Hispanic Business Assn. Will Hold 1st Meeting

The Los Angeles County chapter of the Hispanic Business Assn. will hold its first meeting Wednesday at Wedbush Morgan Securities. The organization was founded in Anaheim in 1991 and has 26 chapters, including 1,300 members in Southern California.

The new chapter will provide small businesses an alternative to the long-established Latin Business Assn., said Javier Jimenez, an investment executive with Wedbush who spearheaded the event.

The investment banking firm is involved with the chapter to build a relationship with the booming Latino business community, provide entrepreneurs with financing products and groom them for potential public offerings, Jimenez said.

The meeting will be at noon on the ninth floor of the company, 1000 Wilshire Blvd. For reservations, call (714) 535-5899.