The $4.1 Trillion Impact: Latino Businesses and America’s Economic Future

At the event “Sustaining Momentum: Latino Entrepreneurs and the Future of U.S. Economic Growth,” hosted by the Brookings Institution Center for Community Uplift and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, leaders from business, policy, and the nonprofit sector gathered in Washington to examine the evolving role of Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. economy and the conditions needed to sustain their long-term growth.

Among the panelists was Marla Bilonick, CEO of NALCAB and member of the Latino Executive Network (LEN), highlighting NALCAB’s presence in national conversations at the intersection of entrepreneurship, capital access, and public policy.

The discussion focused on the growing impact of Latino-owned businesses, which between 2017 and 2022 expanded across nearly 90% of U.S. metro areas, and in 2023 contributed to a record $4.1 trillion in total economic output nationwide. Panelists also addressed key challenges facing entrepreneurs today, including policy volatility, access to capital constraints, procurement dynamics, and uneven regional support systems.

Together, these perspectives reinforced a central question: what will it take to sustain and scale one of the most dynamic engines of economic growth in the United States, while strengthening resilience, competitiveness, and inclusion across the broader economy.

Members of LEN were also present throughout the convening, including CEO Mario Ramos, as well as board members Luis Clavijo and Juan Cardona, reflecting the organization’s ongoing engagement in Washington-based conversations where Latino leadership and economic policy intersect.