Commission tackles issues facing Hispanics

Blunt signed an executive order in December that creates the Hispanic Business, Trade and Culture Commission to act as an advisory board to the Department of Economic Development.

Commission members will relay trade and investment issues that are important to Missouri’s Hispanic business community. They will monitor legislative issues concerning the community and recommend proposed legislation to the department.

The group will be made up of an undetermined number of citizens, to be named by DED Director Greg Steinhoff, and one ex-officio member, to be named by Blunt.

Eligible commission members include business owners, founding members of not-for-profit organizations and representatives from all defined economic regions in the state.

No more than nine members can be from the same political party.

The commission replaces the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, which wasn’t tailored to meet the specific business needs of the Hispanic community in Missouri, Blunt spokesperson Jessica Robinson said.

“We know the needs of the Hispanic culture have changed dramatically since the first commission was formed,” she said. “(The new commission) has a similar focus, and yet this has a little more narrow focus to enhance economic development.”

This story originally appeared in SBJ's Dec. 12 e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.