HISPANIC FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!! Sep 7 & 8! See article below

Welcome to the 2012 Hispanic Festival! September 7th and 8th

HISPANIC FESTIVAL MISSION STATEMENT
To promote an understanding of diversity and to increase awareness of the rich and diverse cultures within the Hispanic community while raising funds to enhance the programs and services provided by the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.
HISPANIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
In 2009, the Hispanic Festival hosted approximately 100,000 visitors who celebrated the cultural heritage of the Hispanic community through entertainment, food, art and products from Latin, Central and South America.
As the Hispanic population of Western Michigan grows, it is vital that the larger community enjoy fellowship together in a time of cultural enrichment and awareness in order to bridge the gap between segments of the population. The Festival is popular because it affords sponsors and business leaders the opportunity to reach a growing Hispanic market with direct contact to consumers, while at the same time providing a context for the broader community to experience Hispanic culture at its best.
The Festival attracts attendees from across the state, local Hispanic business owners, as well as artists and performers from 20 different Latin American countries. The Festival also appeals to the larger community by displaying the many positive contributions the Hispanic population makes to benefit Western Michigan.
Please Consider These Facts:
• The purchasing power of Hispanics is currently at $700 billion, making that market a critical area for businesses and corporations to expand services and marketing.
• Immigrants add approximately $10 billion each year to the U.S. economy.
• In Michigan, Hispanics own over 1 million businesses, mostly owned by Latinas or female Hispanics and employ over 1.4 million people.
• Agricultural businesses have the highest Latino representation, followed by construction, manufacturing and technology.
• The Hispanic community fosters the growth and prosperity of the city of Grand Rapids by purchasing and owning homes, revitalizing neighborhoods and investing in local businesses.
As these facts demonstrate, the growing Hispanic community is one that is in need of services and goods from local businesses. Also, the Hispanic population enhances the broader community through the goods and services it supplies.
The Hispanic Festival is the primary annual fundraiser for the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan and the largest Hispanic Festival in the state. We hope you will join us this year as a Sponsor and participant on September 7th & 8th at the Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information:
Martha Gonzalez-Cortes- CEO
(616) 742-0200 or mcortes@hispanic-center.org


For more information on the Hispanic Center visit http://www.hispanic-center.org/