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West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce breaks ground on $11.6 million center

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce officially broke ground Friday on a new building in Grand Rapids. The $11.6 million project will mark a major expansion for the organization that is running out of space at its current headquarters. The Center for Latino Economic and Talent Advancement is being built at 1111 Godfrey Ave SW in Grand Rapids. 'It's beyond a building. It's really a hub for this community to connect,' Guillermo Cisneros, president and CEO of the organization, said. Cisneros says the current location on Division Avenue near Burton Street is too small to keep up with the organization's growth. 'We're hiring more people in the next few months, so we don't fit anymore. We have one single restroom for 14 people. We have an event space where we can bring 20 people comfortably and just we are very limited. We don't have technology. We don't have the infrastructure,' Cisneros said. The new center will have an event space that can hold 200 people. The funding for the project was provided through a public-private partnership. The state of Michigan is contributing $5 million and the federal government is providing $850,000, along with donations from several businesses and private. 'This investment really supports the economics of the entire region. Right now, the Latino community represents 20% of the city of Grand Rapids,' Cisneros said. Local leaders like Javier Olvera, who owns Supermercado Mexico and several other businesses in the area, say the chamber provides critical support to the Latino community. 'It has been very helpful to us. We've been with the chamber for so many years and has help us connect with other entrepreneurs also become more efficient,' Olvera said. The organization says the 12,000-square-foot center will help support the West Michigan economy for generations. 'We want to make sure that as we continue to grow as a community, as a city. We continue to bring resources and these assets that we are building in the city benefits the next generations, you know, of entrepreneurs,' Olvera said. The building is expected to be finished by the end of February 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.