Kicking off 2026, Nevada’s Latin Chamber of Commerce is marking a big milestone.
The group is celebrating its 50th anniversary and using it as a springboard for a new effort aimed at expanding opportunities for Latino-owned businesses well beyond Southern Nevada.
The new initiative is called LCC UN, short for “United Nevada” or “Unified Nevada.”
Chamber leaders say the goal is to help local small businesses reach new markets and bring new investment back home to Nevada.
Peter Guzman, president of the Latin Chamber, said the idea is about opening doors that many small business owners cannot open on their own.
“We’re taking our members global,” Guzman said during the announcement. He explained that the program is designed to connect Nevada entrepreneurs with international partners they might never meet otherwise.
That includes working with foreign consulates that already have a presence in Las Vegas and across the state. Guzman said those partnerships are growing quickly.
“We have partnerships with all the consulates. We’re going to increase those,” he said. “And by the way, not just Hispanic consulates. The Japanese consulate called me this morning. They want to be in on this with us.”
In plain terms, the chamber wants to act like a matchmaker.
On one side are small Nevada businesses looking to grow. On the other side are international companies and investors looking for new places to do business. The chamber wants to connect the two.
Chamber leaders stressed that this is not just about sending Nevada businesses overseas. It’s also about bringing jobs, money, and relationships into the state.
The announcement was made at an event held at the College of Southern Nevada. Guzman said the chamber sees education as a key part of its next chapter.
He talked about building a clear pipeline from classrooms to careers and, eventually, to business ownership and leadership. They hope for students to see a future where they can start companies, create jobs, and stay rooted in Nevada.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for all of us coming together,” Guzman said. “Making sure that we’re not only local Southern Nevada, that we’re not only Nevada, but that we serve a global community and that we’re a global destination.”
Small businesses are the backbone of Nevada’s economy. They create most new jobs and keep communities strong.
Helping them find new customers and new capital without growing government bureaucracy is generally a good thing.
Critics worry that “global” programs can sometimes favor well-connected players over true mom-and-pop shops. Others argue that the focus should stay on fixing local problems first, like high taxes, heavy regulation, and workforce shortages.
Those are real concerns. If this effort is going to work, it needs to stay focused on real small businesses, not corporate giants or political insiders. It also needs to respect the free market, not replace it.
Still, for many Nevada entrepreneurs, especially those just starting out, having a trusted organization help make introductions could be a game changer.
As the Latin Chamber of Commerce Nevada enters its second half-century, its leaders are clearly thinking bigger than ever.
Nevada’s small businesses are being encouraged to think beyond the neighborhood, while keeping their roots firmly planted at home.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
