While the growth rate of the nation’s Latino population has steadily dropped from 4.1 to 2.6 percent annually over the course of the past decade, Hispanic purchasing power and new business growth rates continue to far outpace Arizona’s general market.

Hispanic buying power in Arizona will surpass $57 billion by 2022. Note that it’s expected to top $47 billion this year and grow by $10 billion between now and 2022.

These findings and more will be published in the 2018 DATOS: The State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market report, as part of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce annual DATOS breakfast conference, Sept., 28, 2018, 7 to 10 a.m. at JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. The formal program begins at 8 a.m.

The theme for the 2018 conference is “Elements of a Healthy Community.”

Through collaboration with Vitalyst Health Foundation, the 2018 DATOS report will cover a wide range of topics in-depth: access to healthcare, affordable quality housing, community safety, economic opportunity, educational opportunity, environmental quality, affordable food, community design, parks and recreation, social/cultural cohesion, social justice and transportation.

DATOS speaks the multitude of socio-economic trends and the far-reaching implications for the multicultural consumer, entrepreneurs, and corporations across the state and nation.

This year’s keynote speaker is Adam Goodman, president and CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures. Under Adam’s leadership, Goodmans has developed innovative programs to give back to the community.

A panel discussion inspired by this year’s theme will be moderated by the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Vitalyst Health Foundation, Jon Ford. The panelists will be Kris Gaw, chief operating officer of Maricopa Integrated Health Services (MIHS), Rob Antoniak, chief operating officer of Valley Metro, and Adam Goodman.

The emcee for DATOS 2018 is Vanessa Ruiz, director of Cronkite News Borderlands and professor at Arizona State University, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

During the conference, AZHCC Vice President Monica Villalobos will present highlights from year’s DATOS report.

“The idea this year is to move the DATOS report from the reference section to the self-help section, if you will, of Arizona leadership’s personal library of economic development guides,” said Villalobos.

Among the findings in this year’s report:

• From 2016 to 2017, Hispanics accounted for 51% of the United States total population growth.

• There are now nearly 59 million Latinos nationwide, including 2.3 million in Arizona.

• From 2000-2017, Hispanic homeownership in the United States increased by 76%, going from approximately 4 million to 7 million.

• In 2015, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) lifted 2.5 million Latinos above the poverty line.

• Seventy percent of Latinos believe that global warming is mostly human caused.

Among U.S.-born Latinos, 39% report that dealing with the issue of immigration should be a top priority compared to 52% of foreign-born Latinos

2018 DATOS Conference Registration and Sponsorship Information

• Registration/Mini-Expo: 7 to 8 a.m.

• Breakfast program: 8 to 10 a.m.

For information on how to purchase tickets or sponsorships, contact Elizabeth Flores at (602) 279-1800 or events@azhcc.com.