Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Chattanooga ranks third for Hispanic growth Economic influence lags here, though
ChattanoogaTimesFreePress ^ | September 15, 2014 | Kevin Hardy

Posted on 09/15/2014 1:16:21 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana

Numbers aren't everything.

Chattanooga's Hispanic population more than tripled between 2000 and 2010. But that growth may not have translated to the local economy.

An analysis by personal finance social network WalletHub ranked Chattanooga third among the 150 largest U.S. cities for growth in the Hispanic population. Yet the Scenic City ranked closer to the bottom of the list for Hispanic purchasing power and business friendliness toward Hispanics.

With a population of 54 million, Hispanics now make up the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority, and by 2050 could make up a third of the population. And their influence on the economy is only growing -- more than 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses rake in nearly $500 million in annual revenue, according to the United State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President and CEO Javier Palomarez has called Hispanic entrepreneurs "America's business future."

Despite being ranked high for its growth, Chattanooga's Hispanic population is still relatively small. Of about 168,000 residents, 9,891 are Hispanic -- about 6 percent, according to 2012 Census figures. Nationally, Hispanics constitute 17 percent of the total population.

WalletHub used census data and other metrics to rank cities. Three other cities on its top five list for growth are in the Southeast: Montgomery and Huntsville, Ala., and Fayetteville, N.C. Among the 150 largest U.S. cities, Chattanooga ranked 116th for Hispanic purchasing power and 90th for business friendliness.

But Chattanooga is becoming more welcoming to Hispanics and Hispanic business owners, said Stacy Johnson, executive director of La Paz, an advocacy and educational organization for the Latino community.

"I really think it has been more difficult in the past," she said. "But I think over the last several years, the community has really opened their arms for the Latino population."

Still, she said, it takes time for an immigrant population to mature and become established, especially within the business community.

"We started 10 years ago and we're still working with some of the same people," Johnson said. "So it definitely takes a lot of time to plan programs and work with the community. Most of that is just gaining trust."

It's obvious that immigrants often enter the United States seeking better employment opportunity. But oftentimes, they bring with them a strong appetite for entrepreneurship, said Ivette Rios, a small-business adviser at the Small Business Development Center.

Rios works with many fledgling business owners. And because she's bilingual, she helps many Spanish-speaking individuals with various business development issues. Many come from countries with high unemployment and already have experience in entrepreneurship. Some even started businesses as children.

"There's a lot of that," she said. "They come to this country and want to start and go."

Rios, who is from Mexico, lived in Dalton for 15 years before moving to Chattanooga. In Dalton, Hispanics make up nearly half the population. Census data show about 15,000 Hispanics among Dalton's population of about 33,000. Rios said there seemed to be more integration of Hispanics into the city's business community than she sees in Chattanooga. But she said that's likely to change as more Latinos get established here.

"There was a lot of interest from the general community to acquire that Hispanic buying power, which is very strong," she said. "I don't see that community awareness or initiative as much here."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; border; illegalaliens; tennessee
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last
Highest Hispanic population growth

1. Montgomery, Ala.

2. Huntsville, Ala.

3. Chattanooga

4. Fayetteville, N.C.

5. Miami, Fla.

Highest number of Hispanics per capita

1. Laredo, Texas

2. Hialeah, Fla.

3. Brownsville, Texas

4. El Paso, Texas

5. Santa Ana, Calif.

Highest share of businesses owned by Hispanics

1. Hialeah, Fla.

2. Laredo, Texas

3. Brownsville, Texas

4. El Paso, Texas

5. Miami, Fla.

Source: WalletHub

1 posted on 09/15/2014 1:16:21 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Liz; AuntB; La Lydia; sickoflibs; stephenjohnbanker; Tolerance Sucks Rocks; 2ndDivisionVet

TN-has-lotza-illegal-aliens PING


2 posted on 09/15/2014 1:17:23 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Liz; AuntB; La Lydia; sickoflibs; stephenjohnbanker; Tolerance Sucks Rocks; 2ndDivisionVet

Economic influence lags here, though
__________________________________________

Gosh I thought the illegal aliens were suppose to be an asset to the economy...


3 posted on 09/15/2014 1:18:55 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Hispanics never pay their bills


4 posted on 09/15/2014 1:24:38 PM PDT by molson209 (Blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Another “even though crime is down, more people in prison” stat by the clueless.


5 posted on 09/15/2014 1:25:32 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("a shadow...draped nobly in the folds of a gorgeous eloquence.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Pardon me senor, is that the Tijuana Choo Choo?


6 posted on 09/15/2014 1:25:59 PM PDT by Starboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

The Latinos work pretty hard. The only problem is the integration into the community. Learning English and adapting to the the customs of the country needs to be enforced.

I do wonder how many are skirting licensing, insurance, and local fees for running a business?

How much of the work is under the table and not being taxed since the communuity is not gaining a benefit from the influx of immigrants?


7 posted on 09/15/2014 1:29:24 PM PDT by OpusatFR (I did make that. No one else did the work.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OpusatFR

From what I’ve observed in the midwest where most hispanics have come to work in meat processing and other ag-related jobs, is they pay their bills, are very family-oriented, maintain their homes as well as they can given their income, and behave themselves as well as any other group of people.

In other words, they are good citizens and potential Republicans, since they share the values of faith, family, and entrepreneurship.

Now, back to those who prefer making racial generalizations who will fail to refute any of the statements I made here, which I can support with stats.


8 posted on 09/15/2014 1:39:23 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Most of them are probably legal immigrants. We bring in 1.1 million legal immigrants a year with about two-thirds being Hispanic.


9 posted on 09/15/2014 1:39:53 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: OpusatFR

. Learning English and adapting to the the customs of the country needs to be enforced.
____________________________________________

I found this article while I was looking for another..

I heard on the radio today that the local police, social workers etc are going to learn Spanish because there are so many Spanish speaking people (read illegal aliens) suddenly coming into our area..there’ll be free classes at the local colleges etc..

haven’t found it online yet..


10 posted on 09/15/2014 1:42:09 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

11 posted on 09/15/2014 1:42:25 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

It only takes one illegal alien to kill you on the road..


12 posted on 09/15/2014 1:43:53 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Just claiming back the land that was stolen from Mexico — oh wait.


13 posted on 09/15/2014 1:46:36 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana
Legal immigrants are about 75% of the total foreign population. You keep focusing on illegal aliens as the driver of this influx when it is really coming primarily from legal immigration.


14 posted on 09/15/2014 1:48:25 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: bigbob
In other words, they are good citizens and potential Republicans, since they share the values of faith, family, and entrepreneurship.

The out of wedlock birthrate for Hispanics is 53%. They have high school drop out rates. They use welfare to a greater extent than the native born. They support big government. They are natural Democrats.


15 posted on 09/15/2014 1:55:24 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

Tennessee ping


16 posted on 09/15/2014 4:18:42 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (The War on Drugs is Big Government statism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana
more than 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses rake in nearly $500 million in annual revenue, according to the United State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

So each Hispanic-owned business pulls in an average of $167 dollars a year?

17 posted on 09/15/2014 4:20:29 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (The mods stole my tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Pro-amnesty American citizens must think that the rest of us 300,000,000 Americans are blind and stupid.

Pro-amnesty people demand that President Obama give work visas to at least 8,000,000+ illegals.

But pro-amnesty traitors conveniently forget to mention that many of these 8,000,000 illegals who will get work visas have husbands/wives and children.

24,000,000 illegals get amnesty: Pro-amnesty people are not really talking about 8,000,000 illegals, because they secretly know in their hearts that they are really talking about more like 24,000,000 illegals----3 times 8,000,000 illegals--- who will eventually get AMNESTY when President Obama takes his pen and quickly signs his executive order in a few weeks.

how did I arrive at the number of 24,000,000 illegals? I did it this way: I multiplied 8,000,000 illegals by 3.

1. Obviously, illegal immigrant men need their wives and children to keep them company. and many of them are already here.

2. And illegal immigrant women need their husbands to help them with the children.

3. Also, these illegal immigrants with their new work visas will now have no fear that immigration agents will be coming to their home to check to see how many in the household besides the visa holder are here legally.

4. So once they get their work visas, they can invite any number of relatives to live with them without fear that immigration officials will be coming to their unexpectedly to check the status of the people in the home. As long as visa holders pay their rent on time and their children attend school, we can be sure that no immigration officials will bother them and their families.

My point is this: Work visa holders and their growing families will be here forever. Basically, deportation of these illegals and their families will never happen, if President Obama has his way and goes ahead and signs his executive order soon after the midterm election.

5. You see, you can't very well legalize 8,000,000 illegals by giving them work visas, on the one hand, and then, on the other hand, turn around and deport husbands and wives and children of the work visa holders, persons who may not qualify for work visas for one reason or the other.

6. So I believe that multiplying 8,000,000 illegals by 3 is a good conservative estimate of how many illegals will immediately benefit from President Obama's executive order---an estimate based on a household with two parents, one child.

7.Of course, many households will be single households with no children.

8.But, as we know, many, many households of illegals who will be given work visas will have two or more children, so all those many children will easily make up for those households in my 24,000,000 estimate that have no children.

9. So that is the way I concluded that 24,000,000+ illegals will really get amnesty when traitor President Obama gives away our country with the simple signing of his executive order: 8,000,000 million illegal work visa holders times a conservative estimate of 3 member's in each illegal immigrant household.

10. Again, when President Obama quickly signs his executive order soon after the mid-term elections, he will NOT be giving amnesty to just 8,000,000 illegals as the pro-amnesty people want us to believe.

11. Rather, when the smoke clears, anti-amnesty people will wake up one morning and suddenly realize that the pro-amnesty people and President Obama have pulled off one of the biggest scams in history, because President Obama will really give amnesty to 24,000,000 illegals, not 8,000,000 illegals as President Obama will claim when he signs his executive order soon after the mid-term elections.

NOTE: 'Because it was the right thing to do." This is Obama's favorite phrase when he wants to justify his decision on a controversial subject like illegal immigration.

It is as if Obama wants us to believe that his decision is divinely inspired, that is, God himself told him what to do. What a bunch of crap.

So be prepared to hear Obama's phrase---"Because it was the right thing to do"---over and over after Obama signs the worst executive order ever.

It is the worst ever because President Obama will lie to us and give amnesty to not 8,000,000 illegals as Obama will lead us to believe when he signs the executive order, but to an unbelievable number of 24,000,000 illegals. Sick. Sick. Sick.

18 posted on 09/15/2014 4:43:50 PM PDT by john mirse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: OpusatFR
Latinos don't work harder than anyone else. That's bullshit. I worked in the housing construction business and they didn't impress me. The only real thing they work hard at is breaking into our country. What the hell don't they work hard and fix their own damn countries? The only problem of ‘’integration’’ is they don't want to integrate. We're the ''gringos'' and trust me, they hate us. How do they start business? Simple. Local municipalities let them do it. In the town of Lakewood NJ, five minutes from my house the town council of Lakewood established a ''muster zone'' so the bastards could congregate to be hired for work. Even had ''out reach co=ordinators'', coffee and doughnuts, info on all kinds of tax payer funded. Stuff like this goes on all over the country.
19 posted on 09/15/2014 5:33:46 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberalism defined: When mom and dad go away for the weekend and the kids are in charge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

Read my post, #19. Since when did people who break into the country, depress the wage structure and refuse assimilate become the salt of the Earth and better human beings then the rest of us? Irony is kind of lost on you, huh?


20 posted on 09/15/2014 5:37:55 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberalism defined: When mom and dad go away for the weekend and the kids are in charge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson