Press Release                      
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                        
July 30, 2026                              
Contact: D’Andre Vasquez, Community Relations & Development
Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce
509-662-2116
 
Three Years of Building Stronger Businesses, Together
WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate the beginning of its third year of partnership with SkillSource through the Washington State Department of Commerce's Community Reinvestment Program. Together, the organizations are creating greater opportunities for minority-owned businesses while helping build a more connected and resilient business community throughout the Wenatchee Valley.
Over the past two years, this collaboration has expanded the Chamber's capacity to better serve Hispanic and minority-owned businesses while fostering stronger connections across the regional business community. What began as an investment in outreach has grown into lasting programs, meaningful relationships, and new opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and succeed.
The collaboration has led to the launch of CONEXIÓN, a monthly bilingual networking event, and Empresarios en Acción, a quarterly bilingual business training series. Together, these initiatives provide welcoming spaces where entrepreneurs can build meaningful connections, gain practical business  knowledge, and engage more deeply with the broader Wenatchee Valley business community. Today, those programs continue to grow through the support of Wenatchee Valley College, which serves as the sponsor of CONEXIÓN, and the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority, sponsor of Empresarios en Acción.
The partnership also revitalized the Chamber's Hispanic Business Council, an advisory council that helps strengthen trust, identify community needs, and guide efforts to better serve Hispanic-owned businesses.
Earlier this month, the Chamber joined community partners at SkillSource's Community Reinvestment Program Summit to celebrate the impact of grant-funded partnerships across North Central Washington.  During the event, the Chamber shared the results of its 2025–26 fiscal year, including more than 252 combined attendees at CONEXIÓN and Empresarios en Acción and 16 minority-owned businesses connected to SkillSource for business solutions including incumbent worker training, paid internships, and microgrant opportunities. These milestones reflect more than attendance, they represent stronger relationships, expanded access to resources, and new opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout the Wenatchee Valley.
"We are incredibly grateful to SkillSource for their partnership and investment in this work, and we look forward to continuing to create opportunities that help local businesses connect, grow, and thrive" said Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Steve Wilkinson.