CHARLOTTE, N.C. - By this time next year, Chiquita Brands International and 400 of its employees will be headquartered in Charlotte.

When CEO Fernando Aguirre looked at relocating from Cincinnati, he also looked at the acceptance of Hispanic-ownded companies.

Not only did Aguirre find they are welcomed in the Queen City, but the Latino community is also helping other businesses thrive.

At CGR Creative in South End, President & CEO Julio Colmenares and his colleagues used to ring the bell when the ad agency landed clients.

"That was to let other people in the office know that we landed (the account)," said Colmenares.

Now, CGR needs what used to be shared office space as the company expands. From a Mooresville orthodontist needing a website redesign to Charlotte Center City partners needing social media marketing, CGR Creative helps small and large businesses grow.

"This is when you have to take the opportunity," said Colmenares. "If you don't risk and you don't take advantage of the growth, you're not going to make it."

Belinda Avila Rickles is President of Quality Personnel located in Elizabeth. Her staff says they have the best jobs in the world by getting others employed.

Rickles said what motivates her is, "finding jobs to those people and making their lives, changing their lives."

That means Rickles is the first to know about Charlotte's economy. "Overall, I think people are coming around and they're picking back up and business is getting a lot better," said Rickles.

Besides helping to move the economy forward by helping other companies grow, Colmenares and Rickles have something else in common. They're part of a changing trend in entrepreneurship that's helping to reboot Charlotte - Hispanic owned businesses expanding and succeeding beyond the Latino market.

"We're proud to be part of this country, and this economy," said Colmenares, "and we're all looking to succeed."

"Different ideas and different cultures can only make a company better and bigger and stronger," said Rickles

A good example of that are the networking opportunities organized by the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte. Glance around at one of their events, and you'll notice it's not just Hispanic professionals getting together. All kinds of businesses know there are opportunities in working together.

"We're a country that is very resilient, and recovers very well," said Astrid Chirinos, Executive Director at the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte. "And I think that our immigrant population is really going to help create that new energy and reboot our economy."

For Colmenares, it means using online communication tools to help others get the word out about their products and business. Recently he was part of a selected group that helped pitch Charlotte to Chiquita Brands International as the best place to relocate. Based on their decision, it worked.

"We need people to invest in the city, and to move here," said Colmenares.

For Rickles, who used to be a stay at home mom, she has the best of both worlds now. As she helps others get back on their feet, the Queen City also thrives.

"I think it's growing, it's amazing what Charlotte has brought to us here," said Rickles, "and it's only making the economy a lot stronger."

According to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, there are nearly 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in this country. Combined, they generate more than $420 billion annually.