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 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. 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.

In 2002, the FWHCC started a ten-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, Human Resources, 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. The FWHCC is a valuable resource for our 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.

The FWHCC works to give back to our community through the FWHCC Scholarship Fund which was created in 1991. Since 1991 the FWHCC has provided over a million dollars in scholarship funds.

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.