About the SAHCC

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Our Mission

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the leading resource, advocate, and access point for Hispanic businesses, Hispanics in business, and the Hispanic market.

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the first organization of its type in the United States, having been originally chartered as the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in 1929. Today, there are about 35 Hispanic chambers of commerce in Texas and about 600 across the nation.

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) has been selected as one of the best-run chambers in America. A strong advocate for Hispanic business and Hispanics in business since 1929, the Hispanic Chamber has been officially notified of its designation as a 5-Star Accredited Chamber from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is the first Hispanic Chamber in the United States to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Our History

The Mexican Chamber was organized by Don Enrique Santibañez, Consul General of Mexico in San Antonio, who became its first president. Given the deep historical and commercial ties and tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, the chamber’s primary emphasis in its early years was to promote trade, policy and cultural harmony.


While the chamber’s leaders forged ahead to define modern Hispanic business, the social climate of the time posed many barriers. Minorities faced discrimination in business, just as in employment, education, voting, infrastructure, access to capital and markets. These social issues necessitated that the chamber go beyond the traditional scope for chambers of commerce and into one of dual social and business advocacy.

  1. 1929
  2. 1950
  3. 1983
  4. 1987
  5. 1988
  6. 2000
  7. 2009
  8. 2010
  9. 2014
  10. 2016
  1. 1929

    The Mexican Chamber of Commerce was chartered, officially organized by Don Enrique Santibañez, Consul General of Mexico in San Antonio, who became its first president. Given the deep historical and commercial ties and tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, the chamber’s primary emphasis in its early years was to promote trade, policy and cultural harmony.

  2. 1950

    The Mexican Chamber of Commerce commissioned a bridge over the railroad tracks in the West Side of San Antonio that had previously separated key areas of the West Side from Downtown. This bridge changed communication and commerce in this area of the city and had huge impacts on economic development.

  3. 1983

    The Mexican Chamber of Commerce of San Antonio was awarded “Chamber of the Year” by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber was awarded again in 1989 “Chamber of the Year.”

  4. 1987

    The Mexican Chamber was renamed the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The name change was indicative of globalization emphasizing our relationship with all of Latin America and also the diversity of San Antonio Hispanic businesses.

  5. 1988

    The City of San Antonio passed the first Small Business Economic Development Advocacy Program (SBEDA) Ordinance, with a 10-1 vote. The ordinance language was drafted by the Board of Directors of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce and was the first ever goals for small business and minority contracts.

  6. 2000

    The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce chartered a 501(c)3 foundation and named it the “Hispanic Leadership Development Foundation” with a mission to to remove barriers of past discrimination in the San Antonio workforce and fill a void in the San Antonio community by providing a number of accessible and affordable activities, which are designed to target small, minority and women owned businesses and minority youth, who require education and support to become leaders in the San Antonio community.

  7. 2009

    The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce becomes the first Hispanic Chamber in the country to receive a 4-Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the first Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio to ever accomplish this recognition.

  8. 2010

    The Hispanic Leadership Development Program launched first CORE4 STEM Expo and Program, the largest STEM Program in San Antonio to connect students from San Antonio’s poorest school districts to career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This program has grown over time and is still the largest STEM initiative in Central Texas. It has impacted more than 50,000 students.

  9. 2014

    The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber became the first Chamber in San Antonio, and the first Hispanic Chamber in the U.S. to be 5-Star accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) has been selected as one of the best-run chambers in America. A strong advocate for Hispanic business and Hispanics in business for 85 years, the Hispanic Chamber has been officially notified of its designation as a 5-Star Accredited Chamber from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is the first Hispanic Chamber in the United States to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

  10. 2016

    On August 16, 2016 the SAHCC’s Hispanic Leadership Development Foundation received two recognitions from the White House. The Hispanic Chamber’s CORE4 STEM Program and Latina Leadership Institute received the “Bright Spots in Hispanic Education Fulfilling America’s Future” Awards and were nationally recognized.

Our 5 Pillars

01

Small Business

We strive to provide assistance to and protect local small businesses involved with the Chamber while communicating their value and importance. It is our goal to determine how the Chamber’s activities can best serve its small businesses and makes recommendations on how we can advocate on behalf of and provide recognition to small businesses.

02

Economic Development

Our goal is to focus on the procurement and financial needs of the Chamber and its members and ensure that current programs and services are properly supporting our mission and the city of San Antonio.

03

International Trade

We strive to represent the international commerce and trade needs of the Chamber and its members through foreign Trade Missions. We also work with foreign government entities, trade associations, other Chambers of Commerce, and civic/business groups to simulate foreign representation on behalf of the Chamber and its affiliates. 

04

Leadership Development

Our goal is to provide guidance and input related to the Chamber’s leadership development programs: Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program; Latina Leadership Institute; Leadership SA, supported by the HLDF; and assists in identifying potential candidates for vacant board and commission positions.

05

Workforce Development/ Education

Our goal is to support the annual CORE4 STEM Program and other programs supported by the STEM initiatives at the local, state, and national levels to generate awareness for the Chamber. We also identify and communicate evolving technology, science, and e-commerce innovations to help further the Chamber’s mission.