affordable food.

Latinos and Black people have the highest food insecurity rates of any race or ethnic group, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report included in the DATOS report. Food insecurity among Latinos and Black people was higher than white people in nine out of 10 U.S. counties, the report found.

In Arizona, the Latino food insecurity rate was higher than the overall rate in every county except Apache, Villalobos said.

"We need to ensure we continue to bring that number back down," Villalobos said.

Villalobos said the increase in food insecurity is concerning because it came as poverty levels among Latinos decreased and despite a significant amount of the food produced in America being wasted.

Villalobos implored the audience, made up of many of Arizona's movers and shakers, to take action.

"We want to make sure this is actionable for you," Villalobos said.

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce event highlights Latinos' economic impact