Southwest Florida Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce

By Bobby Perez, President

The Southwest Florida Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce is a not for profit corporation established under the laws of the State of Florida. Our mission is to promote, strengthen and support the Puerto Rican and Hispanic business interests in Southwest Florida by promoting business opportunities between Chamber Members and by providing the opportunity to develop valuable contacts and build relationships with influential business leaders in Puerto Rico and throughout the United States. The swflprcc recognizes the importance of the economic, social, and cultural development of our Puerto Rican communities. The swflprcc will host a variety of events that serve to promote and stimulate business growth. These events include regularly scheduled membership meetings and networking events at various business locations. Our resource center provides invaluable business information and assistance in the areas of capital funding, financial planning, insurance, business planning, marketing, and technology. The swflprcc has established a network of professionals who volunteer their time in order to help businesses succeed in their business goals.  

Membership events include:

•                 . Annual Banquet
•                 . Workshops 
•                 . Direct Assistance with Follow Up
•                 . Constant communication with members via phone, email, fax, etc. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The director of the U.S. Mint on Thursday unveiled the first U.S. coin with an inscription in Spanish, a quarter honoring Puerto Rico as the "Isla del Encanto" or "Island of Enchantment." The coin presented at a ceremony in the Caribbean territory's capital is the latest in a series that already has recognized all 50 states and, like the others, it depicts the traditional profile of George Washington on one side. But the reverse side shows a sentry box on a Spanish colonial fort and a hibiscus, the U.S. island's official flower, along with the phrase: "Isla del Encanto." At the presentation in San Juan's colonial district, U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy said the U.S. coin is the first to circulate with a phrase inscribed in Spanish. He said the quarter will be an ambassador for the "marvels" of Puerto Rico. Gov. Luis Fortuno, whose party favors making this Caribbean island the 51st U.S. state, dismissed any suggestion that the inscription highlights Puerto Rico's cultural differences with the mainland.

"The reality is the United States is one of the biggest Spanish-speaking countries in the world, with 45 million citizens of Hispanic descent," Fortuno said, adding that the use of Spanish represents "the integration of a great nation" that has room for many languages. The Puerto Rico quarter entered circulation on Monday. A quarter for the District of Columbia debuted earlier this year, and the Mint is also rolling out others this year for Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.