Middlesex County's Hispanic marketplace is growing, and the local chamber of commerce is working to assist with that growth.
At Tuesday's Hispanic Business Expo, 145 businesses presented their offerings, including entrepreneurs, medical groups, nonprofits, newspapers and financial groups, according to Alex Hollywood, Executive Director of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Participants tasted Latin-themed food from places like New Brunswick eateries La Cazuelas Restaurant and On The Border, while Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre performed Flamenco dances.
Three years ago, the chamber founded the Hispanic Business Council for the purpose of better reaching Hispanic businesses in the area and making them aware of what the chamber can offer them.
According to statistics from the American Community Survey, Middlesex County's population saw a 45 percent increase in Latinos since the year 2000.
In the last three years, the chamber has learned a lot from the Hispanic businesses it works with, Hollywood said.
The chamber is spreading that information to its entire network of businesses to let them know if they're not focusing on the Hispanic market, they're going to "miss the boat," Hollywood said.
For more information on the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, visit www.mcrcc.org.
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