New Online Directory of Latina Businesses Fills a Growing Need ...Latinas represent the fastest growing entrepreneurial sector in the U.S. business community

    /24-7PressRelease/ - San Juan, PR - December 28, 2006 - Hispanic Business Women's Alliance (HBWA) has launched a new, interactive Online Directory of Latina Business Owners and Professionals at www.latinamarketplace.com. This online directory will help Internet shoppers easily find and do business with Latina Business Owners and Professionals in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, registered in the Directory.

"According to the latest U.S. Bureau of the Census report (2002), there are 540,909 Latina owned businesses in the United States and another 111,287 Latina businesses jointly owned with a male partner. All are excellent prospects to be registered in this new Directory," stated Lourdes Aponte-Rosario, President of HBWA and Publisher of the Online Directory.

It is not generally known that Latinas represent the fastest growing entrepreneurial sector in the U. S. business community. According to the Center for Women's Research, Latina entrepreneurs are starting businesses at a rate that is fully six times that of the national average. Yet it has not been easy for consumers or other businesses to identify and contact them by City or State. The Online Directory of Latina Business Owners and Professionals will help facilitate the process as more and more companies are registered as a result of HBWA's collaborative efforts with local Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and Latina organizations.

Lourdes Aponte-Rosario said, "Until now, most Latina entrepreneurs and professionals listed in the Directory did not have a presence in the Internet. Latina owned start-ups will now have the opportunity to market their products or services via the Internet in an easily accessible and attractive format." Internet shoppers will be able to quickly locate Latina owned firms by business category (NAICS Code), product/service key word, company name, street address, City, State, and Zip Code. In addition, shoppers can find the Latina business via a Map Locator.

Ms. Aponte-Rosario also anticipates that non-Hispanic business owners seeking to penetrate the rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic market, expected to reach $1 trillion by 2010, will utilize the new online Directory to identify potential Latina suppliers, clients or strategic partners.

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