Mission & History

Creating, Promoting and Enhancing Economic Opportunity & Prosperity for the Fort Worth Hispanic Business Community.

The Fort Worth Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce began in 1973 when a small group of Fort Worth minority business and community leaders recognized the need for effective representation in the local business community.

The organization was chartered August 3, 1974 and became only the fourth Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce to be established in the State of Texas.

Among the founding members of the chamber were Dick Salinas, who served as its first president; Pete Zepeda, president-elect; Ron Fernandez, vice president; and Manuel Jara, treasurer.

The first chamber office was located downtown in the Sinclair Building and the first meetings were held at various area restaurants. By 1982, interest in the Hispanic chamber grew enough to support a full suite of offices in the historic Stockyards section of the city. The Articles of Incorporation were amended November 25, 1985 and the name of the organization was changed to the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In its first two decades of service, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has grown from the original 30 members to more than 550 Hispanic and other businesses, professional leaders and proudly boasts 43 corporate partners.

The chamber strives to serve its membership through business and professional seminars and workshops, various networking opportunities and business procurement assistance through its Economic Development Programs.

The FWHCC is also a dynamic force in promoting international trade and continued overall development for its membership as well as the area’s economic community. We partner with the Fort Worth International Center and Sister Cities.

The FWHCC Scholarship Fund was created in 1991 to provide 8th grade Hispanics a $600.00 scholarship upon graduating. Since 1998, Bank of America has provided a $5,000.00 scholarship for a Hispanic high school senior. In 2002 a partnership was created with Hispanic Scholarship Fund. The HSF will match 2 to every 1 dollar raised the by the FWHCC. Since 1991 the FWHCC has provided over half a million dollars in scholarship funds.

In 2002, the FWHCC started an eight-week course for start up businesses. This course provides all information for a start up business. Classes on Certification, How to Write a Business Plan, Access to Capital, Marketing, Financials and Contracts, Permits and Zoning, Imports and Exports and the first class we bring in a business member to provide the plus and minus of starting and owning your own business. In 2002 the FWHCC saw 1,437 individuals through out the year.

In 2001, the FWHCC implemented Hispanic Leadership Development Course. A course is held each spring and fall. This was the vision of Chairman John Avila. His vision was to create a venue to bring in young Hispanics to learn about leadership and management. This eight-week course provides various information and training on from communication to thinking out of the box. This also allows other Hispanics to meet with one another and mentor from those relationships.

The FWHCC is an excellent entrée into local and international Hispanic markets. The chamber has been on the cutting edge of trade relations between Fort Worth’s business community and a promising market with our neighbors to the south.

Chamber membership and active participation in its activities, program planning, and business development efforts provides the Fort Worth businessperson with the business and community contacts necessary to compete in a complex and competitive environment.

The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve the business interests of the Metroplex community and will strive to seek opportunity for its membership and achieve economic benefit for all