It’s Hispanic Heritage Month. The theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” At an event in Harrisburg on Tuesday, the executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Latino Affairs shared information about Pennsylvania’s Latino population. Olga Negron said Latinos accounted for 50% of the population growth over the past 20 years. If this trend continues, Latinos will be the largest minority group in Pennsylvania by 2030. The most common Hispanic groups in the state are Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Dominicans, Cubans and Colombians. Negron also said the purchasing power of the Latino community grew to $1.9 trillion in 2020, an 87% increase from 2010. “Latino consumers spend their money where they feel welcome. That’s why it’s essential that we continue to include Latinos in our policy agenda to continue to attract the best and brightest,” she said. Josh Shapiro, who introduced legislation last year to require state agencies to award more government contracts to minority-owned businesses, said Pennsylvania saw a 35 percent increase in the number of state contracts awarded to small, diverse, veteran-owned businesses in just one year.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania —
This month is Hispanic Heritage Month and the theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”
At an event in Harrisburg on Tuesday, the executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Issues shared information about Latinos in Pennsylvania.
Olga Negron said Latinos have accounted for 50% of the population growth over the past 20 years.
If current trends continue, Latinos will become Pennsylvania’s largest minority group by 2030.
The most common Hispanic groups in the Commonwealth are Puerto Rican, Mexican, Dominican, Cuban, and Colombian.
Negron also said the purchasing power of the Latino community grew to $1.9 trillion in 2020, an 87% increase since 2010.
“Latino consumers spend their money where they feel welcome, which is why it’s essential we include Latinos in our planning to continue to attract the best and brightest,” she said.
Negron pointed to an executive order signed last year by Gov. Josh Shapiro requiring state agencies to award more government contracts to minority-owned businesses as one example.
She said that in just one year, Pennsylvania has seen a 35 percent increase in state contracts with small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses.
