Public Policy Advocacy

NALCAB works to inform strategies, conduct research, and collaborate with national partners to address key economic issues affecting Latino communities. We provide resources and insights to support members to navigate policy changes and advocate for economic opportunities in their communities. Our team engages legislators on issues including small business support, access to capital, consumer protections and expanded opportunity that uplift the economic contributions of Latinos in our nation.

Strengthening Small Business

Small businesses are this nation’s economic backbone – creating jobs, promoting competition and fueling local economies. NALCAB supports entrepreneurs by promoting public policy priorities that increase access to capital, strengthen entrepreneurial development resources, and build community wealth.

Support a Prosperous Financial Services Marketplace

A vibrant financial services marketplace fosters innovation and drives better outcomes for consumers. NALCAB advocates for policies that increase access to capital and ensure our financial system operates with safety and soundness as paramount.

Address this Nation’s Housing Crisis

The current housing market doesn’t properly meet the needs of communities in America, not only limiting opportunities for families to build wealth through homeownership but also preventing the development of thriving neighborhoods. Investments in housing can enhance economic growth and stabilize neighborhoods. NALCAB supports policies that open responsible access to homeownership and increase the supply of safe, healthy and affordable housing options.

Advancing Self-Reliant Communities for the Long Haul

NALCAB is committed to building healthier, more resilient communities by advocating for policies that increase investment and build neighborhoods, support our nation’s workforce demands and promote a strong economy.

Latinos in the Economy

Thriving Latino communities are essential to the health of the US economy. The economic strength of our nation increasingly relies on the fast-growing Latino community’s hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, enormous spending power and leadership. #NALCABAdvocates

Population Growth

The US Census Bureau reports that the Hispanic population has grown substantially to exceed 65 million people. Between 2022 and 2023, Hispanic population growth drove nearly 71% of total US population growth, increasing by 1.16 million people – a 1.8% rise from the previous year.

Workforce Participation

Hispanic Americans are a cornerstone of the US labor force. In 2023, they comprised 19% of the civilian workforce, with 31.8 million workers. Their workforce presence has expanded by 69% since 2003 – more than ten times the growth rate of non-Hispanic workers (6%). As the nation’s fastest-growing worker demographic, Hispanics accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total labor force increase between 2003 and 2023.

Entrepreneurship

Latino/a owned businesses (LOBs) demonstrate remarkable economic impact, contributing more than $800 billion to the US economy annually. Of the 4.7 million LOBs in America, 463,000 are employer firms generating $664 billion in annual revenues and employing 3.5 million workers across the country.

Spending Power

The US Latino economic output is substantial – if it were a stand-alone country, it would represent the fifth-largest economy in the world. US Latino purchasing power has reached an impressive $3.78 trillion.

Rural America

Latinos help rejuvenate otherwise declining rural communities helping to reverse the depopulation of rural areas. According to the US Census, the Latino population is the largest non-metropolitan minority group, representing a population of 4.1 million.

Homeownership

Over the last decade, Latino homeownership has steadily grown despite macroeconomic headwinds, creating pathways for wealth building for Latino communities. For these communities, homeownership serves not only as a source of financial stability but also the primary vehicle for building and transferring intergenerational wealth. This trend has translated into the Latino homeownership rate reaching 49.5%, marking a net gain of 377,000 Hispanic owner-households. Driving this growth, Latinos are purchasing homes at rates higher than all other groups, with over 9.5 million Latino households now owning their homes. This progress showcases the importance of promoting Latino homeownership, as 54.1% of Latinos’ total wealth is held in real estate, compared to just over one-third for the general population.