Alicia Nuñez

BizTUCSONApril 20, 2026

1 minute read

President & CEO
Chicanos Por La Causa

What opportunities do you see for your business here in the next several years?

Chicanos Por La Causa has been empowering Southern Arizona communities through comprehensive economic development, education, housing and social services. Since my term as president and CEO began, CPLC has impacted more than 1,394,358 lives statewide in Arizona, with 117,722 lives being impacted here in Southern Arizona. CPLC has an opportunity to maximize reaching future investors through education, training, and fair access to capital from our growing programs.

What issues keep you up at night?

We need to keep the Southern Arizona region competitive by developing affordable housing to meet the growing demand of individuals moving to the area. A stable home means that the region can generate high quality jobs while residents can build a strong foundation for employment, sustainable generational wealth and overall better quality of living.

Are there any exciting updates in your industry or business you want to highlight?

I am proud to share that CPLC has completed 263 units of affordable housing over the last two years. One of these housing projects included CPLC Healthy Aging program’s Casa del Pueblo, which opened its 96-unit senior affordable housing community. There are an additional 176 units in the pipeline across three projects. Additionally, CPLC completed 198 units of workforce housing and 32 single family homes targeting first time homeowners. CPLC Home Lending program helped five families purchase and become homeowners.

How can The Chamber help you going forward?

The Chamber has built a powerful coalition of diverse leaders who understand Southern Arizona. Going forward, we must continue these strategic and longstanding partnerships to develop additional workforce training, mentorship, and leadership development for young professionals in the area. This will help draw and maintain talent for growing industries including health, technology, and trade careers. In focusing on upskilling the next generation of leaders, we are investing in Southern Arizona’s future.