Maximizing Small, Diverse
and Emerging Businesses’
Potential through
Chamber Membership
C
orpus Christi has earned the reputation of one of the best American cities for small busi-
nesses, particularly Hispanic-owned businesses. According to WalletHub, the area’s fa-
vorable business climate--second only to Laredo, Texas--is attributable to the ease with
which to start a business and the high buying power of the Hispanic population. Still quantitative
data suggest that local Hispanic and other minority businesses collectively do not earn as much
in revenues as their share of the business population suggests. Based on the 2012 Census Sur-
vey of Business Owners, which is available at the end of 2015, nearly 43 percent of all local busi-
nesses are owned by Hispanics, and over 37% are owned by women. Despite the seemingly high
ratios of business formation for local Hispanics and women, they are in fact “underrepresented”
when their shares of local business are compared against their shares of the local population (J.
Lee & K. Byus, Disparity Study for Corpus Christi and CCRTA, 2016).
On September 2016, the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce (UCCCC) commenced
operation, combining the membership, services, programs and resources of the 100-year old
Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and the 78-year old Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce. With a mission to be “the premier organization working to advance economic pros-
perity for all business while preserving the region’s diverse cultures” and a vision “to unite Corpus
Christi to be the best place to work and live,” the new chamber represents a fresh beginning for
business in the city.
The Small, Diverse & Emerging Business Council (SDEBC) of the United Corpus Christi Chamber,
launched in November of 2016 with monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month,
focuses on fostering economic development and advocating for small, diverse and emerging