WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On March 19th the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) will host its Fifth Annual Business Expo: Connections, Opportunities and Growth. The Expo is the premier event for Washington, DC's Hispanic business community showcasing businesses and building connections with participating government agencies, corporations, embassies, nonprofits, small businesses, and local Hispanic business community members.
According to Nielsen, if it were a standalone country, the US Hispanic market's buying power would be a top-20 world economy. Ranked the nation's fourth fastest growing market, the Washington metro area Hispanic market greatly impacts/influences this standing.
This year's Expo is going to be larger and better than ever! Throughout the day, the Expo will once again offer panels and business development activities designed to guide participants in securing government and corporate procurement contracts, promoting their own businesses, conducting business overseas, and more. The Chamber's partnerships with local organizations and agencies serving metro area businesses help assure the content quality and relevance of Expo activities.
"Throughout the years the Chamber's Expo has become a significant business showcase attracting Hispanic and non-Hispanic businesses from the DC metro area as well as international organizations," said Mario Acosta-Velez, GWHCC Chairman. "The Expo has successfully increased participation from 500 attendees and 70 exhibitors in 2010 to 1,400 attendees and 120 exhibitors in 2013. This year we anticipate 2,000 attendees and 130 exhibitors!"
Additionally, the Expo will provide a Health and Wellness section this year. "As one of DC Health Link's marketing partners for the health exchange, the Chamber will host an 'Enrollment Day' with insurance companies, brokers and assisters on site to enroll District residents and small businesses before the March 31st deadline," said Angela Franco, President and CEO of the GWHCC. "Our priority is small business and we want to provide business owners with the resources they need in order to develop and be successful," she added.
The Expo has secured the support of two major companies as Presenting Sponsors: Erie Insurance and PricewaterhouseCoopers(PwC), and two of the District's most prominent organizations as Presenting Partners: DC Health Link and the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). "At PwC, we've seen the value in supporting organizations such as the GWHCC because diversity is an integral component of our firm's people strategy," stated Chris Simmons, Managing Partner PwC. "As one of the sponsors of this event, PwC invites all business owners in the area to participate. They will find unparalleled opportunities for their businesses."
For more information on the GWHCC's Fifth Annual Business Expo visit www.gwhcc.org/expo.
Sponsors supporting the Expo as of January 28, 2014 include: Presenting Sponsors – Erie Insurance and PwC; Presenting Partners - DC Health Link and DSLBD; VIP Reception Sponsor- Suntrust; Presenting Media Sponsor – Telemundo, El Sol; Gold Sponsor – Events DC; Internet Café Sponsor – Verizon; Signage Sponsor – Gelberg Signs; Matchmaking Sponsor – My Business Matches; International Row Sponsor – Citibank; Workforce Row Sponsor – National Children's Center, WMATA; Corporate Sponsor – Wells Fargo.
About the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a 501(C) 6 membership driven organization, founded in 1976, that supports the economic development of the greater Washington metropolitan area. The Chamber facilitates the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and the communities they serve through networking, advocacy, education and access to capital. For additional information visit our website www.gwhcc.org.