The Gulf South region has been experiencing growth in its Hispanic populations, and Louisiana is no exception. In the Bayou State, Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes currently have the highest numbers—totaling more than 150,000 Hispanic residents. According to Mayra Pineda, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, the latest available data indicates that the Hispanic population in the Bayou Region also has experienced notable growth, with approximately 10 percent of the total population being of Hispanic descent—and in some areas, like Bayou Cane—the Hispanic population totals almost 30 percent.
“The growing Hispanic community in the Gulf South Region represents an important workforce pipeline for the fishing, oil, agricultural and construction sectors,” Pineda says. “The significant growth of the Hispanic community has also led to the emergence of new businesses, cultural events and a more visible presence.”
Pineda also says that it is difficult to predict the continued growth in numbers, due to many factors, including immigration status. “However, the best source of stats come from the school systems and healthcare systems, which have been experiencing the pressure of the community’s needs.”
To attend to the needs of this growing Hispanic population, the HCCL and COLAB (formerly the South Louisiana Economic Council), which serves as the official regional economic development organization for the Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes, recently established a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
“The Hispanic community makes up a significant part of our workforce,” says Christy Zeringue, president and CEO of COLAB. “This community has long contributed to the strength of our core industries, and, as workforce needs grow, so does the importance of supporting and collaborating with the people driving that growth,” Zeringue adds.
The strategic alliance aims to leverage each organization’s strengths and outreach to serve and provide much-needed resources and skills to these growing communities. By combining the HCCL’s access to a growing base of Hispanic entrepreneurs and workers with COLAB’s regional economic development strategies, the partnership will be able to directly address workforce and business needs in the Bayou Region.
“Some of the opportunities we hope to capitalize on are the expansion of workforce training programs and job placements in local industries needing workers,” Pineda says. “We hope to combine our resources to attract investments and boost regional competitiveness.”
For example, the HCCL and COLAB will present workshops in Spanish (on topics like QuickBooks, Excel, computer literacy and financial literacy) to equip the grassroots community with new skills. Soft skills also are an area of focus with workshops on topics like how to write a resume and how to prepare for a successful interview. Together, the two organizations also will host job fairs, business-to-business trade shows, industry roundtables and expert panels in a variety of business matters.
The HCCL will provide valuable market insights, business connections and a trusted network that helps COLAB engage more businesses and workers aligned with its regional priorities. “This partnership gives us the tools to address labor shortages, support more entrepreneurs and grow key sectors of the local economy more efficiently,” Zeringue says.
Zeringue expects the collaboration to introduce and make available new training programs and business development resources tailored to the needs of the Hispanic business community. “It also creates opportunities for companies to expand, hire and meet workforce demands more effectively through shared resources and coordinated outreach,” she says.
The collaboration also opens new pathways for both organizations to build on their strengths and expand their networks to access funding, expert technical assistance and resources, while building capacity and helping businesses scale. The HCCL’s statewide presence and service to the Hispanic community also will create vital connections and avenues for growth, both through trade relations with Latin America and by supporting the advancement of Hispanic business interests across the Bayou Region.
Another important goal for the HCCL is to establish relationships with the Bayou Region’s elected officials to advocate for the Hispanic community.
“The [HCCL] brings strong ties to Latin American trade partners and deep knowledge of Hispanic business growth patterns, both of which can open doors for regional exporters and local job creation,” Zeringue says. “Their work will complement COLAB’s efforts by driving investment, supporting business expansion and helping the region tap into new economic opportunities.”
