Biden Campaign Manager, Phoenix Mayor, Discuss Hispanic/Latino Impact on U.S. Economic Competitiveness

Arizona’s strategic investments and implications for Hispanic & Latino communities take center stage

The American Economic Competitiveness Project (AECP), managed by Resolute, hosted a roundtable discussion to shed light on the Hispanic/Latino impact on U.S. economic competitiveness and innovation. The event, moderated by Raul Alvillar of AECP, featured insights from Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Campaign Manager for Biden-Harris 2024 and Carlos Contreras, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity for the State of Arizona.

Julie Chavez-Rodriguez emphasized, “Access is a big part of the conversation, whether it’s access to capital, access to educational opportunities and programs… We’re starting to see that people are starting to feel that more and more.”

Carlos Contreras highlighted the growth opportunities, stating, “Numbers are optimistic. So you see the economic optimism that’s coming from the community. These investments are coming in, and it’s going to be transformational.”

Mayor Kate Gallego touched upon the significant legislative impacts, noting, “It’s a really unique moment. And so if we take advantage of it, it’ll be generations of opportunities.”

Recent polling data, conducted between September 5 – 8 by Insights with Analytics, reveals that 49% of Arizonans believe their personal financial situation has worsened since the pandemic’s end, with 57% feeling the U.S. economy has declined, primarily due to inflation and cost-of-living concerns. However, Hispanic voters are notably more optimistic about the U.S. economy and their personal finances.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the panelists, followed by closing remarks from Raul Alvillar, thanking the panelists, host ViaWest and attendees.

About AECP The American Economic Competitiveness Project (AECP) is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing U.S. economic competitiveness by hosting events and conferences connecting government officials, private sector leaders, students and academic experts. For more information, visit AmericanECProject.com.