They're already growing. So now they're looking at ways they can grow, together.

Several of Utah's minority chambers of commerce, including the Utah Hispanic Chamber, Black Chamber and Asian Chamber, and possibly the soon-to-be-formed Pacific Islander Chamber, have been in talks to form an alliance, tentatively called the Ethnic Chambers Association.

The group, which could be formalized as soon as the next month or so, will help Utah's minority business people network, discuss common issues and challenges and present a united front in the community and before the Legislature, according to Robert Rendon, chairman of the Utah Hispanic Chamber, which has about 200 members.

"We're still at the beginning stages of forming our group," Rendon said. "But we know there will be opportunities where, if we speak with one voice, we'll be stronger."

Stanley Ellington, executive director of the Utah Black Chamber, also stressed that the talks are in their nascent stages, but he said he likes the idea in principle. The Black Chamber celebrated its grand opening Feb. 24 and has about 30 members, Ellington said.

"It's probably a good idea to start collaborations and partnerships," Ellington said. "I think we need it, but it really depends on how we're going to make it work for the benefit of everybody. The concept is good, but there are more details that need to be put together to make sure that it's what we really envisioned."

However, members of the various chambers already have started attending networking sessions held by other groups, and there are talks of putting together a joint event later this year, Rendon said.

Utah's demographic profile is changing, Rendon said. In-migration is continuing, diversifying the state. And minority chambers can help in ways that traditional chambers sometimes can't, he said.

"Many businesses need resources that a chamber can bring to them, but there are challenges," Rendon said. "There may be language issues and other issues that another chamber might not be able to help them with. (Minority chambers) are a source for education and assistance, and we give them a chance to network with other businesses. Part of our mission at the Hispanic Chamber is to bring Hispanic and traditional businesses together, but also to help Hispanic businesses work together."

Eunice Jones, president of the Utah Asian Chamber, said that, if formed, the new alliance also could help minority businesses learn more about one another. The Asian Chamber, in its first year, has about 75 members.

"The first step is to get to know each other's culture," Jones said. "Everybody has a different culture. The Hispanic Chamber has so many cultures under their umbrella, and the same for the Asian Chamber, and the Black Chamber. By forming (the association), we'll learn that we have similarities. That we have things in common."

One commonality is emerging already, Jones said.

"We want acceptance in the community," she said. "We want not just the visibility (that an organization brings), but the tolerance of us being here.

"Our contribution to the community is vital to the growth of Utah's communities, because we have something to offer. Education is important to us. We want to learn about how to be good citizens, of course, and we want to start something of a career ladder for our younger ones, to be an example to them for the future."

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E-mail: jnii@desnews.com