Is it time for Alamogordo to Consider a Hispanic Chamber to Spur Economic Growth?

Alamogordo—With nearly 30 percent of its 31,000 residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino, multiple business leaders within Alamogordo and Otero County have suggested the need to explore the creation of a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Hispanic entrepreneurs are fueling a critical portion of Otero County’s economy, with estimates revealing at least 85 Hispanic‐owned employer firms generating about $120 to $200 million in annual revenue and supporting many local jobs underscoring the sector’s growing importance to the region.

Local Hispanic business owners note that these conservative estimates omit nonemployer sole proprietors, whose contributions—though smaller individually—further bolster local commerce. “When you include home‐based and freelance operations, the Hispanic business footprint is even larger,” said Rene Sepulveda, recently.

The need is to amplify minority entrepreneurship and strengthen small business sustainability and development within Alamogordo, La Luz, Tularosa, Cloudcroft, Chaparral and Otero County. Multiple business owners say a dedicated chamber could fill gaps not being served in bilingual outreach, bilingual marketing, grant access, small business sustainability training, culturally tailored networking and new small business development—mirroring success stories from Las Cruces and neighboring state of Arizona and Texas.

At present, the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce and Alamogordo MainStreet each steward local business support. The Alamogordo Chamber focuses on relocation services, tourism promotion, and networking mixers, while MainStreet drives downtown revitalization through façade improvements, public art installations, and targeted grants. Yet, Hispanic entrepreneurs report that language, access barriers and limited attention is paid to their unique needs to as an underserved constituency by existing the structures.

“In every small town I visited, when there was a Hispanic chamber, minority-owned businesses thrived,” said small business owner, Rene Sepulveda, who believes a new Hispanic Chamber could offer Spanish-language workshops on financing, marketing, how to navigate the legal requirements of starting a new business and teach in an atmosphere that catered to an audience of new entrepreneurs with Hispanic/Mexicano roots. “We need resources designed for our unique needs that feel welcoming and open.”

Las Cruces Blueprint: Membership and Outreach

Founded in 1991 as the Hispano Chamber of Doña Ana County and rebranded in 2013, the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce grew from just 10 paid members in its inaugural year to more than 300 across southern New Mexico and El Paso. This expansion reflects targeted recruitment efforts and culturally relevant programming designed to unite Spanish-speaking and non-Hispanic minority business owners under one advocacy umbrella.

Learning from Arizona’s DreamBuilder

Just over the state line in Arizona, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s DreamBuilder program has empowered entrepreneurs from Phoenix to Payson and Yuma. Participants complete an eight-week digital boot camp, receive laptops and seed funding, and benefit from a year of follow-up support. Since 2015, more than 200 small-town graduates have collectively secured over $10 million in contracts. One Payson construction firm landed a $15 million federal project after graduating the program, illustrating how targeted training can translate into major wins for rural communities.

Texas Model: TAMACC’s Coalition Approach

In Texas, the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) began in 1975 with seven member chambers—including those in Lubbock, Odessa, and Weslaco. Starting with a $1,500 loan for its first convention, TAMACC quickly leveraged a $20,000 federal grant to open an Austin office. By coordinating advocacy, rotating annual conventions among member cities, and offering technical assistance, TAMACC helped rural chambers boost grant awards and joint procurement deals by 25 percent within five years.

“Coalition-building gave small-town chambers legislative clout and access to statewide procurement networks,” explained TAMACC executive director Carlos Peña.

A Blueprint for Alamogordo

Local advocates envision a potential organizing committee of 8 to 10 Hispanic business leaders, civic staff, and nonprofit partners to draft bylaws, membership tiers, and governance. Initial seed funding could be raised through membership dues and matching grants from Otero County Economic Development or the City of Alamogordo.

A late spring 2026 “Mercado Expo” could be a pilot event to showcase Hispanic and minority businesses. The idea being open to the public and hosting vendor booths, panel discussions on minority business startups, online marketing and use of social media, include local craft-makers and food vendors, offer speed-networking with city and county departments to learn their function in helping to launch and sustain a small business. Formal launch with 501(c)(6) status and quarterly bilingual workshops could potentially follow by fall of 2026.

Potential Impact

Economic analyses from peer communities suggest a Hispanic Chamber could boost member business growth by as much as 15 percent within two years, potentially adding more than $25 million to the local economy. Co-hosted events with the existing Chamber and MainStreet would further integrate Hispanic businesses into Alamogordo’s budding downtown renaissance and further drive a positive impact into the creative economy by driving more foot traffic and awareness to those Hispanic and minority owned businesses.

“This is about more than representation,” said advocate Rene Sepulveda “It’s about ensuring every small business entrepreneur, no matter their education level or past experience, has the tools to succeed and contribute to our city’s vitality.”

By brainstorming and learning from the best practices of proven programs from La Cruces, Arizona and coalition tactics from Texas and Northern New Mexico the local Hispanic Chamber could create localized strategy. Alamogordo and Otero County could then ensure its Hispanic Chamber becomes more than a symbolic gesture—it can be a catalytic engine for equitable economic development and a jobs creator.

As Alamogordo charts its next chapter as an evolving and more diverse community, a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce could be another tool to weave culture and commerce into a more inclusive, dynamic local economy—one that reflects the city’s rich heritage and collective ambition.

Citations:

Alamogordo Locals Roundtable

DreamBuilder program overview and structure, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce DreamBuilder outcomes in small towns (Payson, Yuma), ABC15 (Jan. 17, 2025) 

TAMACC founding history and early coalition-building, TAMACC.org “History – TAMACC” 

TAMACC’s statewide impact and chamber growth, TSHA Online “Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce

Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, “Over 30 Years of Community Building,” lascruceshispanicchamber.com..

Mike Cook, “Hispanic Chamber is reaching out to businesses,” Las Cruces Bulletin, Sept. 21, 2023.

2 Richard Aguilar, “Hispanic chamber recognizes middle school success,” Las Cruces Sun-News, May 9, 2016.

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