Luz Robles, director of the Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs, said her office is helping establish the chambers as part of a strategic plan at the request of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"It's a reflection of (Huntsman's) administration and his priorities," Robles said. "For the state to be prosperous, everyone needs to be part of the prosperity, and that includes economic development. He wants to make sure our ethnic communities are involved in that prosperity."

Some in the minority community, including Tony Yapias of Proyecto Latino de Utah, have criticized the ethnic offices for including establishing new ethnic chambers in its strategic plan because of their narrow focus.

"The ethnic offices didn't create the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce," Yapias said. "Why can't the the business leaders create their own Pacific Islander or Black chambers of commerce?"

But to those involved in establishing the chambers, they are an effort to bring scattered business communities together.

Bev Uipi, vice chairwoman of the state's Pacific Islander Advisory Council, is working on her group's chamber as a way to help encourage success among youths.

"We are huge on education and on keeping kids in school," said Uipi said. "We're throwing around the idea of possibly . . . having the funds and proceeds go to a scholarship."

Fotu Katoa, director of the Office of Pacific Islander Affairs, said the chamber will be "a great milestone" in business development.

"It will help to grow businesses, and for those starting a business, they will have resources and a place to go."

Ed Roberson, Utah senior sales manager for Integra Telecom, said the Black Chamber of Commerce will provide a culturally unique networking experience for black-owned businesses and for those wanting to reach out to the black community.

"There is certainly a value to bringing together like-minded, or like-cultured individuals, especially in Utah, where minorities are somewhat isolated," he said.

Michael Styles, director of the Utah Office of Black Affairs, said he hopes the new chamber will also help overcome the notion that Utah has no black business community.

"We want national businesses to relocate here, and we feel like we have the perfect organization to make that happen," he said.

Bumpers-Goulding said a sense of community is important to her. She was reluctant to move here herself.

"We need more people to be opening businesses and doing positive things," she said. "Then more people will follow."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com