More than four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Hispanic* community has largely recovered from the shutdown of the U.S. economy. This is attributable to the resilience and hard work of Latino workers, families, and business owners and to successful federal policies that delivered emergency financial assistance during the federally declared national emergency.

This report traces the economic journey of the Hispanic community from the pandemic to the present. It puts a spotlight on the financial shocks Latinos experienced in the early days of COVID-19 and showcases the powerful role the government played in supporting and bolstering their financial well-being during this time. The report also highlights challenges Latinos face today in achieving financial security, accessing economic opportunity, and ultimately contributing more to the nation’s prosperity. The report concludes by laying out a forward-looking economic agenda that responds to these challenges for Latinos while making the country stronger.

Latinos are a crucial engine of the U.S. economy. The nation’s 63 million Latinos collectively contribute $3.2 trillion to the U.S. economy¹ and own close to 5 million businesses producing more than $800 billion in revenue every year.² If Latinos in the United States were an independent country, the scale of the Hispanic American economic output would constitute the fifth largest economy in the world—larger than the economy of India³.

The economic story of Latinos during the past four years is not a single story, because the Hispanic community is not monolithic. The experience, needs, and outlook of working-class Latinos are distinct from those of college-educated and middle-class Hispanics.

*The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are used interchangeably by the U.S. Census Bureau and throughout our materials to refer to persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, Spanish, and other Hispanic descent; they may be of any race.

¹Hamilton, Dan, Matthew Fienup, David Hayes Bautista and Paul Hsu, “2023 US Latino GDP Report,” California Lutheran University and UCLA Health, Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, September 2023, https://blogs.callutheran.edu/cerf/files/2023/09/2023_USLatinoGDP_report.pdf.

²Gomez-Aguinaga, Barbara, George Foster and Jerry I. Porras, “2023 State of Latino Entrepreneurship,” Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, March 2024, https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/publications/state-latino-entrepreneurship-2023.

³Hamilton, Dan, Matthew Fienne, David HayesBautista and Paul Hsu, “2023 US Latino GDP Report.”

Download the entire report by clicking here.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 7, 2024) – Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is encouraging its customers to begin preparations now during National Hurricane Season as early predictions expect a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

In anticipation of the active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the SEG Gives Foundation donated $250,000, as well as vital bottled water and shelf-stable snacks to its long-standing partner, the American Red Cross. The donation to the disaster relief effort will ensure the organization is able to quickly provide aid to communities in need. Spanning more than 70 years, SEG has donated more than $12 million over the lifetime of the partnership.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO for Southeastern Grocers, said, “As we brace for the potential impact of a very active hurricane season, we are encouraging our neighbors to be proactive by making necessary preparations now. With nearly 100 years serving the Southeast, we understand the uncertainty severe weather can bring, and we know being prepared early is the best defense. Through our enduring partnership with the Red Cross and our extensive experience in preparation and disaster response, we are the neighborhood grocer our communities can always count on before, during and after disaster strikes.”

Several preseason forecasts have indicated that researchers expect an extremely active hurricane season due to high sea-surface temperatures and the high likelihood of La Niña development. In record-breaking predictions, hurricane research scientists estimated 23 named storms with 11 anticipated to become hurricanes, including five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.^*

SEG urges neighbors to take action now to prepare their families for an overactive hurricane season. To prepare, customers are encouraged to review the Red Cross’ Survival Kit Supplies checklist for essential items needed following a disaster. Each household should be prepared with the appropriate amount of water, nonperishable food, batteries and first aid kits as well as any necessary baby supplies and pet food.

The grocer is committed to helping customers save money while stocking up their hurricane kit as well as maximizing discounts on everyday grocery essentials. Through its signature Price Hold program, SEG lowers and holds down prices on more than 1,000 commonly shopped

*Forecast for 2024 Hurricane Activity, Colorado State University, Tropical Weather & Climate Research

products each season to help families stretch their grocery budget. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can easily shop for emergency preparedness staples like shelf-stable foods, batteries, cleaning supplies and hygiene items to replenish their disaster supply kits and save nearly 20% on products identified by blue Price Hold signs. For more information on shopping at neighborhood stores for disaster preparedness needs, visit www.harveyssupermarkets.com/community/hurricane-preparedness and www.winndixie.com/community/hurricane-preparedness.

About Southeastern Grocers
Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores and liquor stores, as well as online with convenient grocery delivery and curbside pickup throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well- respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.

About SEG Gives Foundation
SEG Gives Foundation is the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. The SEG Gives Foundation aligns giving with causes that are priorities to the communities SEG serves, including the fight against hunger, support for military service members and their families, relief to those affected by extreme weather and natural disasters and championing belonging, inclusion and diversity by combating social injustice to bridge the gap of inequities faced by many individuals, families and communities. Southeastern Grocers strives to be ingrained in its communities and, through the SEG Gives Foundation, better the lives of its customers and neighbors.

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For SEG interviews or images contact:
Meredith Hurley
Senior Director, Communications and Community
(904) 370-6029
media@segrocers.com

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Florida Blue is the Presenting Sponsor and the meeting will be held at their Deerwood Campus located at 4800 Deerwood Campus Parkway DC2-1, Jacksonville, FL 32246 from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM. Florida Blue has been a Strategic Partner of FCHCC since December, 2016.

Members can get more information and register from the chamber’s website at fchcc.com.

FCHCC Strategic and Corporate Partners are: Florida Blue, iHeart Media, Southeastern Grocers, CMG, Prospera USA, Norsan Media, Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), The Sherwin-Williams Company, VyStar Credit Union and MiAddvantage.

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About the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FCHCC) was created to encourage and promote sound, ethical and successful business practices in the Hispanic community and to further the recognition of Hispanic heritage and culture through educational endeavors. The mission of the FCHCC is to positively impact the regional economy by creating value, promoting and facilitating the success of Hispanic-owned businesses and by engaging the community at large.

The post FCHCC Hosts 2023 Members Only Town Hall Meeting first appeared on FCHCC.

Prospera was established in Tampa in 1991 and its mission is to help start, sustain, and grow Hispanic-owned businesses to achieve community prosperity. Today, the nonprofit, economic development organization serves all of Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Last year, it began delivering services to our local community year-round.

“We’re very glad to offer bilingual consulting services and entrepreneurial education in Spanish to Hispanic entrepreneurs in the Jacksonville metro area 12 months of the year now,” said Katia Medina, Prospera Regional Vice President for Central and Northeast Florida. “Thanks to seed funding from JPMorgan Chase and Citi Foundation, we have been able to increase our local presence and be more accessible to the local Hispanic community. Furthermore, our partnership with the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is helping us get to know the community and increase awareness of our services among those who need it the most.”

Prospera’s individual consulting is a high value, no cost service. Business owners can request to meet with a Prospera business consultant to analyze their specific business needs, individually and confidentially. Together, they work to identify opportunities and resources that might help the business (in any industry and at any stage) to be more sustainable, successful, and even scalable. Furthermore, Prospera can invest additional resources to help the owner secure capital, and/or advance the planning, marketing, financial recordkeeping, and more aspects of the business. To request an individual consulting session, click here.

Prospera is also hosting in-person seminars in Spanish at the UNF Adam W. Herbert University Center. Some seminars are intended as orientations for entrepreneurs in early stages of business, to help them start or formalize their enterprises more efficiently and cost-effectively. Others focus on topics that are relevant and helpful for business owners with established businesses. The next business seminar in Jacksonville will focus on financial statements and making better financial decisions for your business. It is scheduled for Thursday, November 17 at 6 p.m. and you can register here for free.

“Prospera’s services complement what our chamber of commerce offers local entrepreneurs and Hispanic businesses and we’re looking forward to an ongoing partnership that will enhance our Jacksonville entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Monica Hernandez, President of FCHCC. “Prospera can help fellow chamber members to scale and strengthen their businesses and new startup businesses establish with their assistance can join the chamber to continue growing, networking and promoting their products.”

To learn more about Prospera, visit prosperausa.org, call 1-888-PROSPERA or (904) 999-1929 or email contact@prosperausa.org.

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