The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will release its fifth annual edition of the DATOS Tucson report at a morning conference Oct. 6.

The report provides an overview of the state of the Hispanic market in Southern Arizona, as well as statewide and nationally. The conference takes place 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. at Tucson Hilton El Conquistador, 10000 North Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85704.

“Tucson and Southern Arizona are vital to Arizona’s overall economic prosperity, especially as it relates to our fast-growing partnership with Mexico,” said Gonzalo A. de la Melena, Jr., President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  “We’re proud to to deliver the message that Arizona’s future is inextricably linked to the economic health of its exploding Hispanic population.”

The keynote address during DATOS Tucson’s release, “Economic Impact of Extending The Mexican Border Zone To The Entire State Of Arizona,” will be presented by Dr. Alberta Charney and Alan Hoogasian of the Economic and Business Research Center at the University of Arizona.

Today, “pre-cleared visitors” from Mexico are limited to traveling 75 miles into Arizona from the border’s ports of entry. The report by Charney and Hoogasian asserts that extending the border zone to the entire state of Arizona could generate up to an additional $181 million in estimated spending in 2016, bringing the total spending by Mexican visitors to $3.1 billion and 31,856 jobs statewide.

A resolution of support to extend the border zone has been proposed by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), as well as the Intertribal Council of Arizona and the city of Nogales, Arizona. Charney and Hoogasian completed the report on behalf of the Maricopa Association of Governments.

Among the 2015 highlights in DATOS Tucson:

  • Hispanic purchasing power nationwide is an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2015, roughly equivalent to the GDP of Australia. Hispanic purchasing power in Arizona is an estimated $40.3 billion in 2015.
  • There are more than 55 million Hispanics in the United States, 17 percent of the country’s population. There are nearly 2.1 million Hispanics in Arizona, 30.3 percent of the total population.
  • The number of Hispanic owned businesses in Arizona now exceeds 123,000, while the businesses owned by Hispanic women, more than 66,000 are now the majority of all Hispanic-owned companies in the state.

The presenting sponsor for DATOS Tucson is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. The event’s collaborating sponsors include Sun Corridor, Inc. Hispanic Women’s Corporation, Arizona Technology Council, University of Arizona and the Helios Education Foundation. Univision Anchor Heidi Renpenning will serve as emcee for the conference. Other major sponsors include HSL Properties, Red Bull, Univision Arizona, Vantage West Credit Union, La Buena/Caliente radio stations and Verizon.

For information about DATOS Tucson or to purchase tickets or tables, contact Angela Serda at 602-294-6085 or angelas@azhcc.com.