NEWBURGH — The Hudson Valley’s fast-growing Hispanic and Latino communities are inspiring continued business growth — and Hudson Valley Pattern For Progress is helping coordinate community discussions that connect these aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners to resources and funding that can build even more success.
The effort is part of Pattern’s Urban Action Agenda, which promotes the revitalization and growth of 25 urban centers in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Westchester and Ulster counties.
“The ultimate goal is to grow and enhance the economic potential of Hispanic and Latino businesses as an integral component of our local economies,” said Pattern President and CEO Jonathan Drapkin. A key initiative, he said, is identifying obstacles and barriers that new strategies can help overcome.
The Hispanic population is one of the region’s fastest-growing demographics. The Hispanic population in the 25 communities jumped 66,000 from 2000 to 2015, a 50 percent bump from 131,671 to 198,361.
Efforts in Brewster, Walden, Monticello and Liberty are being funded by $50,000 from New York State Electric and Gas Corp. Research in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Newburgh, Middletown and Port Jervis is being underwritten by $100,000 from the federal Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
In Middletown, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, Pattern and Community Capital NY, a nonprofit loan agency whose goal is to create jobs and vibrant downtowns, are creating Latino/Hispanic advisory boards to promote this initiative.
Emily Hamilton, deputy director of the Center For Housing Solutions and Urban Initiatives, is leading Pattern’s effort. A bilingual speaker, she coordinates forums with elected officials, government agencies, nonprofits and Hispanic and Latino business owners. Sessions in Brewster, Middletown, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Monticello and Liberty have been held, and additional forums are planned, including in Kingston. There have been one-on-one interviews and individual community assessments in Beacon, Port Jervis and Walden.
This project will include development of a guide to local and regional business resources, creation of Hispanic and Latino small-business directories and identification of strategies to better integrate Hispanic and Latino business communities into existing business organizations, agencies and programs.
Participants at discussion sessions have included Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison; Newburgh Councilwoman Karen Mejia; Middletown Director of Community Development Maria Bruni; Ari Mir-Pontier of Sullivan Renaissance and the Gerry Foundation; Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce President Frank Castella; Latinos Unidos of Newburgh; RUPCO; Hudson River Housing; and La Super Latina, a Poughkeepsie-based online radio station.
